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Longtime local trailblazer honoured with Waterloo Award ost volunteers who Mdu their civiec duty never expect to be awarded for their help in miking their city a better place to live in. However. the Citvy of Waterloo has made continâ€" uous efforts to acknowledge ouistanding accomplishâ€" ments made by volunteers throughout the city. with its We erloo Award that s given .%. Douglas Letson. born is‘ srised in Kitchener, was thocwest cigdzen to be honâ€" ain~! for his community virs rdudens. se was given the prestiâ€" wious honour at the Waterâ€" lac city counetl meeting last week. Mayor Herb Epp preâ€" sented the award to Letson, who retired this past April alter spending several years at St. Jerome‘s University at the University of Waterloo. Letson was also a graduâ€" ate of the University of St. Jerome‘s College before heading on to the University of Toronto where he earned his doctorate. Letson is the 20th citizen to be honoured with the award since it began in 1997. He is this year‘s only award recipient. "Those chosen to receive the Waterloo Award are indiâ€" viduals who have conâ€" tributed significantly to this community without thought of personal or financial â€" gain," Epp announced in front of many in the packed council chamâ€" bers. several who came to see Letson receive the award. "We count on their efforts to enhance the qualiâ€" ty of life within Waterloo." Coun. Jim Bolger praised Letson for his community contributions, citing the several accomplishments Letson has made, including his volunteer involvement with local organizations like St. Mary‘s Hospital, Kâ€"W leserving citizens each By Ryax Conntut For The Chrontwle Community Foundation, KidsAbility Foundation and the Grand River Conservaâ€" tion Authority Foundation. Most notably, however, is Letson‘s efforts with the Walter Bean Grand River Community Trails Foundaâ€" tion. Waterloo Mayor Herb Epp, along with the rest of the city‘s staff, honoured local volunteer Douglas Letson with the Waterloo Award during a recent city council meeting. "HMe was dedicated to implementing this visionary project; to run 78 kilometres along the Grand River, extending the Cambridge to Hamilton Trail system as LIFESTYLE one continuous pathway through Kitchener, Waterloo and Woolwich Township to north of West Montrose," said Bolger, mentioning that the Walter Bean Trail reachâ€" es 11 kilometres through Waterloo with the fourâ€"kiloâ€" metre RIM Park area being the most populated recreâ€" ational trail in the city. "The growing reality of the trail system began through Douglas Letson‘s inspirational leadership, nc tTyGeo I and it has ensured an eduâ€" cational, environmental and recreational legacy for genâ€" erations to come," Bolger continued. Nominations for the Waterloo Award are solicited each year from Waterloo city staff, councillors and volunâ€" teers. The nominees are then reviewed by a selection committee who look for eviâ€" Continued on page 18 SughiTTEC PHOTG Hospice training program will be held on Tuesdays from 1â€"4 p.m. beginning March 21 to May 16. Flexible daytime shifts available in the client‘s home, at Lisaard House {residential hospice} and longâ€"term care facilines. For information, call Leslie at 7434114 or eâ€"mail lestie@hospicewaterloo.ca . Hospice of Waterloo Region needs men and women who will offer emotional support. companâ€" tonship and practical assistance to people with a lifeâ€" threatening ilIness. â€" _ aArounp __ f Town _ _ _ Uhe Canadian Hearing Society is selling teddy bears, teddy bear trelated items, butterfly magnets, American Sign Language 7| love you" pins and other gitt irems at the Beechwood Plaza during December and January. Butterflies are $2 each and "I love you" pins are $5 each. Teddy bear items are varyving prices. All proceeds will support the Canadian Hearing Society‘s programs and services for people who are deal, deafened or hard of hearing. Recent survey results reveal that one in four adult Canadians experience some degree of hearing loss. For more information, contact Karen Griffiths at 744â€"681 1 or kgriffiths@waterloochs.ca. Faith FM 94.3 is looking for vocal talent with a Shinin‘ Star talent contest. There are four singâ€"down competitions all starting at 7 p.m. Jan. 20, 2006, Waterloo Mennonite Brethren Church, Kitchener; Jan. 21, 2006, Faith Missionary Church, Kitchener; Jan. 27, 2006, Calvary United Church, St. Jacobs; and Jan. 28, 2006, Bethany Misâ€" sionary Church, Kitchener. The store is open Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. The store is next to the Loomie Lizard. The nonâ€"profit Christian radio station, serving Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo and area, is calling all budding stars to take part in the contest. o Entry forms and contest rules are available from the web site: wwwfaithfm.org. All entry forms and a $50 entry fee must be received by Faith FM by Jan. 12, 2006. All contestants will be judged by a panel of experiâ€" enced judges. Three winners will be selected at each of the four evenings. The12 finalists will compete at the final talent search at the Centre in the Square Feb. 4, 2006. Farley Flex from Canadian Idol will be a judge. The winner will be recorded and aired on Christian radio across Ontario. Tickets are available at the Centre in the Square box office at 578â€"1570. For more information, contact Faith FM at 575â€"9090. Bears and butterflies support hearing society Hospice needs helpers Bring your pipes to radio station‘s contest