A long-standing community tradition is going to continue.
City council committee voted at Monday night’s meeting to be stewards of the Orillia Citizen of the Year award.
The Orillia Packet & Times, the 147-year-old daily newspaper that was suddenly and unexpectedly closed last November, had recognized local community champions with its coveted Citizen of the Year award for many decades.
When the paper was shuttered, many feared it heralded the demise of the award. But Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke and Coun. Ralph Cipolla helped resurrect the time-honoured tradition last December by getting city council’s support to continue the initiative.
In short order, they formed a committee of former journalists from The Packet and former winners of the coveted award. They met several times, agreed on the award criteria and put out a call for nominees.
“It was a great process this year,” said Clarke. “It’s one of those things that needs to continue to recognize the wonderful community involvement we have. It helps make Orilia Orillia.”
Unless or until another media outlet takes on the task, the Office of the Mayor will continue to oversee the process.
The selection panel is to include seven voting members who will scrutinize all nominations. The committee is to be comprised of four former Citizen of the Year recipients, two members of the local media (preferably from different media forms; digital, print, radio), one representative of a community-based organization such as the Chamber of Commerce, Community Development Corporation, Downtown Orillia Management Board or other local service club (Rotary, Kiwanis, Probus, etc.)
The mayor will participate to facilitate the process only and will not vote on the nominations.
The 2017 Citizen of the Year panel included former winners Anderson Charters, Cipolla (non-voting member), Clarke (non-voting member), Doug Lewis, Gini Stringer and Bruce Waite, as well as former Packet & Times editors and reporters Dave Dawson and Nathan Taylor in addition to Dr. Linda Rodenburg of Lakehead University's Office of Community Programs.
According to the plan approved Monday night, nominees for the award must be residents of Orillia, Chippewas of Rama First Nation, or the townships of Oro-Medonte, Ramara or Severn, who have contributed to the betterment of Orillia. The following criteria will be considered:
- Emphasis should be placed on the nomine's volunteerism and accomplishments during the year.
- Past actions and contributions to the community may support the nomination.
- Emphasis is placed on the individual’s volunteer efforts and not their professional, employment or work role.
- The number of nominations for an individual is not a contributing factor in the selection process.
- Nominations are not permitted from the selection panel or City of Orillia Council members.
- A person may be nominated any number of times but shall only be eligible to receive the award once.
In late November of each year, the Mayor’s Office will provide general information to the media and, with their co-operation, all pertinent information will be publicized respecting the award
Citizens will be invited to nominate local area citizens in writing.
Nominations will be received until a predetermined date in January after which all written submissions will be collated and reviewed by members of the Citizen of the Year Award selection panel.
Each member of the selection panel shall make a first, second, and third choice from the nominations and the panel shall meet to discuss the merits of each nomination to build consensus and agreement for the selection of a winner.
The seven voting members of the selection panel will vote (if necessary) to determine the winner.
The Mayor’s Office will co-ordinate the preparation of certificates for all nominees and the purchase of the award in the form/style of trophy as provided by the selection panel in accordance with the allocated budget for that year.
The Mayor’s Office will coordinate and confirm the date of the regular council meeting, in January or February, at which the award will be announced and presented.
Decisions made at Monday's council committee meeting must be ratified at next week's city council meeting.
