ARTHUR – Faye Craig was presented with a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee pin at the Arthur and Area Historical Society meeting on Aug. 17, by Perth-Wellington MP John Nater.
“[Craig] is such an amazing person, and … she’s always got such a positive attitude. Anytime you talk to her she’s always positive and cheerful, and I think that’s just a wonderful thing in a community volunteer,” said Nater on Craig being honoured.
Seventy pins are being presented to community members in Perth-Wellington to honour the Queen’s 70 years of service, explained Nater.
“What we’re trying to recognize is people who go above and beyond with their volunteer duties,” he said, adding those honoured are nominated by others in the community.
“Faye’s name came up a number of times.”
Craig is a long time community volunteer. She was chair of the Arthur 150 committee, she volunteers with St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Guelph Wellington Victim Services, Arthur Horticultural Society, Arthur Historical Society, is on the board for the Seniors Centre for Excellence, and is director of the Arthur Chamber of Commerce, to name a few organizations she’s helped.
“I can contribute and I can help to beautify our community … that’s important to me,” said Craig.
She added that receiving the pin was “a total surprise.”
Craig received a call from Nater’s office on the morning of Aug. 17 and they arranged to meet. Craig thought they were just going to photograph Nater with the Arthur 150 scrapbook where it is being kept with the Arthur Historical Society .
Arthur 150 scrapbook – Perth Wellington MPP John Nater checks out the recently completed Arthur 150 celebratory scrapbook. The scrapbook will be cataloged and stored at the Arthur Public Library for public viewing. Arthur 150 committee chair Faye Craig congratulated Diane MacDonald, Beth McCabe and Betty Boyd for compiling “an outstanding collection of treasured memories.” Submitted photo
“That was where John presented me with [the pin],” said Craig.
Her first thought upon receiving it was, “I will wear this pin very frequently and proudly,” she said, adding that it is beautiful.
“We’ve been trying as much as possible to do them as a surprise, to make it a little more meaningful and catch people off guard in a positive way,” said Nater.
Craig has been a resident of Arthur since 1967, after moving from Peele County.
“It was instilled in me as as a young person by my parents and my in-laws to contribute,” she said.
Craig emphasized the pin will be worn frequently.
“It reminds me of the qualities in the Queen and my grandmother and mother in law, and my dear mom, and I live by a lot of the characteristics that they instilled,” she stated.
“I would just like to sum this all up by saying God save the Queen,” Craig concluded on the honour.
