Becky McKenzie received the Citizen of the Year award for all the work she does for the tri-communities. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

awards gala

Becky McKenzie named Citizen of the Year

Apr 29, 2019 | 2:00 PM

Whether she’s keeping the streets clean, helping others or her gentle ways, the work of Elder Becky McKenzie didn’t go unnoticed at the second annual Tri-Community Awards and Recognition Gala.

She was awarded the prestigious title of Citizen of the Year by the gala’s selection committee after being nominated by several residents in the lead up to the event. The award recognizes individuals who contribute greatly to the community with La Ronge`s Colleen Clark receiving the title in 2018. After receiving Citizen of the Year, McKenzie stated she was thankful for the recognition.

“It says in the Bible to do good unto your neighbours and I love to do good to them all,” she said.

Born in La Ronge, McKenzie spent most of her life living in the region. When she first married her late husband Antoine McKenzie, who passed away from cancer in 1999, the two of them did prospecting throughout the North. The couple also had a daughter, Alice McKenzie, who currently lives in a care home in Prince Albert.

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McKenzie expects she was nominated for the award because many people see her picking up garbage on the side road. She said she does it because it’s important the town looks clean, she enjoys it and every once in a while, she also finds money among the litter.

“I would like to tell the young people cleanliness really counts and, if they want to do something like this, I’m sure the Lord will start handing them money like he did for me,” McKenzie said.

Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson and her husband, Jim, were among those who nominated McKenzie for the award. In their letter to the selection committee, they stated she has modelled to residents what it means to be a self-motivated and contributing citizen. They also wrote about how McKenzie visits patients in the hospital to offer prayers, shares her home with elders from outside the community, assisted a local homeless person, and how she enjoys picking blueberries and often gives them away to others who can’t pick for themselves.

“Throughout these past and recent years, this elder has touched many hearts in our community as she volunteered her services with other residents, and even strangers, to offer assistance in some way,” they wrote. “Through the motivation of her heart, she has displayed her character in numerous ways and has set an example for us to follow.”

The other winners at the gala were John Jr. Sanderson of Native Strong Apparel for Youth Entrepreneur, The Basement Potter for Artpreneur, Grace Charles for the Post-Secondary Advocacy Award, La Ronge Native Women’s Council for Non-Profit of the Year, Mosquito Workshop for Home-Based Business, Cravings Late Night Food for Food and Beverage Business, Bedrock Electric, Plumbing and Heating for Service, Industry and Trade, and Home Hardware for Retail Business.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno