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Linda Banks recognized as Orangeville’s 2022 Senior of the Year

June 16, 2022   ·   0 Comments

By Isabel Buckmaster

Linda Banks, Orangeville’s Senior of the Year, enjoys participating in community events as much as volunteering for them.

A large part of Senior’s Month in June, the provincial award is given on an annual basis to seniors involved in the social, cultural, or civic life of their community.

The award ceremony took place Monday (June 13) evening at Orangeville Town Hall and was attended by Mayor Sandy Brown and councillors that nominated Banks earlier in the year. Filled with food, emotional toasts and good spirits, Banks was blown away by the whole experience.

“I was glad I had the opportunity to thank the people that came to the presentation and to thank the Council for the nomination,” said Banks. “It was a great honour to invite me and quite an honour to be at town hall.”

Before Banks moved to Orangeville seven years ago, she lived seasonally in Wasaga Beach for nearly 30 years. During her time in the community, Banks says there were fewer opportunities to get involved and that she’s “so, so happy she came down to Orangeville”.

“My life sort of took off when I arrived in Orangeville,” said Banks. “I became very busy and active in the community and it’s been marvellous. I’m thankful to the town council for nominating me and to the Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility for giving me this award.”

Banks supports several local organizations including Heritage Orangeville, Theatre Orangeville, and the Blues and Jazz Festival. She also helps out at the Senior Centre, assisting with technology, income tax and supervising dance or bus trips.

“There’s so much you can do here. It’s such a busy town especially after getting out of COVID, and so I just jumped right in,” said Banks, who turns 80 at the end of the year. “So, I truly hope that I can continue volunteering in all the areas I do and I will continue as long as I’m healthy and can walk around.”

Banks fundraises for many community events, including walking annually in the Coldest Night of the Year event to raise money for the local food bank. She’s also the treasurer of the Friends of the Orangeville Public Library and helps with fundraising initiatives for the library as well as delivers flyers for shows at Theatre Orangeville.

“Well, I really enjoy walking and I hike, although I don’t hike as long as I used to do,” said Banks, who hikes for an hour every Wednesday morning. Last year, she participated in the Coldest Night of the Year with the Ukeladies, a local ukulele group. “I love walking and I’m so happy that I can get involved to raise money.”

When she isn’t out and about in the community, Banks loves to partake in the events she assists with, specifically at Theatre Orangeville. Since moving to town, her favourite play has been Orillia is Doris and Ivy in the Home at the Orillia Opera House. It’s based on Jonas and Barry in the Home, by Norman Foster, with creative director David Nairn.

“It was really funny,” said Banks, who enjoyed that Nairn switched the gender of the characters in the senior home from two men to two women. “I love going to the theatre, I live for theatre.”

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