2014 Trent Hills Civic Awards

Warkworth volunteers recognized for community work

Former Warkworth resident and longtime volunteer Dean Peters (left) and the Percy Agricultural Society (pictured from left to right is vice-president David Glover, Ann-Marie Switzer, Janet Torrance and president Gregory Torrance) were acknowledged for their outstanding community work at the 5th annual Civic Awards held recently at the Hastings Civic Centre. Also receiving recognition in the recreation and sports category was Warkworth referee Fredrick Tanner (below), who received a certificate for officiating his 600th minor hockey league game in February. (Photos by Mary Weilandt and Sarah Dafoe -Tanner) Dean Peters has been involved with many volunteer groups in the community over the years, and finally he has received some long overdue recognition for his efforts. Mr. Peters, who currently lives in Hastings but remains active in various Warkworth groups, was recently named the co-winner of the Community Betterment Award at the 5th annual Trent Hills Civic Awards held at the Hastings Civic Centre. Mr. Peters shared the award with the Seymour West Womens Institute, which has been active in helping local women achieve personal growth for more than 100 years. According to Trent Hills CAO Mike Rutter, Mr. Peters received a record-setting nine nominations and an impressive amount of supporting material, which made it very difficult for the selection committee to pick just one winner for the Community Betterment Award. In the end, the committee members said to heck with it lets give it to them both. As most people in Warkworth are aware, Mr. Peters has been involved with a number of organizations in the community and, as Mr. Rutter noted, has served in a leadership role in a great number of them. Mr. Rutter also added that one nominator described Mr. Peters as the go-to person when something needs doing in the community. In addition to his volunteer work, Mr. Peters also represented Percy Ward on Trent Hills council where he once held the position of deputy mayor. Let me begin by saying that I am both honoured and humbled to receive this particular award, Mr. Peters told the Warkworth Journal in a recent phone interview. It has truly been a privilege to help make the community of Warkworth a better place in which to live. I share this award with the wonderful people I have worked with and been associated with over the years. They certainly deserve recognition as well. Also honoured at the black-tie event was the Percy Agricultural Society, a not-for-profit organization established in 1850 and hosts the Warkworth Fall Fair and the Warkworth Western Weekend Rodeo. PAS president Gregory Torrance said the executive was real happy with the award. Percy Agricultural Society has been around a real long time so its nice to receive some recognition every hundred years or so, he said. (As a side bar, when asked by The Journal, Mr. Torrance would not confirm nor deny persistent rumours on Main St. that PAS is currently in negotiations to book country superstar Jason Aldean to play at this summers Rodeo dance at the Warkworth Arena. A terse no comment was Mr. Torrances reply to the question.) Meanwhile, in the recreation and FRED TANNER sports category, Warkworth referee Fredrick Tanner received a certificate of recognition for officiating his 600th minor hockey league game in February. Mr. Tanner said he was totally shocked to receive the certificate, and will proudly display it next to the game puck he received from Percy Minor Hockey Association after his milestone game. with files from The Independent