By Jenn Watt

Known for their generosity and community spirit Lyle Stamp and Pat Bain were each given a West Guilford Pioneer Citizen Award at the Canada Day celebration on Monday.

In front of a large crowd gathered at the community centre Barry Boice said it’s the characters who live in West Guilford that make the place special Lyle Stamp being “the biggest character of them all.”

Stamp was born on Pine Lake in 1944 and has lived in the village of West Guilford since he was six.

Lyle and Carol Stamp were married in 1975 and together raised two children.

“His hobbies included hunting fishing and teasing. His career was spent in the truck whether it be a gravel truck or a log truck” Boice said.

Over the years Stamp’s name became synonymous with the village. Boice said if you travel outside of the county and bring up West Guilford if the person knows the place they are also likely to bring up Lyle Stamp.

“He has helped put us on the map. When you hear his name many thoughts come to your mind: his stories his one-liners his antics” he said.

“There’s a lot more to him than just that. … He would sooner have money in his pocket to give to someone in need than have money in his bank account for himself. So that’s why Guilford is such a special place is because we have guys and girls like Lyle that live here.”

The second honouree this year was Pat Bain known by many through her years of teaching. Kim Stamp spoke about the impact Bain has had on many lives around the county.

“Pat’s life has not always been easy but she’s a shining example of a person who has chosen to overcome the hard times with a fierce determination to be the better person and to also make the world a better place around her because of those experiences” Kim Stamp said.

Bain grew up in Eagle Lake and when she graduated high school was encouraged to become a teacher. She enrolled in teacher’s college at age 18 and when she started teaching in a one-room schoolhouse in Essonville she was only three years older than the oldest student in the class.

Stamp said that Bain was a caring teacher who made sure the children had the proper outfits for graduation and warm clothes in the winter. She was firm with students while making sure they understood they were loved.

“Even when Pat is going through her own trials she always finds the time to reach out to her family and friends with her incredible stores of love and compassion” she said.

Pat Bain has a deep love for her family Stamp said which has led to a perpetually full voicemail box. Because she’s unwilling to delete messages from her grandkids now no one is able to leave a message.

“Pat has not only been a great teacher but also a caring and thoughtful community minded person who has delivered countless meals to families in their time of need and always has time to stop for a visit to check on how you are doing” Stamp said.

Lyle Stamp and Pat Bain were honoured with individual plaques and their names have been added to a larger plaque reflecting all of the award winners.