By Jenn Watt
Published Dec. 13 2016
The Haliburton Auxiliary Associations of Ontario awarded longtime Haliburton volunteer Joan Stinson with the provincial life member award at the local auxiliary’s meeting and Christmas luncheon on Dec. 7.
Marion Saunders president of the provincial association came to Haliburton to give Stinson the award. As a surprise Joan’s husband Bob and her daughter Lorri Roberts attended the lunch.
Saunders read out a certificate sent to Stinson from Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.
It reads in part: “Your dedication to volunteering and your belief in the power of altruism to change lives for the better serve as an inspiration to your community and our province as a whole.”
Past president Tracey Lear told the Echo that Stinson is one of those volunteers you can count on to step up and help whenever needed.
“Anything that comes up she’ll say ‘I can do it’” she said.
Stinson has been a volunteer with the auxiliary for about 20 years. In that time she’s held most positions from secretary to president.
She said she has continued to give her time to the auxiliary because of the important role health care plays.
“We need it [the hospital] here because we have a lot of senior citizens and people just in general that need a hospital. The more equipment we can get then people wouldn’t have to travel so far for their tests” she said.