Bristol resident Valerie Henderson was on her way out the door to meet with friends towards the end of March when the phone rang. When she picked up, she was informed she was being awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal which recognizes volunteers for their service in the province of Quebec.
“It was such a shock, honestly I couldn’t believe it,” Henderson told THE EQUITY. “Why me? Out of all the great people we have here.”
The medal recognizes “the voluntary involvement, determination, and dedication of citizens of Quebec who make or have made a difference in their community and across the province,” the award’s website explains.
Henderson was nominated for the award by Bristol councillor Valerie Twolan-Graham.
“Val has been a fixture in our community for a very long period of time,” Twolan-Graham said. “I think everyone in Bristol has had contact with her in some way; she’s made an impression on every person in Bristol.”
Twolan-Graham said she was “thrilled” to hear that Henderson had received the award. She said that volunteering is essential, especially in rural communities.
“I think volunteerism in a rural community has to be there to be able to offer our residents quality of activity,” Twolan-Graham said. “It emphasizes the influence that volunteers have to make in our community, one that people want to live in and remain living in for as long as they possibly can.”
Born in South Africa, Henderson moved to Canada in 1962 and met her husband in Toronto before they moved to a farm in Bristol sometime around 1978. She has three children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Now 86 years old, she lives in Norway Bay, across the street from the site of the now-demolished Henderson store she ran with her family for several decades.
She said she believes she was recognized for her efforts leading a weekly exercise class for seniors, something she did for over a decade, as well as the work she’s done tidying up trash in her community.
She said that volunteering is something she’s always loved to do and plans to continue for as long as she can.
“It makes me feel good, I guess,” Henderson said. “I certainly want to keep picking up the garbage. I’m always going to keep doing that.”
Henderson was presented the medal by the Lieutenant-Governor Manon Jeanotte at a ceremony in Hull earlier this month.
“You know what I found really great?” Henderson asked. “There were a lot of young people. I thought, how wonderful that there’s so many young people doing their bit.”
While she said it was nice to be recognized for the award, she kept thinking of all her friends and neighbours who were equally deserving in her eyes.
“I know that there’s so many other people that have done wonderful things,” Henderson said. “Me, I’ve tried to do whatever I could.”
She said the community is what continues to inspire her to volunteer. Henderson explained that they’ve rallied behind her during tough times.
