An annual tradition for 91原创 City council is to gather together the hard-working volunteers of the community and say thank you by throwing a banquet in their honour.
Tuesday evening, that thank you was given in Hawaiian fashion with many utterances of the word 鈥渕ahalo.鈥�
Roughly 200 guests came to the Coast Hotel and Convention Centre Ballroom to be treated to a Polynesian-themed dinner and a brief round of applause for their efforts.
To capitalize on what Mayor Val van den called 鈥渁 way to get out of the gloom of winter,鈥� flowery leis were handed out to each guest, while entertainment from, fittingly, the 91原创 Ukulele Ensemble performed alongside live dancing.
鈥淲e are celebrating our volunteers 鈥� all of our volunteer groups that help out 91原创 City who make our lives so much better 鈥� we can truly not thank them enough,鈥� van den Broek said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got so many different service groups and organizations in our community and everybody always pulls together and this is our big thank you to them.鈥�
Each councillor, except Counc. Teri James who could not attend, came up to the podium to call upon the names of those in attendance or associated with a specific group.
Every volunteer representing a specific organization got their moment to stand up and receive applause and recognition.
Ranging from young citizens to seniors, volunteers from all causes and backgrounds got a chance to meet with other groups and learn just how much effort goes into making 91原创 what it is.
Lida Magnus was recognized for her contributions with the 91原创 City Youth Advisory Committee and 91原创 Crime Prevention Task Group.
鈥淚 believe volunteers are the core [and] backbone of a community, drive passion in the community, and service others around them. Volunteers are selfless and devoted individuals that bring vibrancy to the City of 91原创,鈥� Magnus told the 91原创 Advance Times.
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鈥漇ome of the programs we couldn鈥檛 run without volunteers,鈥� van den Broek added. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e so important to us to keep things going. They help us plan the city 鈥� we鈥檝e got people on the economic task force 鈥� we鈥檝e got economic crime prevention; so, everything our volunteers do benefit everybody in the community.鈥�
More than 70 volunteer organizations were recognized at the volunteer appreciation banquet including Rotary clubs, Elks clubs, arts councils, music groups, RCMP programs, and many more.
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Email: ryan.uytdewilligen@langleyadvancetimes.com
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