Joan Weston Named Tillsonburg Citizen of the Year

Tuesday, 26 October 2021 12:33

"Joan has been a tireless volunteer with many organizations in Tillsonburg over the years. She brings passion and energy to every project she takes on."

TILLSONBURG - The Town of Tillsonburg has named Joan Weston as the 2021 Citizen of the year.

Chair of the Town's Cultural, Heritage and Special Awards Advisory Committee Collette Tackacs explains he criteria for the award.

"The award is presented to an individual who makes an outstanding contribution to the Town of Tillsonburg, with no expectation of personal gain."

Mayor Steven Molnar says Weston certainly meets the criteria for this award.

"Joan has been a tireless volunteer with many organizations in Tillsonburg over the years. She brings passion and energy to every project she takes on."

Weston has volunteered with several organizations in Tillsonburg over the years and is best known for her efforts over the past 10 years to preserve and protect Lake Lisgar. As a volunteer grant writer with the Lake Lisgar Revitalization Project, she successfully secured $200,000 in grants for a variety of ecosystemenhancing projects.

"I had never done anything like that before and I was terrified applications. We were approved for eight and short listed for the ninth."

Weston spent 40 years teaching English and Drama for the Waterloo Regional District School Board. During her retirement, she has devoted time to Tillsonburg District Historical
Society, the Museum Advisory Committee, the Annandale House Fundraising Committee and the Tillsonburg Pioneers.

Annandale Curator Patricia Phelps says Weston has been a tremendous asset to the Museum.

"Tillsonburg District Historical Society, the Museum Advisory Committee, the Annandale House Fundraising Committee and the Tillsonburg Pioneers."

Weston's favourite thing to do at the Museum is give tours.

"I really love giving tours at the museum. People ask the most interesting questions."

She has also given 11 years of volunteer service to the Multi-Service Centre’s adult basic literacy program. Something she finds very rewarding.

"It’s so rewarding because the students really want to learn—something that wasn't always the case when I was teaching high school."

Joan will be presented with the award at a special ceremony on November 9th.