Wellington County’s June Switzer has been named one of four recipients of this year’s Syngenta 4-H Ontario Arbor Award, a provincial honor offered in recognition of volunteer service.
Switzer, who lives in the Town of Erin, southwest of Hillsburgh, has been involved with 4-H for over 50 years.
Established in 2001 during the International Year of the Volunteer, the Syngenta 4-H Ontario Arbor Award recognizes 4-H Ontario volunteers who have served the organization for over ten years and have positively impacted both 4-H in Ontario and their local community.
It is 4-H Ontario’s most prestigious volunteer award.
“The Syngenta 4-H Ontario Arbor Award represents all that is 4-H – volunteers who are community leaders, impacting the lives of youth and their fellow leaders for more than a decade,” said 4-H Ontario executive director Wraychel Horne.
“It is the strength of the recipients of this most prestigious award that creates the longevity and depth of 4-H values across Ontario.”
In addition to Switzer, other 2013 Arbor Award recipients include:
– Brenda Dunster of Leeds County;
– Lynn Clelland of Renfrew County; and
– Jane Durward of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County.
To be eligible to receive the award, 4-H Ontario volunteers must be nominated by their 4-H association, which is a local chapter of the larger provincial organization.
Nominees must have shown significant leadership, initiative and made a positive impact on 4-H at various levels. Nominees who are involved in other community activities and organizations are also strongly considered.
The 2013 recipients will be publicly honoured at a March 23 Waterloo banquet held in conjunction with 4-H Ontario’s Volunteer Conference and Annual Meeting. 4-H Ontario will also host a tree planting ceremony for each recipient later in the year, to commemorate their contributions.
