Bloomers Host Annual Volunteer Luncheon

Photos by Lee Fleming

Pugwash Communities in Bloom (CIB) and the Village of Pugwash hosted their 6th annual Volunteer Luncheon yesterday at the St. Thomas More Church Hall. Communities in Bloom is, itself, a volunteer organization.

Noreen Smiley of CIB said they “honoured all the volunteers in our village who do so much to make this the wonderful place it is.” That includes those individuals who volunteer in the numerous organizations, sit on boards, and contribute to the life of the village.

They also recognized a number of businesses, non-for-profit organizations, and municipal leaders who have partnered and collaborated with CIB and often sponsored various CIB projects since its inception in 2006. 

The recipients included:

Ken Landers, Sunrise Greenhouse

Heather Lowe, Scotiabank Pugwash

Alexandre Binette, Windsor Salt Mine

Greg Smiley, Pugwash CO-OP

David Farley, Pugwash Village Commission

Betty Hutchinson, Friends of the Pugwash Estuary

Maureen Woodlock, KGB Recycling

Harry Moore, Acadia Printing

Al Gillis, Municipality of Cumberland County

Fred Horton, Horton Gallery

Bill Kempt, Pugwash and Area Chamber of Commerce

David Rickard, volunteer

Mike Cunningham, Cunningham Construction

Andrew Vandeweil, Pugwash Home Hardware

Ben Smith, Greensmith Contracting

Jennifer Houghtaling, Pugwash Farmers’ Market

Chuck Graham, Tools & Time

Peter Lewis, Pugwash & Area Community Health Board  

Past Honours

The 2016 Community Pride in Action recipients were presented with framed citations for their efforts. We also remembered those who have been honoured since the program began:

2011 

Helen Ripley - container garden, Harbourview Manor;

Bill Atkinson - impeccable property, King Street;

Friends of the Pugwash Estuary - conservation, environment;

Harriet Barbour - Sunset, cheerful village worker;

Wayne & Beverly Arsenault - King Street (nominated by daughter);

Nancy Huston - decades of gardening, Cumberland Lodge;

Pugwash Farmers’ Market - eat local, community action;

Sean & Roxanne Langille - property improvement, Victoria Street;

Pugwash COOP - community support, landscaping;

Jodi, Billie, Maureen Hawthorne - edible garden;

Mundles Dairy, Pugwash Point;

David Farley - park-like property friendly to wildlife;

Howie & Sheila Wilson - beautiful gardens welcoming visitors, Durham Street;

2012 

Kay Mundle, Victoria Street for impeccable property;

Maureen Woodlock and the KGB, for environmental initiatives;

Jason Ferdinand, representing youth who have taken action,  helping with annual litter pick up;

Denis Brown, a community builder – supporter of Sport Pugwash, Harbourfest, and Chamber of Commerce;

Dave Taplin, for being a good neighbour, Pugwash’s unofficial Mr Fix–it;

Bert and Patti McWade, community builders with big ideas and energy (Bethleham Live, HarbourFest…);

Helen Ripley, for her beautiful container garden and age-defying energy;

HarbourFest Volunteers, for their dedication and hard work celebrating Pugwash harbour;

Valerie Brown, Prince Albert Street for her enthusiasm about Pugwash and her amazing rose garden;

Cumberland East Historical Society volunteers for preserving our heritage;

Lynn Alward & Maggie Smith, leadership for gardens Harbourview Manor;

Jim & Shirley Cummings, shady oasis on Russell Street;

Mike Cunningham, business supporter – Harbourfest, Sport Pugwash;

2013 

Joe Gautier - Cumberland Lodge garden visionary, with volunteer Debbie Cameron, staff and residents;

Sunset Litter Team - environment;

Post Office staff, Sue Darragh, Rhonda Ferdinand & Nancy Mundle - community supporters;

Elizabeth Allen, 107 Russell Street - immaculate gardens;

Scotiabank staff - community builders & supporters;

Bonnie Crowell - master gardener, generous supporter;

Helen Cameron & staff, North Cumberland Memorial Hospital Auxillary Thrift Shop- community supporters;

Sherry & Steve Arkens - supporters of community events;

Jim & Arlene MacDonald - pride in property;

2014 

Alan Sarson - volunteer;

Greg Nix - visionary/builder;

Margaret and Ray Jamison - builders;

Jackie and Paul Devries - property improvement;

2015 

John Caraberis - protector of wild places - nature trust;

Louise Cloutier - creative game changer - community collaborations and youth involvement;

Marian Williams - good shepherd - cat rescue;

Jim Willis - community supporter - volunteering;

2016 

Jennifer Houghtaling - school garden - community builder;

Sheryl Chambers - Sheryl’s Bakery - business improvement;

Fred Horton - community supporter;

Jim MacNab & Eleanor Borden - business improvement;

Dare to Bare Calendar

The CIB also launched its 2017 fundraising calendar, “Pugwash, Our Community in Bloom”, during the luncheon, offering special thanks to fantastic photographer, Fred Horton, and Harry Moore of Acadian Printing, for guiding this calendar through all stages of production.

To show their appreciation, CIB’s Judith Rickard and Norene Smiley presented the “dare to be bare” subjects with a token of thanks for making the fun project happen.