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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2019-02-21, Page 2PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019. Last week, the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund (DMMF) handed out a number of awards under its Order of the Good Samaritan Awards umbrella, honouring several local volunteers for their efforts in the community. Among the local winners were Grace Caldwell from the Belgrave area, who won the Police Const. Vu Pham Award, and Bob Rowe of Walton’s Freedom Syrup, who won the Cpl. Matthew Dinning Award. DMMF Founder Patrick Armstrong says that since the awards were established in 2012, the Fund has tried to do two things with the awards. Not only is the DMMF honouring worthy, hard-working volunteers throughout the community, but the awards are honouring fallen police and military members at the same time. The awards were established in the same year that the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medals were being handed out. Armstrong was one of the recipients, but it got him thinking that the DMMF should be honouring outstanding citizens in the community as well. Armstrong said that while the DMMF itself is a registered volunteer-run charity, installing defibrillators in public buildings all over southwestern Ontario, he didn’t want the Fund to be a “one-trick pony” either. Once he brought the idea to the executive and the members were in favour, Armstrong then approached family members of fallen emergency responders, such as the Phams, the Dinnings, the family of OPP Constable Bruce Crew and several others. Through those consultations, he worked with family members to marry a fallen member of the emergency responder community to a winning volunteer with attributes that would make sense with that person. For example, deceased OPP Const. Vu Pham was a dedicated volunteer with area youth, both through sports and through the church, so his award honours a young volunteer in the area. Armstrong says that in the years since the awards have been handed out, he has seen a sharp increase in the number of nominees put forward and he’s always impressed with their achievements, even if they aren’t deemed the winner of an award. The quality of volunteers in Huron County, he said, is second to none and often they are taken for granted. He said that handing out the awards year after year has been humbling. To hear all of the volunteer work being done in the community is truly amazing, Armstrong says. Really though, Armstrong says, it has been the buy-in from families like the Dinnings, the Phams and the Crews, among others, that has legitimized the awards. To have Lincoln and Laurie Dinning, the parents of fallen soldier Matthew, present an award in his name, Armstrong says, makes it an amazing experience for the winners, for the families and for the DMMF. The same could be said for the Pham family and the Crew family. When Caldwell won the Vu Pham Award and was presented her plaque by Heather, Vu’s widow, and Jordan Pham, their son, Caldwell said it meant so much more to know the story of the man behind the award. With the families of fallen emergency personnel so supportive of the DMMF, Armstrong says it lends the awards a tremendous amount of credibility and they really mean something to those who win them. As for the Fund itself, it has now placed over 100 defibrillator donations throughout the province and beyond. The 102nd donation, Armstrong says, has been placed in the name of a man who died in Haiti in 2010 with the help of the Rotary Club in the Dominican Republic. Armstrong says that while the defibrillator couldn’t make it all the way to Haiti, it’s on the same island and there to serve Haitian refugees. There have also been donations in Petrolia, Milverton and Millbank and there will be another donation this May in conjunction with the DMMF’s Run Around The Square in Goderich on Mother’s Day. For more information on the DMMF or its Order of the Good Samaritan Awards or to nominate someone, visit davemounsey.com Mounsey Fund supports volunteers through awards Honouring the worthy The Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund has a long history of honouring worthy volunteers. First, it was through the Meritorious Service Cross for Fund volunteers, now it’s through the Order of the Good Samaritan Awards, an annual set of awards handed out by the Fund. The awards go to stand-out volunteers, but also honour the memory of fallen police officers and military personnel, as they’re named for local heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Above, Fund Founder Patrick Armstrong, right, awarded long-time volunteer Paul Josling, left, with the Meritorious Service Cross in February of 2014. Josling, who has since passed away, has since been honoured by the Fund as a fallen emergency responder himself due to his decades with the Blyth Fire Department. (File photo) Matt Den Hollander, Broker of Record of Realty Executives Platinum Limited is very happy to announce the hiring of Dave Boonstoppel, Sales Representative. Dave has recently completed the required OREA courses and met all of the RECO qualifications to practice in real estate. Dave got into real estate because of a love for homes and farms, coupled with a desire to learn and grow in a different direction. Dave brings his practical knowledge about agriculture to the Realty Executives team. Together with his wife Elly and 3 boys they ran a successful dairy goat, cash crop and custom work farm for the past 20 years. Through ups and downs this has given him a real appreciation for farmers regardless of where they are at in the industry. Dave has also been active in carpentry trade since the age of 19, he knows houses inside and out. Not afraid to get his hands dirty, he knows how you feel about your home and can advise how the strengths of your property can help achieve your goals. Whether buying or selling a home, farm, cottage, or commercial property, Dave will be a great advocate for you. Five words to describe Dave are commitment, honesty, integrity, passion and fun. He enjoys continuous improvement and learning as a means to stay ahead of the changing landscape in real estate. Dave will continually learn the trends and employ modern technology for his clients. Dave and the team at Realty Executives are the distinct team for you! When he’s not working Dave enjoys family, camping, travel and mission trips. Dave’s goal is to provide a positive and seamless transaction for you. “Make a solid move”, start a conversation with Dave today! Make a solid move, start a conversation with Dave today! REALTY EXECUTIVES PLATINUM LIMITED 34 Main Street South, Seaforth Office: 519.600.4949 Dave Boonstoppel ~ Sales Representative Direct: 519.440.2444 Dave Boonstoppel ~ Sales Rep. WHO’S LOOKING AT YOU? Deadline March 8 Put your business in front of the RIGHT eyes! The Citizen has special interest issues coming up. Call or email our marketing specialists today! 519-523-4792 ads@northhuron.on.ca Farm Issue Deadline February 22 Boost Your S a l e s Deadline March 28 Comm u n i t y Suppo r t Deadline March 1 Comm u n i t y Aware n e s s STEVEN NIXON Broker WILFRED MCINTEE & CO. L IMITED Bus: 519-357-2222 Cell: 519-531-0252 Fax: 519-357-4482 Email: nixon@execulink.com Web: www.stevennixon.com 249 Josephine St., WINGHAM, ON N0G 2W0 Serving the area since 1999 24 JORDAN DRIVE BELGRAVE $349,900.00 Excellent location for this 3+1 bedroom brick home, almost a ½ acre lot, updated kitchen 2014, 4pc ensuite, family room with gas fireplace, gas furnace & central air, relax on the deck overlooking the fenced yard. Call Steve Nixon 519.357.2222 #6 By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED