In a ceremony at the Jack Graham Community Centre on Thursday afternoon, Bristol Mayor Brent Orr presented awards on behalf of the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec to Bristol residents Peter Haughton and Nora Bailey Findlay in recognition of their many years of outstanding community service.

Orr said Bristol had put Nora Bailey Findlay’s name forward “in recognition of her social and community involvement, huge heart and warm and generous personality.”

He listed numerous organizations where Mrs. Findlay has lent a helping hand over the years, including Shawville Fair, Bristol Community Association, Shawville District Minor Hockey, Bristol Fire Department, Palliative Care at Shawville Hospital, reading with elementary students at the McDowell school, the Catholic Women’s League at St. Edward’s Church and figure skating in Shawville, in addition to having 10 children of her own and being a foster mother for 16 more.

“The community of Bristol needs more people like Nora Findlay. She has enhanced the lives of everyone that she has come into contact with due to her infectious personality,” said the mayor.

In describing long-time Bristol resident Peter Haughton, Orr said he “contributes greatly to this region to make this place he calls home a better place to live.

“An active volunteer, historian and environmentalist, Peter works tirelessly to promote awareness of the rich history of this community,” said Mayor Orr.

He said Mr. Haughton had created his own museum highlighting the logging industry of a century ago and welcomes international students and local residents alike to learn more about the logging industry, working directly with SEVEC, the Society for Educational Visits and Exchanges Canada. Orr said that, as an environmentalist, Haughton is an active volunteer with the Ottawa Riverkeeper, the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Friends of Chats Falls, and that he is also treasurer of the Shawville Rotary Club where he has raised funds for seats in the high school auditorium and organizes a force of 50 volunteer gatekeepers for Shawville Fair.

Each recipient was awarded a pair of medallions, one the size of a large coin, the other a smaller lapel pin, both inscribed with the name of the Honorable J. Michel Doyon, 29th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, with accompanying certificates that said (translated from French) “We hereby award you the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Seniors and have it entered in our Register of Honors,” signed by Hon. Doyon.

Asked how it feels to receive the award, Mrs. Findlay said “I’d rather it was somebody else. I like to do things, I don’t like to be the centre of attention,” she said with a laugh.

For his part, Mr. Haughton said “I feel honoured, for sure, but at the same time, there are so many people that help you. And when you’re in different organizations, it doesn’t just fall on one person, it’s the group. And I love that,” he said.

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