Bristol resident Deb Powell is the latest resident of that municipality to be honoured for volunteerism, receiving the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for excellent volunteer service.
Powell has volunteered with different organizations since moving to Bristol about 15 years ago. She has served as president of the Western Quebec Literacy Council, is the active president of the Friends of Chats Falls, and has volunteered in various capacities for Ski Pontiac, Environmental Protection Pontiac, Ottawa Riverkeeper and the Bristol Community Association.
Powell said she was surprised to find out she had won the award, adding that there are many dedicated volunteers who would have been equally qualified.
“I really feel quite undeserving, because I think there’s people who deserve it way more,” she said.
Hundreds of the awards are given out in Canada every year, with different criteria according to the province. In Quebec, the award is for exceptional volunteer service.
According to the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec’s website, the medal recognizes “the voluntary involvement, determination, and dedication of citizens of Quebec who make or have made a difference within their community.”
Powell joins Peter Haughton, Nora Findlay and Val Henderson as Bristol residents to have received the honour in recent years.
Bristol mayor Valerie Twolan-Graham took to social media on May 4 to announce the award, adding that Powell and other volunteers “enrich the lives of others in our community.”
“The Municipality of Bristol and the community organizations you dedicate so much of your time to are honoured to have nominated you,” the statement reads. “Thank you.”
Powell, a self-described environmentalist, said that nature-related causes are particularly close to her heart. She is an active member of the Pontiac’s birding community, every year organizing the Shawville-Quyon bird count. She is also an advocate for Blanding’s turtle conservation.
“I’ve been following the turtle people who come from the ministry to research the turtles probably for 15 years I’ve been in Bristol, so that’s a real fascination,” she said.
“Bristol is a great community
[ . . . ] there’s so much going on. There’s so many people involved.”
She said while there are different causes in the community she would like to volunteer with, she has taken to tending to her sister, who is ill. She said she is still trying her best to find time to volunteer during this tough time.
