Sarnia mayor’s 2023 honor list recognizes community contributions

The 2023 Sarnia Mayor’s honor list includes 15 individuals and groups recognized for their contributions to local community projects, sports and the arts.

Article content

Following a tradition established in 1981 by former mayor Marceil Saddy, current Mayor Mike Bradley releases his honor list annually on or near New Year’s Day.

Article content

“The list is a tribute to the unsung people and groups in the community who make a difference in trying to create a good and just community and society,” Bradley said.

“lt is living proof that individual citizens and groups can make a difference.”

Bradley said the “highly personal list” is based on his observations throughout the year as well as nominations from the public and media stories.

THIS YEAR’S HONORES

• Bill Abercrombie away from his role as president of the Sarnia Sting after 25 years with the hockey organization stepped as a coach and front office leader. He also coached the Sarnia Blast/Legionnaires, leading them to the Western Junior B Championship in 2009.

Article content

• Margaret Capesa retired lawyer who has dedicated herself to helping poor and marginalized individuals, continues to be an advocate for those experiencing homelessness in the community.
• Janine Day, coach of the Lambton Lions women’s basketball team, was named the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association’s women’s basketball coach of the year. The Lions earned a silver medal in 2023 at the provincial college championships.

• Dick Felton is a member and former president of the Kiwanis Club of Sarnia-Lambton Golden K who, in 2020, volunteered to take on the job of executive director of Sarnia’s Lochiel Kiwanis Community Centre, home to mostly non-profit organizations working with children and youth. The center is at full capacity and there have been numerous upgrades to the former elementary school building.

Article content

• Marilyn Gifford collected signatures on a petition calling for the creation of local physician residency spaces to help Lambton County attract more family doctors.

• Tea International Symphony Orchestrawhich celebrated its 65th anniversary in 2023, and its executive director Anthony Wing, were named to the list for the organization’s contributions to the Sarnia area’s music, cultural, educational, economic, social and spiritual life. Wing guided the orchestra through the pandemic and the organization has remained strong.

• Marg Johnson created Kids’ Konnection, a program at Central Baptist Church, to help elementary school children improve reading skills impacted during the pandemic. The program matches children with volunteers for weekly reading sessions at the church.
• Tea Labor Day Parade organizing committee and its leader Arlene Pattersonare being honored for the work of finding volunteers, coordinating planning meetings and assigning tasks to committee members for the long-running tradition.
• Larissa Loucks16, and her team won the Junior Free Team event at the 2023 Canadian Artistic Swimming Championships in Calgary.

Article content

• Heather Martin, John DeGroot, Michael John Kooy and Brian Mundt, all members of the Rotary Club of Sarnia, came together in 2023 to work to create more affordable housing in the city. Since then, the Sarnia Community and Foundation and the Rotary Club of Sarnia Foundation have created funds to assist the effort.
• Harold Regnier, who died in February 2023, was involved in several city organizations including as a driver with the Canadian Red Cross, a dog walker with the Sarnia Humane Society, an inpatient support worker at St. Joseph’s Hospice, volunteer with the Sarnia phragmites extermination project, as as well as assisting with the Salvation Army Christmas hamper program.

• Laurie Rome has been involved in the Terry Fox Run in Sarnia for more than 40 years and has been its coordinator for 14 years, leading efforts to raise funds and engage the community.
• Mark Seibutis and the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) Flight 7 has, for many years, provided fly pasts during Remembrance Day services in Sarnia and surrounding communities.
• Don and Laurene Smith support several local charities including the Inn of the Good Shepherd, Literacy Lambton, Women’s Interval Home, Habitat for Humanity, Pathways Health Center for Children, River City Vineyard and others.

• Murray and Gwen Stephenson are directors of Nightlight, an adult drop-in center in downtown Sarnia that marked it first anniversary in 2023. It welcomes individuals experiencing homelessness, seniors who are lonely and international students and other newcomers.

The mayor’s office said a reception for the 2023 honorees will be held in the spring.

[email protected]

Article content