The Municipality of Jasper’s annual Christmas party is a time for fun and festive frivolity, but it is also a chance for the town to recognize the efforts of citizens and groups that have worked to make this a better place.

On Friday (December 23) the municipality honoured two individuals for their dedication, as well as the Lions Club of Jasper.

Fay Knight was recognized for distinguished voluntary service. Knight has been volunteering for the Jasper Municipal Library since 1975, a time when the facility’s opening hours were dependent on the presence of volunteers such as herself.

“If you didn’t show up, the library didn’t open,” noted the nomination letter that was sent to the Mayor’s Awards selection committee.

Also receiving notice for distinguished voluntary service was the Jasper Lions Club. The group is routinely involved in charitable work in the community, but this particular citation was specifically in recognition of the club’s role in establishing and managing the Pine Grove Senior’s Manor.

“They took the leadership role long before we became an independent municipality and provided a centre and a service to our seniors,” read the nomination letter for the Lions.

In 1977 Joyce Richards and a group of local people did a door-to-door survey to gauge the need in Jasper for a senior’s residence, recalled Jim Lang, a Lions Club member who  was involved in the management of the manor for many years.

“They came up with the fact that a seniors’ manor was needed in the town and we took it from there,” he said. Lang and other senior club members were heavily invested in the project. Literally.

“We actually borrowed $ 90,000 to start that and boy I’m telling you, we as an executive thought that we would have to dig into our pockets to pay the interest,” he said.

The manor was opened in the spring of 1983 and the Lions Club continued to manage the property until 2004, when the Evergreens Foundation, a body that controls all the seniors’ housing in the Yellowhead region, took over.

“It was time to let it go,” said Lang. “It was a tough decision because you know, I felt I owned that building ... you get attached to everything.” 

A special award was also presented to Shirley Dorin, the operator of the concession in the Activity Centre. Nominated by multiple groups and individuals including the Jr/Sr High School, Jasper Minor Sports and the Jasper Wolves, Dorin was cited for her contributions to the steady stream of locals and visitors who frequent the facility.

“She’s one of our most valuable citizens,” wrote one nominator. “Shirley is a huge part of Jasper Minor Sports, although she probably doesn’t even realize it,” wrote another.

The three winners all took home a unique wood carving created by Jasper’s own Tony Klettl.

The Mayor’s Recognition awards are in their third year of existence and 2005 marks the first year that multiple awards were presented. The winners are selected from a list of nominees by the mayor and members of council. Every year, awards can be presented for volunteer service and excellence in athletics or the fine and performing arts.