The Austin Credit Union Citizen of the Year award has been presented in the Municipality of Westlake-Gladstone.

Austin Credit Union account manager Jason Manns says Judi Code won the award, and describes what is involved.

"It's just out there to recognize someone who's showing excellent service and dedication to the municipality of Westlake-Gladstone area. Just doing numerous volunteering throughout the all their years they've been here. And just helping all the local events being very successful."

Manns says Code has been a big part of the community for years.

"She's always hanging around to do any kind of volunteering -- helping out in the kitchen, or helping with the various projects like out at the Ladies' golf course. She organizes a plant sale there, donating plants of her own. She's was on the original committee for the hall building fund here. She's just pretty much helps out anywhere throughout the town and always is there to be an extra hand."

He shares what it's like to be involved in the selection process.

"It means a lot. If you don't have people like that that are out there willing to give that extra mile, then you know you're not going to have various events that are run successful to helping the community staying as strong as it is right now. It's quite an honour to be able to be part of that, especially a part of picking the person and then presenting it; . Just seeing the look on their face of how special the award really does mean to them."

Manns says Code was humble about it.

"Judi felt like she didn't deserve it. And it seems it's like that for all the volunteers. They just don't realize all the work they do put in. And it's something that they just enjoy doing. They don't see it as work. They see it as a kind of nice, little hobby in helping things out. And they just want to see the community of Gladstone be successful."