INNISFAIL – Ron King may very well be the town’s all-time king of volunteerism.
He has been out and about helping community non-profit groups and events for decades.
King loves his community so much he is on several community committees and boards.
He’s a regular attendee at just about every town council meeting.
And now this humble, caring and still energetic 75-year-old local citizen has been given a worthy crown.
The Town of Innisfail honoured him at an invitation-only ceremony at the Innisfail Library/Learning Centre on April 21 with the 2022 Citizen of the Year Award.
King’s recognition was part of this year’s 2022 Community Awards ceremony, which also included Athlete of the Year, Team of the Year, Leaders of Tomorrow, Mentor of the Year and Arts & Culture Award.
“It's wonderful. I don’t do it for any significant recognition. I do it for the betterment of the community,” said King during an interview with the Albertan. “It allows me to be out in the community. I'm a very social person. “I grew up in Lacombe. When I was in high school my parents were always volunteering.
“It’s just part of me.”
A retired businessman, King’s list of past and current volunteerism accomplishments is beyond impressive.
He has been an actor and volunteer with Innisfail Town Theater for 30 years, a board member for the Innisfail Day Home Society for more than 15 years and with the Innisfail Band Parents Association for more than 20 years.
He currently he sits on several local boards and committee, including the FCSS Advisory Board, Age-Friendly Community Committee, Municipal Planning Commission and Municipal Development Plan Advisory Committee.
He has been an active member and volunteer of the Innisfail Royal Canadian for the past half-century. On April 25 at a Legion general meeting he was presented with a lifetime membership.
The following evening King was at the Legion on April 26 to help out with the 2023 Boob Tour.
To top everything off he still works every summer at Discovery Wildlife Park as a greenskeeper mowing the zoo’s spacious lawns.
King has no intention whatsoever of just settling down to watch soaps all day.
“People say, ‘Well, when you retire Ron aren't you supposed to sit on the couch? I don't think so,” said King. “I didn't read that anywhere. If you're going to sit on the couch, you're going to die. That’s being brutal but I can't do that. It isn’t my nature.
“At the end of the day, it just feels really good.”
In the other community awards, young Belle Smith was crowned this year’s Athlete of the Year for her accomplishments in hockey and softball.
“Her commitment, positive attitude and leadership has had an immense impact on the culture in our dressing room,” said her hockey coach Brett Wold in a statement to the town. “Belle has left her legacy with the (U18AAA Sutter Fund) Chiefs and will always be a part of our team wherever life and hockey takes her.”
Community builder Rhamona Miller is this year’s recipient of the Arts & Culture Award. The town noted her “outstanding” work with multiple organizations and in different mediums.
Miller created the new Innisfail Special Events Planning Society that brought back the popular Scarecrow Festival. The overall event was expanded to give it a distinct local agricultural flavour.
The town also noted Miller has given arts and culture an important social media platform through her Innisfail Bulletin Facebook group.
The Innisfail U15 Hawks Softball Team was chosen as the 2022 Team of the Year. The squad of 13- and 14-year-old players was honoured for making it all the way to the Little League Nationals in Victoria, B.C.
“We're a pretty balanced team through and through. We can win games with our hitting but we can also win games by shutting teams down,” said coach Ray Bergeron in a statement for the awards.
In the meantime, Bergeron was the winner of this year’s new Mentor of the Year Award.
During the awards’ ceremony the town noted his mentorship as a local coach has impacted generations of athletes, including those with the Innisfail Hurricanes Water Polo Club.
And there was a second Bergeron honoured individually at the community awards.
Young Olivia Bergeron, who will soon graduate from Innisfail High School, is this year’s 2022 recipient of the Leaders of Tomorrow Award.
Olivia is a committed community volunteer; notably with the Innisfail Lantern Festival, Harvest Festival and the town’s Green and Clean Challenge.
At school she is part of the Students Matter Committee and was the emcee at the 2022 Innisfail High School graduation ceremonies.
Athletically, Olivia has been with the Innisfail Hurricanes Water Polo team for nearly a decade, and currently has taken on a mentor role for the younger athletes.
