SPRUCE VIEW - The Spruce View & District Lions Club will be celebrating its 2017 Citizens of the Year this month.
On Saturday, Jan. 21 at the club's 39th Annual Charter Night being held at the Spruce View Community Hall, Larry and Karen Christiansen will receive their awards.
The couple, who were married in 1987 and have raised three boys - Kris, Tyler and Dustin, have been active members and volunteers of the Spruce View community for many years.
Larry, who has been employed as an electrician for many years at Innisfail's Johns Manville, is heavily involved in local sports and an avid worker at the July 1st Spruce View Pancake Breakfast.
Karen was the manager and caretaker of the community hall for about 20 years, taking rental bookings, showing the hall to any interested citizens, and performing maintenance and cleaning duties.
"Karen did many extra volunteer duties above and beyond. You often found Karen volunteering at hall functions, helping the Spruce View Ladies Club, the July 1st Pancake Breakfast and helping organize events such as community Halloween parties, hall fundraisers and more," said a nomination letter that was submitted this fall by Ray and Lynn Brinson, Elda Filipchuk and Denis Liboiron. "She devoted herself to this facility like it was her own, always giving 115 per cent.
"The many extra hours Karen spent taking phone calls and doing additional jobs around the hall and grounds did not go unnoticed. Larry and family members were also involved helping Karen," they added.
The nominators noted the Millennium Park project was one of Karen's passions. With the assistance from other volunteers putting in many hours, Karen helped create a beautiful addition to the hall grounds where weddings and many types of family gatherings are held, noted the nominators.
They also added Karen has been employed at Burnt Lake Gas Co-op Limited for the past 12 years. Her employer stated, "She is an excellent employee with an excellent attitude toward her job and community. Her heart is bigger than she is."
The Charter Night celebration on Jan. 21 that will honour the couple begins at 6 p.m. with fellowship. The banquet starts at 7 p.m. Tickets can be obtained from any Lions member or call Phil Burkinshaw, president of the Spruce View & District Lions Club at 403-728-0008.
