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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday June 21, 2006 - 13 Awards celebrate spirit of volunteering Continued from page 3 DR. JANE CORYELL Theatrical set designer and local fibre artist Dr. Jane Coryell accepted the Arts Award by inviting anybody who likes to throw paint around to join The Scene Team ­ We Work in Stages. "Part of volunteering is that it's so good for the soul," she said. "I'm deeply honoured, really pleased." Since 1979 Coryell, a retired teacher who holds a PhD in Art Education, has designed costumes and sets for 57 productions, 39 of them as a volunteer working for Oakville's theatre community. Her stage designs have earned her seven awards and six nominations for community theatre in southwestern Ontario, and four years ago, the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts presented her with its Appreciation Award. The Scene Team volunteers range in from under age six to above 60. "Young people from elementary school through high school to college and university have, at various times, played on The Scene Team," said Buttigieg. "It includes willing workers from expert artists to people who've never held a paintbrush. Under Jane's guidance, everyone works at their own level and even jumps a level with experience. Young and old, novice and expert seem drawn to join these creative collaborations." Coryell retired from teaching in 1999 but continues to volunteer as a guest artist in the classroom, coaching senior drama students to create model sets as part of their theatre arts curriculum. She is also involved with Oakville's Fibre Arts Festival and the World of Threads Festival, volunteers with the planning for the proposed Music and Art Shared Space (MASS) facility to house several local arts groups, and sits on the new board for the Oakville Art Council. THE CLUB The Club After School Tutoring Program for Kids has received the Youth Award. The Club has about 230 high school students available each week to tutor children in Grades 3 ­ 8 who require academic, social and emotional support. "We have an amazing bunch of young people in this community," said club coordinators Janet Budreski and Anne-Marie Doherty in accepting the award on behalf of the student volunteers. "This is great and exciting," said student volunteer Sean Doherty afterwards. "We are together as a team and we're firing on all cylinders," said the Grade 12 student volunteer from Holy Trinity Secondary School. "Each week, throughout the school year, these teenagers bring their enthusiasm, energy and commitment to help 200 elementary students with homework, organization and just being a great mentor/buddy Ed Stewart, History and Heritage for a child who is considered to be at risk in our community," said Buttigieg. "For many of the children in The Club, their tutoring session is the brightest and most enjoyable moment of their school day. In the self esteem department alone, these teen tutors have helped tremendously and acted as such positive role models for the children. It is endearing to watch the students standing at the school doors, waiting for their tutor to get there. The smiles, laughter, conversations and positive interaction during the hour spent together each week truly indicates that the volunteers are doing a wonderful job." ALLEN KLARER Allen Klarer, 82, a member of the Elderly Services Advisory Committee and lead walker at more than 31,000 miles with the Oakville Place Mall Walkers, is the Seniors Award recipient. He walks about nine miles daily ­ before 8 a.m. "Thank you everyone," he said in accepting his sculpture. "Without you Oakville wouldn't be what it is. Without you I wouldn't be here." Klarer, who came to Oakville in 1953 as the first CEO of the Oakville Chamber of Commerce, a position he held for 15 years, has devoted his life to volunteer and community service. As a member of the Halton's Elderly Services Advisory Committee (ESAC) and the Oakville Seniors Advisory Committee (OSAC), Klarer promoted a "positive view of aging," said Buttigieg. "He has worked, by example, to erase the stigmatism and stereotyping so that older individuals are recognized as ongoing contributors, essential to the communities in which they live." Klarer played a major role in developing Breaking Down the Barriers, an interactive educational CD targeting Grade 10 students in hopes of encouraging them to volunteer and pursue careers working with seniors. Klarer is also a charter member and a founder of the Oakville YMCA 50 years ago, and a member of the original community fundraising organization that eventually became the United Way of Oakville. ALLAN MOSS A humble Allan Moss, a 69-yearold speed skater, accepted the Sport Development Award. A retired bank manager, Moss has been treasurer, coach and a competitive skater of the Oakville Speed Skating Club, for the past decade. He is the club's most experienced senior skater. The club has 120 members aged five to 65, including 85 youth and almost half of them female participants. It has a Special Olympics component, plus provincially and nationally ranked skaters. BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: Oakville Financial Centre of Clarica's Jacqueline Vielma and Geoff Ollson with the Community Connections Award. "It's a club that truly recognizes that its most challenged skater is as important as its nationally ranked skaters," said Buttigieg. The Oakville Speed Skating Club is the only organization of its kind in Halton. "His unselfish contribution to the club touches every aspect of the sport of speed skating," continued Buttigieg. "From club treasurer to coach, equipment manager, skate sharpener, lace tightener, fundraiser, publicity contact, meet coordinator, timer, race event coordinator, mat mover, ice maker, and post-session dressing room clean up guy...Al would probably drive the Zamboni and turn out the lights if he were allowed." In accepting the award, Moss said, "I feel truly honoured (but) I'm only a small part of the club. There are many volunteers and I'm a small function of it." He reiterated that sentiment afterwards, pointing out he was "quite surprised. I was surprised when I got word of my nomination I was surprised. It takes many people to make a club thrive and grow and I'm only a small part of that. It's a pleasure to work with all of the members of the club ­ they're a great bunch of people." OAKVILLE FINANCIAL CENTRE OF CLARICA The Community Connections Award ­ the recipient is chosen by the Town of Oakville Department of Recreation and Culture, is the Oakville Financial Centre of Clarica, a health and life insurance and investment company. Clarica has supported the Community Spirit Awards since their inception in 2002 and has supported the development of a sport and physical activity plan for Oakville. "Clarica has a profound and longstanding belief in fulfilling their responsibilities as concerned corporate citizens," said Buttigieg. "Their philanthropy program supports hundreds of registered charities that focus on health, arts and culture and education. Specifically they look at innovative programs that focus on improving the health of communities, especially those that emphasize wellness and healthy lifestyles." "Our motto is give, give, give," said Geoff Ollson, manager of Clarica's Oakville office, in accepting a sculpture. "We're so new in the community, this award is an incredible surprise." Accepting the award with him was Jacqueline Vielma, training manager. In addition to sponsoring a sculpture in the Community Spirit Awards, Clarica sponsors the Oakville Magical Races to raise funds for a Christmas party for underprivileged children, supports the Oakville Arts Council and has representation on the Oakville Sports Council. BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER GROUP VOLUNTEER: Accepting the Group Volunteer Award on behalf of the VON Halton Hospice Volunteer Program are, from left, Dee Kearns, Hospice coordinator, Barbara Watt, Hospice volunteer, Anne King, Manager VON Halton Hospice Program and Carol Dalby, Hospice volunteer.