She volunteers at the Apple Butter and Cheese Festival, she helps to organize the annual Christmas Tyme in Wellesley Parade and after more than 60 years as an active member of the Wellesley community, retired teacher Jean Horne has been recognized for her efforts by being named the Wellesley Citizen of the Year by the Wellesley and District Board of Trade.
“I was overwhelmed when I heard the news,” said Horne with a laugh. “This is a great community and I am very proud to live here.”
The award is presented annually to a Wellesley resident in recognition of outstanding achievements and unselfish contributions to their fellow citizens.
Horne and her family have called the Village of Wellesley home for their entire lives, residing just outside of the village but providing outstanding service to the community, noted the board of trade. She helps out with a number of events in town, and wears a variety of hats, including being a member of the organizing committee of the Wellesley Art Round the Pond event since its inception in 2005, a member of the Wellesley Township Horticulture Society since 2003 (serving as president in 2006 and 2007), a committee member for the Annual Christmas Tyme in Wellesley Parade since 2004, a volunteer at the Apple Butter and Cheese Festival, an active member of Hampstead United Church congregation for 50 years and an elementary school teacher with the Avon Maitland School Board for 35 years.
Despite her great level of passion and enthusiasm for making Wellesley a better place to live, Horne maintains that it is not simply one resident who makes the area great, but the coming together of many people.
“I think a citizen is just one of many citizens,” she explained. “A community is like one big pie and you are just one small piece of that – everybody has to work together.”
According to the board of trade, the recipient of the award each year is a remarkable individual that motivates and inspires others through their vision, leadership, talent, humanity and spirit of community service. Horne’s husband Alex agrees fully with the board’s choice, having a front-row view of all that his wife does.
“I was very proud and very happy when I heard the news.”
Horne will be formally recognized as the 2009 Citizen of the Year at the Wellesley and District Board of Trade’s annual Valentine’s Ball on Feb. 12. Anyone interested in attending the ball can contact Wendy Sauder at 519-656-2725.
