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Youth and senior of the Year award recipients announced

December 7, 2016   ·   0 Comments

The recipient of Orangeville’s 2016 Youth of the Year Award is Molly Mullin, while the 2016 Senior of the Year Award recipient has gone to Ralph Harkies.

Ms. Mullin, 18, who graduated from Orangeville District Secondary School (ODSS) last June, was a member of Student Council for four years and was Student Council President during her last year. During her leadership, Student Council took on “The Graduate” tree sculpture and a new garden project in front of the school, as a tribute to principal Darryl Kirkland.   

Several events were organized to raise funds for the project, including a bake sale and a teacher lip sync contest. Ms. Mullin set up a “GoFundMe” page, to involve teachers, parents, former students, and the community in the project and actively promoted it through local news and social media.   

She called on the business community to support this project and through her promotion, was able to procure a large donation from the Orangeville Lions Club. With a goal of $2,800, over $3,600 was actually raised.

Ms. Mullin was involved in several community initiatives, including the development of the “ODSS Bears Who Care” program, a group of students helping other students with bullying. Ms. Mullin also coached Atom B Orangeville Tigers Hockey and softball.

Ms. Mullin says she’s very thankful for the award and it’s a great honour. “It means that people respect what I did for the community because I respect the community.” She says “The Graduate” sculpture can inspire future students to do their best in school and give all for school spirit.

Orangeville Mayor Jeremy Williams says these awards thank those for doing great things and encourage others to follow in those footsteps.

“We have an incredibly strong community and one of the reasons why it is so strong is because we recognize those in our community that give, that help out.”   

Mr. Harkies has seen the community go through many changes in his 89 years in Orangeville. During those years, he has held several leadership roles to help improve Orangeville.

He was a member of Orangeville Council from 1954 to 1956, when each term of office was one year. He also was a member of the Orangeville Planning Board for five years and a member of the Joint Planning Board for two. As well, he was a member of the Orangeville Recreation Committee for five years, serving as the committee chair for three of those years. He also served three terms on the Orangeville Hydro Electric Commission.

For 17 years Mr. Harkies coached in the Orangeville Little National Hockey League, sponsored by the Royal Canadian Legion at that time. He has been a member of the Tweedsmuir Presbyterian Church since he was six and was a member of the Orangeville Oddfellows for more than 45 years.

His late wife Jean was one of the first volunteers for Meals on Wheels in Orangeville and when he retired after 40 years with Hydro One, he helped her deliver meals. He now receives Meals on Wheels himself and continues to keep active and is proud to call Orangeville home.

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