The Citizen, 2015-01-22, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015.
Several locals honoured with Thompson’s awards
Three local individuals were
among 17 Outstanding Citizen
Award nominees recognized by
Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson
at her annual New Year’s Levee at
Teeswater’s Town Hall on Jan. 14.
During a special awards ceremony
held in Teeswater, Thompson recog-
nized Patrick Armstrong for his
work with the Dave Mounsey
Memorial Fund (DMMF), OPP
Sergeant Russ Nesbitt for his work
with both emergency and communi-
ty services and Jim Lee for his work
bringing live local music to Huron
County.
Nesbitt, who lives in Blyth, is a
very active member of his communi-
ty. He serves as a captain with the
Fire Department of North Huron and
has served as the Huron County OPP
Torch Run co-ordinator for several
years.
Nesbitt was unable to attend the
event as he was out of the country at
the time, however, he said he was
honoured to be considered for and to
receive the award.
“It’s amazing, just wonderful to be
recognized,” he said. “I’m sad that I
wasn’t able to make the awards.”
Nesbitt said he wanted to thank
Thompson for hosting and present-
ing the awards and he was honoured
to be amongst the group of recipi-
ents for the honour.
He also said this marked the end of
a great year for him and he was look-
ing forward to 2015. During 2014,
Nesbitt was promoted both in the
OPP and the Fire Department of
North Huron. He also celebrated his
20th anniversary with his wife Kerry
last year.
Lee, better known as Cinnamon
Jim in his home village of Brussels,
was recognized for bringing local
music to the village.
“It was nice to know I got nomi-
nated, but being there, seeing the
other people who got the award and
receiving it myself was great,” he
said.
Lee said he received the award for
bringing local live music to the
county, specifically though the
Brussels Farmers’ Market and
trying to bring a successful fiddle
jamboree to Brussels.
“We are trying to get the jamboree
to continue in Brussels on an annual
basis,” he said. “I’m going to try and
convince the [Brussels Lions Club]
we should support it for the next few
years.”
The Jamboree, which will always
be held on the fourth Sunday in July,
is something that’s making its mark
in the county, according to Lee, and
will make a difference.
For Lee, he said getting the award
was a great honour, but the two high
points of the night were finding out
his nomination didn’t come from
Brussels as well as meeting an old
friend at the ceremony.
“I was nominated by someone
from Exeter,” he said. “It’s kind of
nice to be recognized like that by
someone outside of the community.”
Lee ran into pianist Mark Willms
who has played for Lulu’s Band and
also acted and provided music for
the Oscar-winning movie Lost in
Translation.
“Mark provided the entertainment
for the night and it was great,” Lee
said. “It was amazing to see some-
one I knew when they were good,
now that they are great.”
Armstrong said he was honoured
to receive the award for his work for
the DMMF.
“I was humbled by those around
me,” he said in an e-mail to The
Citizen.“To hear the community
dedication that the awardees have,
the day to day involvement and com-
mitment to their communities made
me appreciate all of them that much
more.”
While he was honoured for the
recognition, he said the work for the
Fund wasn’t something he could
take credit for.
“My work with the Mounsey Fund
is that of a team – a dedicated board
of volunteers who are the real
drive behind the Fund and I
cannot thank them enough for
that,” he said.
Recognized
‘Cinnamon’ Jim Lee, left, and Russell Nesbitt, right, were
two of nearly 20 people to be recognized with the
Outstanding Citizen awards presented by Huron-Bruce
MPP Lisa Thompson at her New Year’s Levee in
Teeswater on Jan. 14. Lee was recognized for bringing
live music to the county, while in 2014 OPP Sergeant Russell
Nesbitt was named the top police officer in Huron County and
received promotions both in his OPP career and his volunteer
service at the Fire Department of North Huron in 2014. (Denny Scott
photo)
Looking for local heroes
There are so many people out there who do
so much to improve their community.
Now you have a chance to say thanks.
Nominate that special person for the 30th
Annual Citizen Citizenship Awards.
Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area
and Brussels and area communities to receive an award for contribution to the communi-
ty. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the ballot and send
it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee should win, if
you like. If you have nominated someone before and he or she didn't win, please feel free
to try again.
I nominate
as Citizen of the year for
I feel she/he deserves this award because
Nomination Deadline April 30, 2015.
Name and phone number of nominator
❑Blyth
& area ❑Brussels
& area
By Denny Scott
The Citizen