Province Celebrates Senior Achievement Awards Recipients

KAWARTHA LAKES: “Congratulations to this year’s Ontario Senior Achievement Awards recipients,” said the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. “Seniors across the province have felt most directly the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and it is a delight to be able to celebrate the positive difference seniors make to our communities. Today’s recipients are role models to Ontarians of all ages.”

The seniors being recognized are dedicated and compassionate individuals who are helping to improve the lives of older adults through community services and humanitarian activities. This includes fundraising, helping with Meals and Wheels programs, and volunteering in local churches, retirement homes and long-term-care homes. They support and empower seniors by serving as mentors, environmental stewards, agricultural ambassadors, and educational, cultural, and artistic organizers.

“I’m inspired and encouraged by this year’s Senior Achievement Award recipients,” said Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility.” On behalf of all Ontarians, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for their exceptional service to their communities. You have all made a profound difference in the lives of seniors across our province.”

The recipients are being recognized by the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility at a virtual recognition ceremony.

One of those 15 award winners, from across Ontario, was local retired, registered nurse, Beverly Baxter from Lindsay.

Beverly’s daughter submitted her name for the award without her knowing. “It was a surprise,” explained Beverly. “I look at all the other people I know, and I think ‘there’s so many more people that deserve it’.”

She added that it’s a lovely honour to have been nominated and to have been one of the fifteen people who received the award. “It’s really nice to think that they’re doing this for people who are elderly,” she added.

According to Beverly, she can’t do as much in the line of volunteer work as she did about 10 years ago. A lot of her volunteer work was done with her church, Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, in Lindsay, and in the community. “I received more than I gave,” she said, referring to her time working as a registered nurse. “It was a gift to me, the fact I was able to do those things.”

According to Beverly, her daughter submitted her name a few years ago and the Government missed a year because of Covid-19. At the time, Beverly and her family thought she hadn’t been chosen. “And then, all of a sudden, I get this email saying, ‘be ready to go online and receive this award,” said Beverly. “So, it was a bit of surprise.”

Beverly received her award from the Lieutenant Governor at an online award ceremony.

This isn’t the first award Beverly Baxter has received. In 2016, she received an award from the City of Kawartha Lakes Community Care for 25 years of service.

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