Volunteers Celebrated in Special Presentation

In honour of National Volunteer Week, Grimshaw and area community members gathered last night for a special celebration event in recognition of the valuable contributions of volunteers. 

With a full house gathered at the Grimshaw Legion, Mayor Wendy Wald opened the evening by sharing her deep appreciation for the many volunteers whose time and generosity help make Grimshaw the close-knit, caring community it is. She began with a tribute to George Bolkoway, a beloved longtime resident and dedicated volunteer whose recent passing is deeply felt by all who knew him.

“His commitment and dedication are beyond any words we can express — he set a high standard, and I don’t know if anyone will ever match his gift for giving back to the community,” said Mayor Wald. “He was loved by all, was the Wayne Gretzky of volunteers, and he will be missed very dearly.”

George’s Celebration of Life is being held today, May 2, 2025, at 11:00 am at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Grimshaw.

Members of the Grimshaw and Lac Cardinal Country Fire Departments were then honoured in a special presentation, where Mayor Wald and Tracy Halerwich, the Town of Grimshaw’s Director of Community Services, recognized each member individually and presented them with a token of appreciation.

“Our volunteer firefighters are truly special,” said Wald. “The time they give and the risks they take for the community are remarkable. They do so much to keep our town and neighbours safe, and their impact reaches farther than we know.”

She also acknowledged their dedication during the Shaftesbury wildfire in April 2024, noting their courage and tireless efforts. 

When asked what the recognition meant to the fire department members, Fire Chief Lawrence Arnold of the Grimshaw and Lac Cardinal Country Fire Departments said it was meaningful to be celebrated in front of the community.

“This is really nice — it feels good to be recognized by and with our community,” said Arnold. “We have a dedicated crew of volunteers who selflessly give, and I feel honoured to work alongside them to serve our community and region.”

The volunteer event was emceed by Janet Fairless, Chairperson of the Grimshaw Community Services Advisory Board. Guests enjoyed live music by George Brothers and a delicious dinner prepared by Tammy Moore, organized and hosted by the Grimshaw Community Services Department.

Wald thanked Tracy and the Community Services staff for their care and work hosting the event, and Tammy Moore and those assisting in preparing the delicious meal.

The Town of Grimshaw’s Community Services Department has been busy organizing and hosting various events in Berwyn, Brownvale and Grimshaw over the past week in celebration of the important work of volunteers.

“On behalf of the Town of Grimshaw, we sincerely thank volunteers for their care for our community and contributions that help make Grimshaw a great place to live and visit,” said Wald. “And to our Community Services Department, thank you for planning wonderful events for us to come together as a community to celebrate our volunteers.”

The final volunteer appreciation event planned for the week takes place at the STEP UP Eatery at the Mile Zero Regional Multiplex from 2 - 3 pm today, where guests are treated to free coffee and banana bread.

 

 View a gallery of photos from the event here: https://grimshaw.ca/photos

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