Several years ago many conversations were happening around the seemingly endless quantity and quality of volunteer time given by Jean Burgess. As a result, the Burgess Volunteerism Award was born. It honours Jean and the family from which she emerged, steeped in a tradition of caring. This beautiful piece of Wood Art was created and generously donated by Gordon Dunphy (see photo above) and presented to Jean by the TCA at its Annual General Meeting on February 18, 2006.
Because volunteerism is so important to our organization and the community at large an annual award of recognition will be presented each year at the Annual General Meeting.
By choosing a different member each year we begin the tradition of publicly thanking those who make this community a wonderful place to live. To establish a permanent record of the recipients, a plaque was created and designed by Roger Allen that hangs in the community center at the top of the stairs. It features a photo of the first presentation and each year a new brass name plate was and will be added for each subsequent award recipient.
Gordon donated the base of the plaque, which is a section of a three hundred and fifty year old tree that he discovered in what he referred to as "Maisie's country". He was given permission to remove a section of that tree. Gordon has since passed, but we are still thankful for these gifts and his support over the years. We are honoured to have had him as part of our community.