WMA seeks Citizen of the Year nominations

It's that time of year again.

From schools and sports programs to churches and synagogues, there is no shortage of dedicated volunteers in this community, and the Westmount Municipal Association (WMA) wants to know about them.

The WMA is now seeking nominations for its 12th annual Derek Walker Volunteer Citizen of the Year Award, which has now become an annual tradition. It is handed out each spring to a Westmount resident whose volunteer service deserves community-wide recognition.

Vice-president Rosalind Davis is asking residents to contact the WMA with the name and a brief summary of the deeds of a local volunteer whom they believe has made a difference in the Westmount community.

Though it began in 1998, the award was renamed after the late Derek Walker in 2005, in recognition of Walker's longstanding service to the community through his association with several local organizations. This year's Citizen of the Year will be honoured at a ceremony during the WMA's annual general meeting in the late spring, and will have his or her name inscribed on the plaque which hangs in Victoria Hall.

Last year's honouree was Barbara Moore. Previous Citizens of the Year were Andrew MacDougall, Nancy Wright, Geraldine Gahan, former mayor Peter Trent, Bill Morrow, Richard Lord, Sally Aitken, Jacqueline Neville, Vera Jamieson and Sylvia Wedge.

Nominations of local "unsung heroes" may be sent to the WMA's nomination committee at info@wma-amw.org or given by phone at 514-846-8464.