CBRM Special Volunteer Awards presented at Council meeting

Cyril MacDonald’s face was aglow as he was presented the 2016 Anne Holland Memorial Award for Recognition of an Individual Volunteer. CBRM Councillor Kevin Saccary read aloud MacDonald’s long list of contributions to the community, from his involvement in numerous running groups to his work with Cape Breton Special Olympics and the Cape Breton Dragonboat Festival, as the council chambers filled with pride in the hard work of this young member of our community. MacDonald, who was awarded the Youth Volunteer Award in 2011, was one of three CBRM Special Volunteer Award recipients named during the Tuesday, April 19, CBRM Council meeting at Sydney City Hall.

Laura Goode, a resident of Sydney currently studying Child and Youth Programming at Mount Saint Vincent University, was awarded the 2016 Youth Volunteer Award. Goode is a tireless volunteer in the community, working with Cape Breton Special Olympics and Cape Breton YMCA amongst many others. She has acted as an international ambassador for Sydney Academy, welcoming students from all over the world, and has participated in the YouCan conflict resolution mentorship program helping to teach these techniques to at risk youth.

Basketball Cape Breton was recipient of the 2016 Gary McDonald Memorial Award for Recognition of a Community Group or Project. Basketball Cape Breton provides recreational basketball for more than 700 children in the CBRM, with programs for ages nine to adult. Basketball Cape Breton works in collaboration with school and provincial leagues to create a strong basketball community that develops confidence and skill building in the participants.

The CBRM Special Volunteer Awards are awarded each April to individuals and groups that display outstanding volunteer contributions to the CBRM community. Award nominations are accepted year round and the nomination form can be found at cbrm.ns.ca/recreation or by calling CBRM Recreation at 902-563-5510.