ItB次元官网网址檚 honestly a little surprising that Kenny Podmore hadnB次元官网网址檛 won this award before this year.
Over the Canada Day long weekend in Sidney, Podmore B次元官网网址� a former town councillor (six years), current town crier (14 years in the job), tireless man-about-town and a guy who can even marry you if you want to (heB次元官网网址檚 a marriage commissioner) B次元官网网址� was presented with the Town of SidneyB次元官网网址檚 Community Builder Award. It was given to him by Mayor Steve Price, with whom he served on town council, prior to leaving local politics almost three years ago.
But that didnB次元官网网址檛 mean Podmore was leaving the public eye.
He stayed busy, working an a concierge at the Sidney Pier Hotel, acting as official Town Crier for Sidney and for Oak Bay and helping couples tie the knot. As well, he has worn his heart on his sleeve B次元官网网址� organizing various fundraisers for victims of flooding and mudslides in Washington State and for the families affected by the train derailment in Lac Magantic, Quebec.
Even his simple act of organizing row upon row of small, white memorial crosses and poppies on the lawn of the Pier Hotel during Remembrance Day, is yet another one of his contributions to the community he grew to love after coming to Canada from the U.K.
B次元官网网址淎ll of this is my way of paying it back and saying B次元官网网址榯hank youB次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� Podmore says.
He said the award was a surprise B次元官网网址攅specially since it was presented by the mayor during SidneyB次元官网网址檚 Canada Day ceremony in Beacon Park on June 30, an event that Podmore himself had a big hand in helping organize.
In fact, Podmore was at the forefront of organizing every Canada 150 event in Sidney this year, working with the Town of SidneyB次元官网网址檚 Paula Kully and many volunteers and community groups to bring nearly a month of activities to life. He took ideas B次元官网网址� some of them his own, many others the ideas of different people B次元官网网址� and made them happen. He spearheaded big events to small ones B次元官网网址� a 360-person sold out Dinner en Rouge, for example, as well as a mass singing of O Canada to help promote SidneyB次元官网网址檚 Canada Day events.
Still, Podmore wonB次元官网网址檛 take all of the credit.
B次元官网网址淚f it wasnB次元官网网址檛 for the volunteers, it just wouldnB次元官网网址檛 happen.B次元官网网址�
Of course, working so hard means heB次元官网网址檚 deserving of a bit of a rest. And thatB次元官网网址檚 what Podmore says heB次元官网网址檚 going to do.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to ease off a little. Certain things IB次元官网网址檒l keep doing, but other people are stepping up, willing to take on other things.B次元官网网址�
Podmore said heB次元官网网址檚 working with local businesses, societies and individuals on keeping events like the Dinner en Rouge, Van Isle Comic Con and more, going in Sidney.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 sure theyB次元官网网址檒l keep happening,B次元官网网址� he continued.
And of course, he will continue to wear the mantle of town crier.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what brought me to Canada in the first place,B次元官网网址� Podmore laughed, referring to the World Town Crier competition hosted by Sidney in 1992.
He came from Stafford in England for the event and said he fell in love with the place, came to Sidney and hasnB次元官网网址檛 looked back.
B次元官网网址�(Town Crying) took me places IB次元官网网址檇 never thought IB次元官网网址檇 ever go to. ItB次元官网网址檚 in my blood.B次元官网网址�
