For Immediate Release: July 13, 2016
Stratford Recognizes Volunteers
At the recent Canada Day celebrations, the Town of Stratford took time to recognize and thank two community residents for their volunteer work and dedication to the Town.
Cory Barlow was the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award. Ten years ago Mr. Barlow approached the Town with the idea of starting an instructional hockey program for kids who weren't otherwise enrolled in a minor hockey organization. With his input the program was developed and has continued each year since, operating at a full complement of 40 kids.
In presenting, Mayor David Dunphy commented "Cory has continued to be the instructor and volunteer each year with the Skills & Drills program despite not having any children in the program himself. He does this solely from his own passion for the game of hockey and the development of grass roots skills in kids".
Cory has two adult boys who help with the Saturday morning program. He also continues to volunteer his time as a baseball coach, sit on Town committees and is very involved with the Pownal Minor Hockey Association.
Also on Canada Day, the 2016 Youth Volunteer of the Year Award was presented. The Town of Stratford congratulated Landon Holmes who received this year's honour. From an early age Landon loved Christmas lights and recalls at the age of 12 discovering a musical light show online and asking his parents if they could do one at their home. They convinced him that he could do that when he was older and had his own home but, undeterred, in August of 2010 with the help of some friends, Landon got to work and spent hours putting his first show together for that Christmas season. That first year he spent over $2,000, all of which came from his own savings. Around the same time a neighbour passed away from a stroke and it was decided that the PEI Heart & Stroke Foundation would be the recipient of all donations collected from visitors to his show.
"After five years Landon's Light Show has grown to 40,000 lights and has made donations of more than $30,000 to the PEI Heart & Stroke Foundation," explained Mayor David Dunphy. "Landon exemplifies what the Youth Volunteer of the Year Award is about. We know that many residents and Islanders look forward to his light display each holiday season."
Landon is very appreciative of the support he receives year after year from his family, friends and neighbours, and especially to everyone who generously donates when they come to watch the show year after year.
The Volunteer of the Year and Youth Volunteer of the Year awards are presented annually at the Town of Stratford's Canada Day celebrations. Calls for nominations open in the winter each year and provide the opportunity for nominations to be received from the community. For more information or to view the criteria please visit www.townofstratford.ca or contact (902) 569-1995.
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For more information please contact:
Wendy Watts, Community Engagement Coordinator
Town of Stratford
T: (902) 569-1995
E: [email protected]
L-R: Mayor David Dunphy, Cory Barlow, Constable Kim Dudley
L-R: Mayor David Dunphy, Landon Holmes, Constable Kim Dudley