A special lady with a heart of gold and a passion for life and her work was celebrated last week at the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in Langford.

Last Friday, staff and friends helped Shawn Wing mark 30 years working at the Claude Road store, where she has a penchant for snagging pictures or items featuring the Beatles, and getting her work done in a jiffy.

Turns out the surprise party for this workplace spark plug wasnB次元官网网址檛 quite the mystery organizers hoped it would be.

B次元官网网址淚 know everything,B次元官网网址� Wing said after the celebration had died down a bit. She admitted, however, that she was surprised to see her mom there.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard to pull stuff over on Shawn,B次元官网网址� noted store manager Francina Chilibecki.

WingB次元官网网址檚 co-workers had similar themes when speaking of her, calling her a tireless worker who gets her tasks done in a jiffy, but also that she brings zest and fun to the workplace.

Grace White has worked with Wing for more than 20 years at the store and sees her as kind of a combination of daughter and good friend. The womenB次元官网网址檚 sorting stations are side by side and they work quite closely together, which has allowed them to develop quite a bond over the years, both professionally and personally.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 sort of my right arm,B次元官网网址� White said, adding B次元官网网址渨eB次元官网网址檙e just like family. SheB次元官网网址檚 my lunch buddy.B次元官网网址�

When asked what her favourite part of the store is, Wing paused and thought carefully while straightening items on the shelves. B次元官网网址淚 like the puzzles and games,B次元官网网址� she finally decided. But she admitted they are often left in a mess when people browse through them.

ItB次元官网网址檚 never difficult to get Wing in the spirit of the season, no matter what the holiday or occasion.

B次元官网网址淪he dresses up for Halloween and celebrates St. PatrickB次元官网网址檚 Day, ValentineB次元官网网址檚 Day, Easter. And sheB次元官网网址檚 the first one to send a Christmas card,B次元官网网址� said White. B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 been a delight; sheB次元官网网址檚 made it lighter and fun.B次元官网网址�

Wing, who is 55 and lives in a suite in her parentB次元官网网址檚 home, has the energy and attitude of someone much younger, which helps keep her fellow staffers smiling.

Karel van de Wijngaard, a longtime St. Vincent de Paul staffer who worked with her for 12 years, called Wing a special person who is not limited by her disabilities, but makes the most of the abilities sheB次元官网网址檚 been blessed with. He remembers her being somewhat shy and reserved when he first met her.

B次元官网网址淪hawn found herself and lost some of her inhibitions and shyness,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that she B次元官网网址渂rought colour (to the workplace).B次元官网网址�

Wing is prone to wearing big sunglasses or other accessories to help keep the mood light at the store.

Although, whatever task she is working on, B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 done like that,B次元官网网址� she said with a snap of her fingers. B次元官网网址淭hen I say B次元官网网址榓nymore?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she added with a laugh.

Doing her job well is important to Wing, but so is having fun, White said. B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 got good common sense but sheB次元官网网址檚 also got real flair.B次元官网网址�

Chilibecki appreciates what Wing brings to the store four days a week, including the fact she provides a fresh outlook on things. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 great. Every day is the same, but different. You see life through a different perspective.B次元官网网址�

While WingB次元官网网址檚 abilities have prompted her co-workers to encourage her to become involved in other activities or perhaps take on a more challenging occupation, sheB次元官网网址檚 content being at the store with friendly faces and a job she can do almost with her eyes closed.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to stay here a long time,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 still ticking.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com