Canadian Constituency Award Received by Steemian for Community Service

What an interesting week I’ve had. I woke up Friday morning to find this post had been published announcing yours truly as #thealliance’s featured member for this week:

That was pretty darn cool IMO, but, it’s not actually the purpose of this post. I do thank the members of thealliance who selected me, it’s very humbling to receive your notice like this.

So, what is the purpose of this post?

Well, the featured post was the second recognition I received this week.

On Thursday I had to miss the morning Pimp Your Post Thursday session to attend a function I’d been invited to by my local MP (Member of Parliament). Each Canadian MP has received twenty Constituency Awards to present in their ridings.

I’m going to let the local MPs remarks at the ceremony tell you about this award:

Thank you all for being here today. We are not only celebrating Canada's 150th year as a nation, but we are recognizing the recipients of the Canada 150 Constituency Award, which honours both service to Canada and community.

Each Member of Parliament was given these awards to honour constituents in their respective ridings in whatever way they felt appropriate. My choice was "Community Heroes."

Some of you have been quietly doing good work every day for decades. Through your acts of generosity, our towns and villages are better places to live by your acts of selflessness. Others have just begun a life where generosity is its hallmark...where giving is its cornerstone.

But all of you are community heroes...your acts of kindness...your acts of volunteerism...your acts of quiet dignity, and finally your acts of foresight, have won you the proud designation “community hero.”

Some of you have spread this heroism around the globe.

From accessing health care and social services in Tanzania...or to a thousand villages, often the poorest on earth, where countless children now rest their heads and dream dreams of joy...knowing they no longer have to fear the nightmares of malaria in the morning because they’re protected by bed nets. Those are but two of our recipients today.

We have an individual who quietly makes sure those that are hungry...those that are neglected...those who feel forgotten...have warm soup, fresh sandwiches, and a kind smile, to let them know every week...that humanity’s kindness will always overcome whatever cruelties has fallen upon them.

We have a young man who uses his music to raise funds and awareness for the causes he believes in, whether here or in the farthest north. Every note of that music he brings represents a "symphony of salvation" to those causes who benefit from his talent for not only playing music...but for helping those in need.

You will hear in the bios of those receiving awards today the depth of love they have for their communities, whether it’s here or abroad. For love is the other short word that is partner...the mirror to “hero.”

I’m reminded of the wonderful quote by Robert Kennedy, when he said:

“Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

Every day we’re bombarded by images that make us recoil in horror...images that make us question the very nature of the human experience. But then we realize that all around us every day, in quiet nobility, people like those we’re honouring today are part of that human experience...and I would submit that they are the biggest part of it.

Each of our awards today are forged from a piece of the copper roof of Canada's House of Parliament. Each of these precious shards represents a piece of democracy...a piece of our shared values as a nation...they represent a piece of Canada itself.

I had no doubt when the call went out for nominations, that there would be so many. So many worthy individuals being nominated by those that recognize their devotion to others... so many people of such excellent character that truly define “charity” in its essence. It is my honour to be in your company today...and it’s my distinct privilege to recognize all you’ve done for us.

As I mentioned earlier, some of you have woven a “tapestry of altruism” throughout the story of your lives. Chapter after chapter, verse after verse, it reads like a “Book of Beneficence.”

While the books of others today may be shorter, the poetry in which they have begun to write in the book of their lives is no less profound.

Each of you, in ways large and small...gentle and gracious...have indelibly left a lasting legacy of heroism. Many of you have never been honoured publicly in any way for your contributions to our communities. I’m glad this award will mark a permanent and ever-lasting testament to your special contributions, and the undeniable positive effects you’ve given to so many. Thank you.

I looked around the room as she spoke and saw some people I recognized from photos I’d seen of them in local media. I didn’t see anyone else from my local community. That was rather surprising as there are a lot of people in the area who do a lot of community work.

I saw another lady who looked very familiar but I couldn’t place why until she was called forward and the bio read out, she came from my hometown at he opposite end of the riding from where I live. She had been active in the community when I was a child, and still was at the age of 93. Incredible!

At the opposite end of the age spectrum, a grade 12 student was honoured. All secondary school students in this province are required to perform 40 hours of community service during their four years in secondary school. This young lady had logged 1700 hours on a variety of activities. Wow!

This is what the twenty people present received:

This bio was read when I received mine, except I’ve replaced my name with the Steemit name:

When ShadowsPub joined the Legion in 1977, she probably didn’t think that would start her on a 40-year path of community service. The Royal Canadian Legion is an organization dedicated to service to our veterans, their dependents and the communities they live in, and Colborne Branch 187 is certainly a shining example of that, as is ShadowsPub herself. In 1999, ShadowsPub was awarded a Lifetime Membership to the Legion for service to the branch and the community. As Past President, she’s also on the Legion Community Service Committee, and for many years has been instrumental in the Local Food Bank and Christmas Hamper Program. The Colborne resident is an avid blogger, writer and web designer when she’s not helping out at the legion. To quote ShadowsPub herself: "You're either part of the problem, or part of the solution."

That first sentence was oh so true. When I joined the Legion at 19, I did so because I didn’t like going to the local hotels and I wanted a place to be a drunk. So, my goal was to be a paid up drunk. I was very good at that in those days. These days, I have the odd drink. Seems the place grew on me.

In addition to this award and the Life Membership mentioned in the bio, I have also received:

• Citizen of the Year by the Rotary Club in 1995
• Legionnaire of the Year (branch award) in 2012
• Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (national award) in 2012
• Branch Service Medal for ongoing service to the Legion in 2015
• Order of Cramahe for community building and volunterism in 2017

When I first started receiving these recognitions. I was very embarrassed at the notice and attention. I was just used to doing my thing and taking great pleasure in seeing some results for my efforts. I always felt there were others who did way more than I did.

Until the day that a friend who I admired and respected greatly looked me in the eye and told me, “There are more than enough people who brag about doing nothing, just let others give you the notice for actually doing something. It makes people feel good to do so, just like you feel good doing what you do.”

That man died Friday morning at the age of 93. He had lived a life of service to his country, community and Legion.

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