The local Rotary club's virtual meeting this past week celebrated the efforts of club members, and distributed its annual Rotarian of the Year awards.

Outgoing president Nathan Peto announced that the Rotarian of the Year went to Vern Crandell.

Crandell expresses his thoughts upon hearing the announcement.

"Well, this is thoroughly unexpected," says Crandell. "I just kind of enjoy the camaraderie of the club. I really miss the weekly meetings. That was kind of a highlight of the week, almost for me just to get together with other people and sit down and have a meal and chat. As I say unexpected, I just kind of go with the flow and do what I've been doing for the last 20 some odd years, I guess."

Peto says he knows Crandell is someone who doesn't necessarily need the spotlight or recognition, and is a big believer of service above self.

Administrator Jan Verwey won the executive level Rotarian of the Year Award. Peto says there's no question to anybody on the executive board about the outstanding contributions to the club that she has made.

"This year and every year she's been a member of the club, but particularly this year, I think everyone would note the extraordinary effort that she put into the vegetable sale, which was outrageously successful this year, coming up with the barbecue package fundraiser on her own, and pretty much running a lot of it on her own for the club," says Peto. "She was just a general, hardworking club member. Again, someone that doesn't look for the spotlight, but someone that I think we all agree that the success that we had this year had a lot to do with the efforts of people like her."

Verwey was surprised when Peto presented the award to her in person, noting she wasn't able to attend the online meeting.

She outlines the criteria for the award.

"I think it's just being a good member helping out with the club, and helping out with the fundraisers," says Verwey. "I look after the vegetable sale and it was a record year, so I always look forward to it every year. It goes really well. We changed things with COVID so that we go to the cars instead of people getting out and coming to us. It went so much better, faster, smoother and we're going to do that for years to come. Vegetable sale is always a favourite for everybody."

She notes the drive-through pickup was her brainchild, and says there really wasn't any other way to do it.

Verwey adds Rotary is a good cause to belong to.

"They always give back to the community and they find very worthwhile causes to help out with."