“Congratulations on your nomination and thank you for everything you do to make our community a better place to work and live,” said Mayor Murray Wright in acknowledging the nominees for the 2021 Town of Virden Citizen of the Year Award. “Your commitment to our community does not go unnoticed.”
This year’s winner, Chris Leach, was selected by Council from a slate of six and formally recognized at the Town’s Appreciation Dinner on Saturday, Dec. 4 at Tundra Oil & Gas Place. The other nominees included Kathy Welsh, Harry Coleman, Fran Bayliss, Mark Keown, and Tiffany Cameron.
Leach was employed at the Virden Central Hotel for 29 years and decided to take early retirement in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions and the closing of the business during the height of the pandemic. On a personal level, he began participating in the Special Olympics program in 1989 and has had success nationally in snowshoeing, track and field, and curling. He was instrumental in the formation of Kelchris, a local non-profit organization that supports intellectually challenged individuals like him in independent living. He remains an integral part of the organization to this day.
Penny Jones, a fellow resident at Evergreen Place, submitted the nomination. “I nominated this young man for Citizen of the Year because I believe his work throughout the years displays the very essence of community spirit through volunteerism and just a plain kindness to others,” she wrote. Chris not only deserves to be recognized for his good work but I believe he has earned our respect through his work ethic and has earned this award.”
Letters of support were also received from Kelchris, a group of Evergreen residents, and Darcy and Val Cockbill, former owners of the Virden Central Hotel.
“Chris has been an active member of the community for a long time,” came words from the Kelchris organization. “He is a kind and gentle spirit who is always willing to lend a helping hand and would give the shirt off his back to help his fellow peers. He was one of the first individuals involved with us and is an important part of our organization.”
Leach is currently employed part-time at Evergreen, performing such duties as snow removal and yard care. He helps out residents when asked and volunteers to call weekly bingo games. Evergreen residents’ letter of support states, “His smiling face has done a lot in the last two years to brighten our days.”
