Province seeks to reward volunteers

Northumberland-Quinte West MPP Lou Rinaldi issued this press release on Thursday.

As your Member of Provincial Parliament, it is my extreme pleasure to announce a program to recognize exceptional sports and recreation volunteers in our community; Celebrate 2010: Community Sports Hero Award Program. This is an opportunity to recognize and honour the unsung heroes of community sports and recreation: coaches, association members, trainers, conveners, fundraisers, drivers, chaperones, etc, in the spirit of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Volunteers are the backbone of community sports and recreation in Ontario and contribute unconditionally to the development and experience of athletes of all ages and levels of competitiveness. Those individuals who have been going out when it’s 30below to flood the community rink for the past decade; or someone who has coached Little League baseball for 25 years; or sold chocolate bars by the dozens for a minor hockey team. These are the unsung heroes we want to recognize.

Award recipients, along with their families, will be invited to attend a reception in the New Year and will be presented with a recognition certificate signed by myself and by the Premier of Ontario. Only 25 recipients will be selected from Northumberland-Quinte West and the deadline for nominations is December 15, 2009.

Nominations for this award, in 500 words or less, may be submitted to me at: 1005 Elgin Street West, Suite 201, Cobourg, ON K9A 5J4, or lrinaldi.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org. Please ensure that your contact information is included and the contact information of the nominee in your nomination letter.

It’s important to take time to thank someone special. Today, I challenge you to look to your neighbours, colleagues, friends and family and recognize the unique and wonderful ways that people are giving back. It’s time we said thank you to our unsung heroes.

I look forward to receiving the nominations for Celebrate 2010 and hearing about the great work in our community.

Contact:

Lou Rinaldi, M.P.P., Northumberland-Quinte West

lrinaldi.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

1-800-263-3980