Contributions of John Pym, Derek Brick and Jim Green to be recognized
Community spirit is of such abundance in Wellesley Township that this year there will be three Citizen of the Year recipients.
John Pym is receiving the Citizen of the Year Award, Derek Brick will get the Youth Citizen of the Year Award, and Jim Green is being awarded the Lifetime Citizen of the Year Award.
“When I think of what previous recipients have had I was a little humbled because I don’t think I’ve done as much as they have. But I was very flattered. I’ve been in the community for, it’ll be 29 years in January. I’ve never done anything really big, I’ve done a lot of little things. It’s always flattering to get an award,” Pym said.
He used to be involved in Theatre Wellesley, but with kids now he doesn’t have time. That was a volunteer effort purely for fun.
Believe it or not, he says his favourite volunteer contribution is roadside cleanup with the Lions Club.
“Nobody knows, nobody sees, you aren’t doing it for publicity. You walk through a ditch for a couple hours picking up garbage, but at the end of it you hear people say, ‘it’s so clean, how do you keep it so clean?’ It just makes you feel good. To me, that’s my favourite way of giving back to the community,” Pym said.
Through his business, Pym’s Market, he’s got to know owners of grocers in other small towns. He says they’re envious of Wellesley because of the Apple Butter and Cheese Festival, which does so much for the township.
“If you look at the schedule, we just had the Lions roast beef dinner. We’re coming up to the Christmas parade. We’ve got the community Christmas party on the 28th, the parade on the 11th, then we’re having a ceilidh on January 24th and then we’ve got a home show, we’ve got the big Don Green softball tournament. We’ve got the fishing derby and the soap box derby on Labour Day. There are a lot of things. And it makes it a lot of fun to live in a small town when there are so many things going on,” Pym said.
He says because of numerous volunteers, they’ve been able to create the splash park, the accessible playground, and the dog park, all within five years. He notes Jen Summers’ involvement in making the playground and splash pad both realities.
In the future he plans to continue his volunteer work as a member of the Lions Club, timekeeping for hockey games, and returning to Theatre Wellesley when his kids get their drivers licenses.
“Through my business I’m fortunate that I can contribute, sponsor a few things here and there. I’ll keep on doing it,” Pym said.
Brick’s been volunteering in the community with the Apple Butter and Cheese Festival since he was a child.
“Ever since I was old enough to help out there I’ve been a part of it. Normally it would mean get the Friday off school to set up for the day Friday, and then help all day Saturday and all day Sunday. My dad is a part of the Apple Butter and Cheese Committee and I just kind of helped alongside him,” Brick said.
He’s also been a volunteer firefighter for a year and a half and he looks after the fireworks for the Wellesley Fall Fair, soliciting donations for that.
“It’s humbling I guess. I like to be a quiet volunteer. I’d rather be recognized as quietly, but I guess it’s nice to know that other people see it too,” Brick said, of his thoughts on the award.
Jim Green’s being recognized for his many volunteer years supporting various sports organizations, most notably the tournament in honour of his brother, Don.
“Starting in 1985, for 27 years I was either directly or indirectly involved with the Don Green Memorial Fund. My brother was killed in 1984 and this slo-pitch tournament has been going ever since, with all the profits going back into the community. Of those 27 years I basically ran the tournament single handed by myself. We donated the last few years over $8,000 back to the community,” Green said.
“To me, it was an unbelievable phone call that I got from a member of the board of trade. The lady told me that my name was brought forward to receive this. I was really honoured and surprised. I am deeply grateful for the honour committed to me. It is a new award for Lifetime Citizen of the area. I’m still flabbergasted, but I’m appreciative also. The lady said it’s a long time coming, Jim.”
He was involved with the governing body for boys’ and men’s fastball in Western Ontario from 1977 to 1990 and received an outstanding service award from the OSA for his work with them. He also served on the community centre board from 1980 to 1998, which makes recommendations to the local council for improvements or changes.
“They used to have a senior hockey club in Wellesley called the Merchants and I was on that founding executive board, 1978 to 1994, then the team folded. Being involved in sports was my thing, but the Don Green Memorial Tournament … we still donate money back to the community,” Green said.
Green was born what’s called a “blue baby,” quite literally because he had a blue tinge to his skin, due to poor blood circulation. A hole in his heart was discovered as a baby.
“Because of that condition I was never able to play any competitive sports, so this way through umpiring and referring and certain boards, volunteering I felt that I gave my share back to the community,” Green said.
Green’s daughters will accept the award on his behalf on Nov. 28, as he and his wife have already left for Florida for the winter.
Brick shares why he’s continued his volunteer efforts and why he plans to keep on doing so, something all three recipients can appreciate.
“I think it’s just because it’s a small town the more you help out the more you get to work with each other, you know people better,” Brick said. “I know I’ve benefited greatly from it. I know a lot of different age groups of people. Pride in your community goes a long way. I like the small town. If you didn’t have people volunteering you wouldn’t have those things to do.”
The awards will be doled out at the Wellesley & District Board of Trade Christmas Dinner on Nov. 28.
