Local residents Rienk and Roberta Vlietstra are the newest Citizens of the Year, as chosen by the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce.
The couple was surprised at their home by a sizeable group of well wishers on April 9.
Apparently those involved were able to keep the secret, as both Rienk and Roberta expressed surprise at the decision.
Letters of support for their nomination were received from the Fergus and District Horticultural Society, the Fergus Lions Club, Canadian Blood Services, Fergus Grand Theatre volunteer coordinator Margaret Molitor, and Deb Dalziel.
Hugs were the order of the day as Centre Wellington Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj was at the front of the line to congratulate the couple.
The Vlietstras received a number of presentations on Tuesday, including congratulatory letters and tickets to this year’s awards of excellence.
Roberta commented she and her husband were pleased simply to be nominated. She quipped that everyone in the room was likely surprised at her being at a loss for words.
Laughing, Rienk joked, “It is not too often she does not have something to say.”
Still in a state of disbelief, Roberta added, “Surely there must be someone else.”
Mayor Ross-Zuj said “everyone here believes you two are deserving of this.”
Roberta quipped, “and now he [Rienk] is going out to the Lions Dinner, I think he should be taking me out for champagne. Oh well, it’s going to be a frozen TV dinner.”
Roberta then thanked all those involved.
“It’s really unexpected,” she said.
Rienk added it was also amazing how many people were able to keep quiet.
“If it wasn’t for the volunteers in Centre Wellington, the place wouldn’t be the same,” said Rienk.
Roberta agreed.
“It is all those volunteers adding that bit of extra work.” Still in surprise, Roberta said she felt fantastic about the recognition.
Rienk said, “It’s amazing what happens when you do a little bit of work that you never think about because you enjoy doing it.”
He noted he is involved with the Fergus Lions Club and its various activities.
Roberta added that through the horticultural society, Rienk looks after Terry Fox Park.
“But I have people working with me,” Rienk adds. “We just show up on Tuesday mornings and don’t think anything about it.”
Both agreed their involvement in the community had nothing to do with recognition.
“You don’t do it for that,” Roberta said.
“You do it because you enjoy doing it,” added Rienk. “And hopefully you do something that helps improve Fergus.”
The couple moved to Fergus from Guelph 22 years ago.
“It’s just fantastic. There is so much to do and there are so many nice people. It is where our home is now.”
“We retired and moved here. We enjoy it all the time and we’ve met so many fantastic people.”
Some of Roberta’s activities include serving as president of the local horticultural society. But like her husband, her involvement in the community doesn’t stop there.
She is a team leader for the local blood donor clinic, shares work with her husband as a volunteer at the Grand Theatre, “and lots of other things where you can help out and keep yourself busy.”
Rienk said their plan is to keep helping the community as long as they are able.
“I can’t see why we would stop,” Roberta added.
The couple was involved in the community when they lived in Guelph, “but not near as much as we are here,” Roberta said.
On their choice of Fergus, the couple said they’d originally looked at property in Bayfield, “and our children said ‘there is no way we’re letting you move to Bayfield.’”
Two of their children live in Kitchener, while another two live in Guelph.
The couple then decided to take a look up the highway … and have never looked back.
In her letter of support for the couple, Kathy Bouma of the Fergus Horticultural Society, said, “The Fergus and District Horticultural Society is able to continue only with the support of its members led by strong leaders.”
Bouma noted the Vlietstras have “been active in our gardening group, which is responsible for many of the beautiful gardens and park areas that are viewed and enjoyed by our residents as well as tourists.
“Rienk was involved in turning Terry Fox Park from green grass to the many perennial beds of heritage peonies, daylilies, irises and hostas along with the climbing roses on the millennium built beautiful arbour.”
Bouma added, “Likewise, Roberta has spent many hours in the beautification of Fergus. She worked on the Communities in Bloom committee which saw the Town of Fergus win on the provincial level in 1998, followed by a National win in 1999.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by Eric Peterson, president of the Fergus Lions Club.
“On behalf of the Fergus Lions Club, it gives me great pleasure to support the nomination of Rienk and Roberta Vlietstra as Citizens of the Year.”
Rienk joined the club in May 2001.
One of his roles in the public spotlight include his longstanding dedication to the club’s Grand River Arboretum (for which it received a Grand River Watershed Award in September 2011 from the Grand River Conservation Authority).
Peterson also acknowledged Rienk’s “knowledgeable and energetic assistance with another of our outdoor projects, Wilkie Park on St. George Street East; and serving as the club’s representative on Project BOOT (Benches On Our Trailways) our joint program with other local Lions clubs and the GRCA, launched at our 2009 Home and Leisure Show.
“Rienk is also involved in many activities such as the annual Diabetes Tag Day in November and the Santa Claus parade in December; helping with parking at the Fergus Truck Show or with security at the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games during the summer; or assisting our club and the public in many ways at our own Home and Leisure Show each May.
“Lion Rienk has earned well-deserved recognition from our club for his dedication to our motto of ‘We Serve.’”
The couple has volunteered at the Fergus Grand Theatre for approximately 15 years.
Margaret Molitor, the theatre’s volunteer coordinator, said, “We at the Fergus Grand Theatre are indeed fortunate to have volunteers of their calibre.”
This year the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce awards night theme is “Centre Wellington … Celebrating in Grand Style.” The event is at the Grand Theatre on May 16 starting at 6:30pm. Tickets are $40 (including HST).
To reserve a spot call 519-843-5140.
