Mayor Lyn Hall presented former city councillor and long-time community volunteer Shirley Gratton with the B.C. Medal of Good Citizenship on Monday night.
Gratton was one of 18 recipients of the 2019 Medal of Good Citizenship. Although Gratton no longer lives in the city, she continues to return to volunteer with the Festival of Trees, Hall said – which is an example of her dedication to the community.
"Thank you everyone, and thank you for nominating me," Gratton said. "It is truly an honour."
In addition to spending 13 years as a city councillor, Gratton was a founding member of the Prince George Fibre Arts Guild, the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame, the PG
Hydro Power Pioneers and the parish pastoral council that established Christ Our Saviour Church.
Over the years she's volunteered with numerous local organizations including the Prince George Heritage Commission, the Communities in Bloom committee and Civic Pride Action
Group.
Her fundraising efforts helped build a tennis court at Kelly Road Secondary School, the Hart Highlands Ski Hill and the Nechako Babe Ruth Heather Road Complex.
The B.C. Medal of Good Citizenship is just the latest in a series of honours for Gratton, who also recieved the Jeanne Clark Memorial Local History Award, Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Commemorative Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, was named 2004 Citizen of the Year, 2011 Outstanding Volunteer and in 2013 was given freedom of the City of Prince George.
"It's been a tremendous blessing," Gratton said.
