PUSLINCH – Former councillor Don McKay has been named this year’s Senior of the Year in Puslinch.
McKay received his award from Mayor James Seeley at the July 12 council meeting.
Seeley lauded McKay not only for his work in public life, where he was both a Puslinch councillor and Wellington County councillor, but for his behind-the-scenes work with numerous organizations over many years.
McKay is a member of the Aberfoyle Agricultural Society, the Puslinch Optimist Club and the Mill Creek Stewards. He is also a farmer and often opens his farm to school children, Seeley said.
For his part, McKay joked that he was more surprised at being called a senior than to win the award.
“I’m too young to be a senior,” he said.
McKay thanked his wife of 53 years, Barb McKay, who is really responsible for his volunteerism, he said.
“I’ve always followed Barb,” he said.
“She joined the Mill Creek Stewards, I joined the Mill Creek Stewards. She became a councillor, I became a councillor.”
McKay said it’s easy to volunteer in Puslinch, “because this is a community that cares about its residents. People are willing to stand up for the needs of the community. That makes it easy to volunteer,” he said.
Optimist Club president Gregg Allan said McKay has been a member for 20 years.
“Without people like Don there would be no Canada Day, no scholarships. $60,000 in grants has been given to the youth of Puslinch and that’s due to Don,” Allan said. “He’s our hero.”
