Local Volunteer To Receive Recognition For Community Involvement

Tuesday, 7 January 2020 07:25

Mr. Ernest A. Guy, recipient of The Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers (photo submitted)

On behalf of the Governor General, Julie Payette, Warden Larry Martin, will present the Sovereign Medal for Volunteers to Mr. Ernest A. Guy.

WOODSTOCK - A longstanding volunteer with the Oxford County Injury Prevention Team is being awarded the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers.

On behalf of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, Warden Larry Martin will present Mr. Ernest A. Guy with the medal on Wednesday at the next County Council meeting. Guy explains what went through is mind, when he was told we was being honoured with this award.

"I don't know if I can express that kind of emotion, it is a tremendous honour, I am very humble about that."

Guy has been with the Injury Prevention team since it's inception 23 years ago and he insists that this is a team award and the award should go to every member of the Injury Prevention Team.

In his previous career, Guy was in the military, when a Jeep was in rolled over breaking his neck. He is also a stroke survivor. Two things that have guided him in his passion for safety.

"Well I have had two strokes and that kind of led me into this. It is a means of giving back, I should be dead, because of the fractured neck and the two strokes, the first one almost killed me. They pulled me through, they got me back on my feet and I felt, I had to give back somehow and so this was it."

Over the years, Guy has helped the Injury Prevention Team with bicycle safety, children's car seats, he has repaired bikes, the Race Against Drugs program and so much more. He volunteers four days a week and explains how he got involved in the first place.

"I got involved through Sam Horton and the OPP. He got me to take a position with community policing and it just branched from there."

Horton will be presented with his medal at a special ceremony at the Oxford County council meeting at 9:30 am on Wednesday. It is open to the public and the presentation will happen at the start of the council meeting at the Oxford County administration building in downtown Woodstock.