Winning a Hay River Community Spirit Award was a SA国际影视传媒渂ig surpriseSA国际影视传媒� for Chuck Lirette, and it couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have come at a better time.

Lirette earned the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 Trailblazer Award for the countless hours he has spent tending to the trails at the Hay River Ski Club SA国际影视传媒� a club that may soon have to close due to budgetary concerns.

SA国际影视传媒淭he funding that we get from the territorial government has been cut and so weSA国际影视传媒檙e very much at risk of losing our ski club,SA国际影视传媒� he said just over a week after receiving his award. SA国际影视传媒淩ight now, we tentatively set a close date for the club of April of next year.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 hoping that this award that I received will be another message to the government that the ski club in Hay River is quite important to the people of Hay River.SA国际影视传媒�

This yearSA国际影视传媒檚 community spirit awards went to 11 people, businesses and organizations around the community. Award winners were nominated and voted on by community members, which makes the experience all the more meaningful, according to Lirette.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檒l spend hundreds and hundreds of hours [a year] out there, and ISA国际影视传媒檝e been involved with our ski club for about 20 years now, so I guess itSA国际影视传媒檚 recognition for many, many years of service,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淓verybody appreciates a thank you or a job-well-done, so I guess thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what this means to me.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a nice surprise, considering it comes from the community. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 what our ski club is all about. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e a group of volunteers trying to provide a source of recreation for people in Hay River.SA国际影视传媒�

Lirette is among six volunteers who keep the ski club running. He said his colleagues SA国际影视传媒渃ertainly deserve to be recognized as well.SA国际影视传媒�

Steve Anderson, who took home the Good Neighbour Award, was also surprised by his win.

In fact, he said, he was SA国际影视传媒渇labbergastedSA国际影视传媒� when he got the news.

SA国际影视传媒淭he people that were also nominated, that were on the list, I would say were well deserving too,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 just happy to be shoulder-to-shoulder with them.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 honoured to have been part of that list.SA国际影视传媒�

Like Lirette, Anderson also said being chosen by his neighbours made the distinction even more special.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 very nice,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 definitely very privileged and blown away by the fact that ISA国际影视传媒檓 one of the award recipients.SA国际影视传媒�

The award gala occurred at the Hay River Legion Branch #250 on Feb. 3, and was organized by the Town of Hay River.

It was a wonderful night, according to Anderson.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was beautiful,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e got to hand it to the Town of Hay River and in particular [tourism coordinator] Jill Morse. She did a fabulous job, like she always does for these events. She had a butterfly theme, and it was just beautiful. It was magical.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was nice to get together and celebrate things, and celebrate other people and businesses that are part of the community.SA国际影视传媒�

The complete list of Hay River community spirit award winners is as follows:

- Youth Volunteer Award: Simara Wilson

- Senior Volunteer Award: Linda Duford

- Community Beautification Award: Hay River M茅tis Council

- Arts and Culture Award: Aaron Tambour Photography

- Community Spirit initiative Award: Hay River Legion Branch #250

- Good Neighbour Award: Steve Anderson

- Good Business Award: Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre

- Diversity Award: Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre

- Community Safety Award: Hay River Fire Department

- Trailblazer Award: Chuck Lirette

- Citizen of the Year Award: Kandis Jameson