It’s relatively common knowledge that many communities rely on the work of volunteers to keep local residents active and involved in local issues.

From organizing local sports leagues to community dinners and caring for shut-ins, there is a lot of work that goes unpaid and unrecognized. For every volunteer that you see out and about at community events, there are likely several that are in the kitchen or cleaning up afterwards that you don’t.

That’s why it’s important to see a hardworking local like Vera Rutledge Mayor being recognized by no less than the Office of the Governor General for her decades of dedication.

Last Tuesday, The Equity was on hand with her friends and colleagues as Rutledge Mayor was presented with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, a prestigious decoration that she quite clearly deserves. The medal is reserved for those who have made “significant, sustained and unpaid contributions to their community.”

For those unfamiliar, Rutledge Mayor has been a long-time volunteer with Bouffe Pontiac, and is the President of the Campbell’s Bay Golden Age Club. She’s provided meals, organized activities and worked as a strong advocate for senior citizens in the region for years.

Like many volunteers, she has been toiling away in relative obscurity for some time and it was fitting for her accomplishments to be centre stage, if only for an afternoon.

The sheer number of people and organizations represented at the celebration is indicative of the impact that one individual can have on their environment. This is a reminder of what can be accomplished when someone thinks about others before themselves, and prioritizes the well-being of their community.

The Pontiac is lucky to have such a wealth of people with this attitude, and it’s vital to praise and validate true selflessness when we see it.

Congratulations Vera, you’ve earned some applause.

Caleb Nickerson