media release: January 31, 2020

 

KL 100th Anniversary Committee

named 2019 CJKL Citizens of the Year.

 

Kirkland Lake’s 100th Anniversary Committee has been named the 2019 CJKL Citizens of the Year. The committee was responsible for planning Kirkland Lake’s centennial celebrations.

 

The committee was formed in 2016 with the goal of organizing events and coordinating Kirkland Lake’s 100th anniversary schedule with several local organizations. On New Year’s Day in 2017, the committee kicked off three years of community events.

 

The main celebrations were held last summer and saw thousands of former Kirkland Lake residents return to the community for two weeks of events hosted by the 100th Anniversary Committee and dozens of volunteer groups, churches, schools, businesses and local families.

 

The volunteers of the 100th Anniversary Committee being recognized include Chair Lynne Sauer, Kate Clarke, Athena LaCarte, Barb Kiely, Carolyn O’Neil, Leslie Kirchmayer, Monica Haase and Sue & Mike Guimond, plus Ambassadors Barry Ferguson and Ian MacPherson.

 

Kate Clarke, the Co-chair of the Anniversary Committee said, “We are extremely honoured for this recognition and will accept this award on behalf of the hundreds of local people who volunteered to make the celebrations a tremendous success.”

 

“We would also like to express our thanks to the many Kirkland Lakers, past and present, who returned home and took part in the events, and to our family and friends for their support over the three years our committee members spent planning the celebrations,” Clarke added. 

 

In addition, several Town of Kirkland Lake staff members were apart of the committee including Laura Dorrell, Kaitlyn McKay, Kassandra Young and Dennis Perrier representing Kirkland Lake Town Council.

 

This is the 32nd consecutive year the CJKL Citizen of the Year award has been presented. The award recognizes the person, persons or group who has contributed to improving the quality of life for the people of Kirkland Lake.

 

The CJKL Citizen of the Year and the CJKL Lifetime Achievement awards will be presented at the Kirkland Lake District Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner on Thursday, April 9 at Heritage North in Kirkland Lake. The recipient of the CJKL Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

In addition, the Chamber will present the People’s Choice Awards at the dinner. Online voting will be held in early February. Tickets for the dinner can be reserved by contacting the Chamber office at 567-5444.

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CJKL Citizen of the Year recipients:

2019: KL 100th Anniversary Committee

2018: Kirkland Lake Gold

2017: Lorraine Kiely

2016: Kirkland Lake Swampdonkeys Basketball

2015: Kirkland Lake Festivals Committee Volunteers
2014: Kirkland Lake Rotary Club
2013: KL Gold Miners Jr A Hockey Club
2012: Ministry of Natural Resources

2011: Splash Park Committee

2010: Pat Gannon & Mary Ranta

2009: Conrad Messier

2008: Angela Chiasson-Fox

2007: Doug LaBerge

2006: Frog's Breath Volunteers

2005: Hockey Heritage North Volunteers

2004: Kirkland Lake Gold

2003: Judy Mortson

2002: Barbara Hobson

2001: Nora Barker

2000: Dave Bolger

1999: Rick Danis

1998: Joe Rosko

1997: Sister Georgina Grubb   

1996: Irene Pochopsky

1995: Barrick Gold Corporation

1994: Blue Diamond Anniversary Com.

1993: Albert Dinel

1992: Mary Ann Taylor

1991: Norm Connelly

1990: Winter Carnival Com.

1989: Eugene Ivanov
1988: KLCVI Reunion Committee