I'm incredibly honoured (and still a little surprised) to have been recognized as Rotarian of the Year. Even more special is sharing this recognition with Tyler Pyle, whose dedication to our Club and our community is something I truly admire. Congratulations, Tyler. It was an honour to celebrate alongside you.
Over the past year, I've been fortunate to help with a number of projects that have become very close to my heart. From sharing our Club's stories through our website and social media, to working with an amazing team on the Spirit of Thunder Bay Scotch Tasting, helping reimagine December Dreams, and now working alongside Don Morrison and the Terry Fox Committee to help grow this year's Terry Fox Run, every opportunity has been one that I've genuinely enjoyed.
But as I thought about this award, I realized it isn't really about the things I've done. It's about the people who inspired me to become involved in the first place. Several years ago, Allan and Lori-Ann Kozlo introduced me to Lakehead Rotary. Through them, I had the opportunity to volunteer at events like Shelter House and the Terry Fox Run before I was ever a member. They opened the door to a Club that I quickly came to admire.
What struck me most wasn't the number of projects or events. It was the people.
Here was this small group of individuals, each with different talents and backgrounds, all working toward the same goal of making our community a little stronger. Nobody was looking for recognition. Nobody was trying to stand out. Everyone simply found their own way to contribute, and together they accomplished remarkable things.
That stayed with me.
They showed me that community isn't built by one person. It's built by people who care enough to show up, help where they can, and encourage others to do the same. They made me realize that even small acts of service can have a lasting impact, especially when they're shared. Without even realizing it, they made me want to become a better contributor to our community.
When I officially joined Lakehead Rotary last October, it felt less like joining a new organization and more like becoming part of something I had already grown to respect. So while my name may be on this award, I see it as a reflection of the people who welcomed me, encouraged me, and showed me what Rotary is really all about. Thank you to every member of Lakehead Rotary for this incredible honour. It truly means more to me than I can put into words.
Most of all, thank you for allowing me to be part of this amazing Club. I look forward to continuing to learn from all of you, serving alongside all of you, and hopefully helping inspire someone else the same way you inspired me.