An extraordinary volunteer from Williams Lake will be given a Community Award tonight from the BC Achievement Foundation.
Robin Dawes is being honored for her countless hours of volunteering at the Williams Lake Cross Country Ski Club.
Member, Rick Nelson said Dawes put in a lot of hard work to get grants to get the club where it is today.
“She’s totally dedicated to the club. During COVID she applied for some grants, more than once. There’s a lot of hours spent in those grants and the paperwork but she persisted. One year we got three grants in row, finally after years of applying and all her time and effort, and that was a BIG turning point for the Williams Lake Club.”
Nelson said with the money they ended up with a lodge, a new Piston-Bully Grooming machine, a shed for all of our equipment and all other club improvements.
Martin Krus with the Ski School Club said Dawes efforts has seen substantial growth with hundreds of children participating each year.
“Robin is very dedicated to this. She’s made connections with the Xatsull First Nation making that some kids who don’t get out of town much get access to learning how to ski. She herself went to get certified for coaching skiing and she’s getting her grand kids certified for coaching or volunteer helping and making it easy for others to get certified for coaching. Here’s the date, here’s the time, we’ll cover the cost from the club.”
Both Nelson and Krus noted that Dawes is very worthy of this Community Award.
The presentation will be made tonight in a formal presentation Ceremony in Victoria.