Strathcona County presented the 2015 Pride of Strathcona Awards to these groups and individuals, with biographies and photos below. Congratulations!
Mayor's Award
County Clothes-Line Foundation
Arts, Culture and Heritage
Athletic Achievement
Community Service
Professional Achievement
Outstanding Group
2014 Canada 55+ Games Community Engagement Society
Strathcona County Community Mediation Society
County Clothes-Line Foundation
Mayor's Award
The County Clothes-Line store is Sherwood Park's original non-profit, second-hand clothing and items store. The Foundation’s work has benefited many for more than 30 years. The Foundation's annual commitments for funding include the Strathcona Food Bank, the Strathcona Christmas Bureau, A Safe Place, the Strathcona Sexual Assault Centre and the Robin Hood Association. Together, through these grants and other community partnerships, the Foundation makes it possible to assist people in our community in their time of need. It has supported playgrounds, senior jamborees, the arts, community leagues, victim services and much more. Over the years, more than $1.6 million has been invested in the community.
Doreen Saxby
Arts, Culture and Heritage
Doreen Saxby started teaching preschool classes in the 1970s, and continues to inspire through dance at Festival Place and the Salto Gymnastics Club. She has had a positive influence on generations of young people. In fact, many parents who remember the affirmative learning experience Doreen gave them in their childhood have enrolled their children in her classes. Through her gentle ways and dedication, Doreen has instilled in many young people a love of art and creation that remains with them into the future.
John Daly
Athletic Achievement
John Daly won his first cycling race in Ireland at the age of 16. He has won two Gold medals in the Alberta 55+ Games in 2013—and two more at the Canada 55+ Games in 2014. He has represented Strathcona County in competitions at local, national and international levels. And at 77 years of age, he's not slowing down. John is currently in training for the Alberta 55+ Games being held in Strathmore this coming July.
David Elliott
Athletic Achievement
David Elliott is a world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu martial artist. In 2014-2015 he won Gold or Silver in many competitions including the Kids World Championships, the Pan American Championships and the prestigious Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship. He has also travelled to Brazil to work with underprivileged children. His talent has attracted some of the top coaches in the world. David tries to be the best athlete and role model for the community that he can become.
Gwen McGuire
Athletic Achievement
Gwen McGuire was always interested in sports and excelled in many. But in 2009 she found a love for synchronized swimming. She has performed with Strathcona Synatics and now trains with Excel Synchro, Edmonton’s high performance club. At the 2009/2010 Wildrose Provincials she won top score in both figures and solo in her tier. Gwen became one of the youngest athletes to compete for the Prague Christmas Prize in the Czech Republic. Recently, she swam with Team Alberta and won a team Silver medal at the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
Jacob Zimmel
Athletic Achievement
Jacob Zimmel is 12 years old. He's been diving since he was 6. He holds a number of pool records on his way to a spectacular series of provincial and national standings. In the last year, he won triple Gold at all three provincial meets, and two Silver medals and one Gold at the Ontario provincials. He was declared Top Male Athlete at the Junior Nationals and was appointed for the second year to the Junior National team.
Chris Swaren
Community Service
Fibromyalgia is a painful affliction that affects two to eight per cent of the population. Its symptoms are pain, fatigue, muscle spasms, weakness, chronic fatigue and depression. There is no cure. For over 10 years Chris Swaren has served as President of the Fibromyalgia Society. She spends hours counselling, advising and offering support to members. Among other duties, Chris conducts workshops and produces the monthly newsletter. Although she suffers from the debilitating disease herself, Chris continues to work tirelessly to help create an awareness of the affliction in the wider community.
Jerry Hanna
Professional Achievement
Sherwood Park businessman Jerry Hanna's story is a tale of expertise and hard work. Jerry has built his company, Clearflow Enviro Systems Group, into a worldwide organization. Since inception, the company has successfully commercialized a number of innovative products for soil stabilization, erosion control, water clarification and treatment, and industrial and waste water treatment for a wide range of commercial and industrial applications. He created the Lynx line of products and services that have become industry standard and accepted as best management practices. One of these, Water Lynx, is an agent for cleaning industrial water and returning it back to nature.
2014 Canada 55+ Games Community Engagement Society
Outstanding Group
The 2014 Canada 55+ Games were a huge success with an economic impact of more than $16 million. It took 18 months of preparation, more than 600 volunteers and strong partnerships with sponsors and other community groups. The event was the largest ever in the history of the 55+ Games and also the largest multi-sport, multi-day national event in Strathcona County. The 55+ Games Community Engagement Society, under the dynamic leadership of Margaret Marciak, put in untold hours to prepare, connect with the community and assure the smooth running of the Games.
Strathcona County Community Mediation Society
Outstanding Group
Twenty years ago, after meeting with the local RCMP, a group of community-minded citizens founded the Strathcona County Community Mediation Society. The unique aspect of mediation is that an expert does not come up with an imposed resolution. Instead, mediators listen and gently prod the disputing parties into talking about their points of view to work toward a mutually agreed upon solution. It’s free and members are discreet and non-judgmental, and create a safe environment for participants of the program.
