Posted By Nick Gardiner, Staff Writer

Brockville Recorder and Times 

But Campbell was honoured their four children saw fit to nominate them for the award, one of six presented by Mayor Suzanne Dodge during the second annual municipal event.

"What is so wonderful is that our kids nominated us for this. It definitely means a lot," Campbell told The Recorder and Times after an awards ceremony attended by more than 60 people.

Other winners were: The Fort Town Concert Association and Evan LeClair, arts and culture volunteer award; Prescott and District Soccer Association, represented by Rob Carr and Lesley Todd, for recreation and sports; Marion Laton, education and training; St. Mark School, environment, and Peter Schulz, David Robertson and Willard Gaylord, heritage.

Among the crowd were the Campbells' daughters, JoAnne Campbell and Dawn Waltenbury, who said their parents were an inspiration.

JoAnne Campbell said all four children have moved from Prescott and two brothers were unable to attend, but they were all involved in the nomination process.

"Once (we heard about) the award and reflected on it, we recognized mom and dad's contributions deserved consideration," she said.

Indeed. A partial list of organizations supported by the Campbells and read by Dodge ran two pages long and covered church, school and community events as well as regional and national fundraisers.

"For mom and dad, community is everything," said JoAnne.

Included on the long list of credits for the Campbells are Tom's participation since 1981 in the Terry Fox Run for which he has raised $12,000. During the same time, Marilyn Campbell has been secretary for the local event.

They have both been involved in Meals on Wheels, Cancer Society fundraisers, the Spirit of Giving Christmas campaign, bingos for the Community Living Association, the St. Laurence O'Toole Catholic Church book bag project, Canadian Aid for Chernobyl, World Vision and St. Mark Catholic Church.

 Independently, Tom Campbell drives for the Victorian Order of Nurses, taking patients to medical appointments in Brockville, Kingston and Ottawa. The retired South Grenville District High School teacher has also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and Touch A Rainbow therapeutic riding.

Marilyn Campbell, a retired high school secretary, was instrumental in the development of a lunch program at South Grenville District High School and the Alternative School, and has also been involved with Big Sisters.

Listed like that, it seems like a lot, but the volunteering took place "over the years," said Tom.

Marilyn had a similar outlook.

"There are so many other people who are equally deserving of that award. I feel we're representing them."

During the ceremony, Dodge told the audience the community spirit award was one of the toughest to determine.

It's people like the Campbells who make Prescott a special place to live, she said.

Dodge had high praise for the other winners as well.

The Fort Town Concert Association has brought extraordinary talent into the community, including a performance last week of Rossini's opera The Barber of Seville by Jeunesses Musicales Canada, said Dodge.

"It's unbelievable to see the talent this group has brought to Prescott," she said.

Meanwhile, Evan LeClair was singled out for an arts and culture individual award in recognition of the body of work he's produced as an artist, said Dodge.

"We're privileged to have him as part of this community," she said.

LeClair is a founding member of the South Grenville Guild of Fine Art, which is holding its 18th annual show this weekend, and he readily donates landscape and scenic paintings to different fundraisers, Dodge added.

Like community spirit, choosing a winner in the recreation and sports category is difficult because of the number of successful programs available in Prescott, she said.

But the Prescott and District Soccer Association provides a place to play for children in the Fort Town as well as Augusta and Edwardsburgh-Cardinal Township, said Dodge.

She said the association is operated by an executive of 12 with the support of 80 coaches and assistant coaches. The award was accepted by Rob Carr and Lesley Todd, children of the association founder, the late Tom Carr. Rob Carr and Todd continue to be involved in the program along with brother Lawrence Todd, who was absent Monday.

Marion Laton was recognized in education and training in recognition of her role in establishing the breakfast program at St. Mark Catholic School 16 years ago and her active involvement since, despite retiring as a teacher in 1996.

Laton also visits the sick and shut-ins and residents of long-term care homes.

St. Mark School was also front and centre as winner of the environment award for efforts the past two years with the TD Canada Trust Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, said Dodge.

Students, staff and parents have cleaned up the waterfront in Prescott each year, concentrating on the Heritage Walking Trail, she said.

"It just warms your heart," said Dodge, noting it's critical for young people to embrace environmental concerns.

The winners of the heritage volunteer award, Schulz, Robertson and Gaylord, spent much of the past two summers restoring the former railway station that now houses the Grenville County Historical Society.

Dodge said they showed "tremendous volunteer spirit" in restoring the outside and interior of the building.

Gaylord said the three have become good friends after starting the job as strangers.

"It wasn't really much work. It ended up being a lot of fun," he said.