Clinton News Record, 2014-12-17, Page 11Wednesday, December 17, 2014 • News Record 11
Bayfield residents recognized by YMCA for keeping the peace
Melody Falconer -
Pounder a long-
time volunteer
with Bayfield Girl
A Bayfield resident was
recently recognized for her
efforts to make a positive dif-
ference in her community.
Melody Falconer -Pounder
was the recipient of a YMCA
Peace Medallion on Tues.,
Nov 18 in Goderich.
From Nov. 17 to Nov. 24,
YMCAs across Canada cele-
brated YMCA World Peace
Week.
Medallions were handed
to "unsung" heroes within
the communities YMCAs
serve.
Falconer -Pounder was
deeply moved in receiving
the medallion.
"I'm both honoured and
humbled," she said.
She stated when she
became involved with the
Bayfield Girl Guides over 25
years ago, she felt it would be
a good way to meet people in
her new community.
"I had no idea guiding
would play such an integral
role in my life," Falconer -
Pounder said. "The women
and girls that have come into
my life through the Guiding
Sisterhood have helped
shape my character. They
have made me a more
worldly, stronger, braver and
happier person. My experi-
ences in Guiding have taught
me not to take anything or
anyone for granted and that
without risk there is no
reward. I work hard to
remember that everyday."
She said she was pleased
that so many of her friends,
family and colleagues had
came out to support her.
"Sooner or later each and
Dave Flaherty QMI Agency
Melody Falconer -Pounder of Bayfield was awarded a YMCA Peace
Medallion on Nov. 17.
every one of you has been
drawn into some aspect of
the Guiding life in support of
my ladies and our little pro-
jects and so I share this
honor with you today -
thank you for joining me in
building community and
acting for peace."
Leah Noel, a member of
the Goderich YMCA's recrea-
tion management board,
said as a long-time volunteer
with the Bayfield Girl
Guides, Falconer -Pounder
has been a role model to the
young girls who are involved
in guiding.
She said she has helped
many to learn, develop and
become better people.
Noel said Falconer -
Pounder has promoted the
idea of the peace by helping
young Girl Guides to earn
their peace badges and help-
ing them to learn how to
resolve conflicts that may
arrive.
She has also shown dedi-
cation to making sure every-
one can be involved with
Girl Guides even if they face
barriers, Noel said.
Contributed photo
Falconer -Pounder (middle) is joined by Toni Gale and Genelle Reid, who nominated her for the honour,
as well as current Bayfield Girl Guides members Guiding Sophie and Alexis Harney. Falconer -Pounder
has been involved with Bayfield Girl Guides for more than 25 years and helped to spearhead a group
that kept Camp Klahanie in the community.
Falconer -Pounder, a for-
mer reporter with The Signal
Star, was also a driving force
behind the revitalization of
Camp Klahanie.
After Girl Guides Ontario
decided it would sell the
camp and its property, Fal-
coner -Pounder spearheaded
a group to make sure it
stayed within the
community.
The camp is well on its
way to being revitalized with
a lot of help from the Goder-
ich Lions Club.
Noel said she was at a fun-
draising event held at the
camp in September, remark-
ing it was "absolutely
amazing."
Falconer -Pounder was
nominated by Toni Gale -
who was a Brownie the first
year Falconer -Pounder vol-
unteered with the Bayfield
Girl Guides, and Genelle
Reid - who has gone through
the entire program and is
now also a leader.
The other medallion in the
southwest region was
awarded to Matt Laidlaw, a
secondary school student
from Chatham.
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