Rusnak honored with Delhi Citizen of the Year award

It was an emotional night at the Delhi German Home last Wednesday when the Delhi & District Chamber of Commerce presented its 2023 gala awards.

Dave Rusnak, a lifelong resident of Delhi, received this year’s Delhi Citizen of the Year award, presented by Jim Norman, Chamber president; Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady; Melissa Loshaw, constitute assistant for Haldimand-Norfolk MP Leslyn Lewis; and Norfolk County Ward 3 Councilor Mike Columbus.

“I was very grateful, but at the same time it’s teamwork,” said Rusnak. “I’m just one brick in the wall – I’m not the whole wall – and collectively other people have the shared interests that I have.

“We have got a great community. We have very proud ethnic halls, which we are very fortunate to have for a town of this size, and lodges and service clubs, individuals and service clubs, industries, and together as a community we’ve pulled it off.”

Rusnak, who has been called ‘Mr. Delhi,’ says his personal motto is ‘For the betterment of Delhi.’

An employee of Norfolk County and the Township of Delhi before that until his retirement in 2018, Rusnak was able to combine his own interest in town projects and facilities with his parks and recreation/maintenance job. And when the county did not do all that he wanted or expected, he went out to raise money for those projects, both individually and with support from others.

“It’s not because I got paid to do it, it’s because I had the passion to do it and I always thought, in my own mind, I gave 100 per cent. It’s not for a pat on the back or recognition, it’s just because I simply loved my job.”

Rusnak lives next to the Quance mill property, which he became involved with at the age of 14 at a committee level. He later worked with the Kinsmen Club to help clean up the park, then assisted with its restoration as a member of the Quance Dam Heritage Restoration Committee, and the Quance Dam beautification project.

“You might say I was the spark, but they (the Kinsmen Club) were the fire,” said Rusnak. “How often do you hear of any community that raises funds for a dam? That’s extremely rare. We ended up putting a new dam in – it’s not as high as the original for holding back the water… but it’s quite aesthetically pleasing.”

Lights were added in 2017, a sign on the pedestrian bridge identifies the site, and last year landscaping was done to promote and enhance the park/dam.

“It acts like an international postcard,” said Rusnak, who was assisted by others in the community in those projects. “We’ve got a great place and setting for wedding photographs.”

A member of many community groups, over the years he has been involved with the Delhi and District Chamber of Commerce, Delhi District Jaycees and the Tobacco Museum.

In 2015, he organized the BIA Delhi historical mural and historical plaque project. Currently 26 murals have been installed providing a history of the town.

“We have five of eight plaques already in the Qance park so people can see how historical it is.”

A collector of Delhi artifacts, he also locatd the old Delhi Public School bell which is now displayed at the local museum. His own collection continues to grow.

“When it comes to Delhi stuff, I’ve got a lot of room for it,” he laughed.

“I really love this town, and I really love the people in it, and I thank them for all the other projects that they have done in this community, and I can name several like the Delhi Community Health Centre, the Delhi arena, the fire truck project in years past… and others.”