Lois Dunn, left, is honoured as the 2017 Outstanding Citizen for the Town of High Prairie. She received gifts from Mayor Linda Cox on behalf of the town, along with other gifts from the Sesquicentennial Committee.

Richard Froese
South Peace News

Lois Dunn was officially honored as the 2017 Outstanding Citizen for the Town of High Prairie and will have her name added to the monument by High Prairie Museum.

Dunn received gifts from the town and the sesquicentennial committee at a ceremony Aug. 26 in MacIntyre Park.

“It is a recognition of outstanding citizenship and volunteering efforts that make High Prairie a better place to work, live and play,” says Mayor Linda Cox.
“This year, I have the honour of recognizing Lois Dunn, a life-long resident of High Prairie and a passionate supporter of the High Prairie and District Children’s Resource Centre.”

Dunn was nominated by the CRC and selected by the sesquicentennial committee.

“Clearly, Lois’s most outstanding qualities are her commitment to children, youth and families in need, her ability to engage the community in focusing on positive initiatives, her praise for the generosity of our community and her fundraising leadership,” CAO Lindsay Davies states in the nomination letter.
“She has contributed so much to the lives of our most vulnerable children and families, she is an excellent role model for teaching our youth about what true citizenship means and because she makes High Prairie a better place to live, work and play.
“Volunteering for Lois is a passion, a responsibility, a serious role and part of her daily life.”

Dunn is a lifelong resident of High Prairie and has served the High Prairie and District Children’s Resource Council for the past 10 years.

In 2014, she led the project to establish a permanent home in High Prairie for the CRC and its programs and is determined to lead the organization to further success to improve the lives of children, youth and their families.

Dunn has also been active in the Bethel Baptist Church.

“Many people have commented that Lois is someone our community can count on to be there to help and she helps us focus our energy on something positive,” Davies says.
“Lois is always willing to help build community capacity, is not afraid to tackle tough issues and works tirelessly to improve the lives of children and families in High Prairie.
“Many have said that when you’re out in the community and you hear her bold laugh, you can’t help but smile and know something great in happening in High Prairie.”

Her outstanding citizenship and volunteering extends beyond her role with the CRC.

She volunteers at youth Bible camps supporting High Prairie youth, street festivals, Canada Day celebrations, cultural events, Christmas dinner and hamper programs, family violence and anger management initiatives and food bank drives.

The nomination letter further states her service.

Dunn has fundraised approximately $750,000 for the CRC’s facility project and charity services.

She has led numerous initiatives for the CRC including its annual radio auction, facility project and community events.

“Lois supported and led the evolution of the CRC from a small singularly-funded organization focused on early childhood health to a provincially recognized non-profit charity organization that provides full health, mental health, family support, child/youth development, parent education, family violence, child injury and harm prevention, research and child advocacy projects for a multitude of federal and provincial departments,” Davies says.

The service area of the organization has also expanded to include services in Slave Lake, Big Lakes County, the Municipal District of Smoky River, three Metis Settlements – Peavine, East Prairie and Gift Lake and service partnerships in Whitefish Lake, Driftpile, Sucker Creek, Kapaweno and Swan River.