It would appear the work being done by Tara Boudreau hasn't gone unnoticed by folks in Hay River.

The principal at both Harry Camsell School and Princess Alexandra School was honoured as the Citizen of the Year during the Hay River Community Spirit Awards at the Royal Canadian Legion on Saturday evening. Boudreau was one of nine recipients of an award, which was the second time the event has been held. They were started last year as a way to show resilience from events in years past.

Boudreau said it was an honour to receive the award.

"I was talking with a friend and she was joking about my name being there (in nominations)," she said. "And when the names came out, there was mine."

Boudreau was nominated for her work not only as a principal, but as a volunteer with the Lights On program at the Hay River Youth Centre. 

She said volunteering is something that's been in her blood for as long as she can remember.

"I love helping people - I even wanted to help clear the tables at the Legion when everything was over," she said with a laugh. "But the youth are so important to this community and that's always been my focus. You want to try and build a relationship with young people and let them know you care about them and that they matter."

Part of that, she said, is an open-door policy she maintains with students and youth.

"I want the kids to feel comfortable enough to talk to me," she said. "Working on the Lights Out program is so important because it gives kids a place to hang out outside of school with their friends in a safe, warm place. The kids make it so easy to do what I do."

Like other volunteers who have won awards, Boudreau said she doesn't do it for the recognition and looks at this as a thank-you.

"It's so humbling that people here felt I was worthy of this," she said. "I just do it because I love to do it."

Some of the other award winners on the night include Super A Foods, which received the Good Business Award for its support of local groups in town, while Donavin Rodger-Evans won Youth Volunteer of the Year. The Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre was twice a winner as it received both the Arts and Culture Award and the Community Spirit Initiative Award.

Gerals Dumas won the Trail Blazer Award and Kaiah Carter, athlete extraordinaire, was named Athlete of the Year. The late Bobbi Hamilton was posthumously honoured with the Senior Volunteer of the Year Award.

Heather Coakwell was inducted into the town's Sport and Recreation Walk of Fame for her work with Storm Sports, a program she helped found to give young athletes a chance to play high-calibre sports.