Senior of the Year Award

(Excerpt from nomination form)

Helen Boyd is an active community volunteer serving with Hospice Lennox & Addington and Hospice Palliative Care Ontario. She also hosts local quilting groups for seniors and is an active volunteer in her neighborhood. Helen is a repeat presenter of the 6-week hospice grief group. The lives of the members of this group are being changed by Helen’s compassionate leadership. Helen has also provided community presentations about Advance Care Planning to assist local seniors. The informal quilters’ group hosted by Helen provides opportunities for learning and practicing new sewing skills as well as social interaction.

Helen is a role model for everyone who meets her. She is generous with her time and energy, and is a source of compassion, understanding and encouragement. She volunteers a great deal of her time in service to members of her community. Hellen has always helped people, both throughout her career and now in her retirement. She is simply a good person doing a great deal of good work in her community.

(Excerpt from nomination form)

Deb Lowry has dedicated many years to strengthening the Greater Napanee community through volunteer leadership, mentorship, and hands-on service.

At the Lennox & Addington County General Hospital, Deb has taken on a significant leadership role through her service on the Board of Directors, including serving as Chair. In this role, she has supported the hospital through important growth and change, contributing to major advancements in local healthcare that benefit residents across Lennox and Addington County.

Deb is also actively involved with Greater Napanee Connect, where she has helped organize major community initiatives including Guitars n’ Cars and delivering “Shout Outs” that recognize and celebrate local residents and businesses who contribute to the community. Guitars n’ Cars itself originally began during Deb’s time with the Greater Napanee Business Improvement Area, where she played a role in helping launch the event during its first two years. During her time with the BIA, she was also nominated for a local Women with Momentum award in recognition of her leadership and contributions to the community. Through the Napanee Valley Cruisers, Deb continues to help organize community events that raise funds for local charities while bringing families and visitors together in Greater Napanee.

Deb also volunteers regularly at Southview Public School, where she assists with the weekly school lunch program and supports other school activities that benefit students and staff.

In addition to these formal roles, Deb consistently supports many other community initiatives, including participating in Coldest Night of the Year in support of Morningstar Mission. These examples represent only a portion of her volunteer involvement. Deb is known throughout the community as someone who is always willing to step up, lend a hand, and support initiatives that help Greater Napanee thrive.

Deb leads by example. She demonstrates that strong communities are built by people who are willing to give their time and energy to help others. Her willingness to step forward, take on responsibilities, and support a wide range of community initiatives inspires others to get involved.

She is widely known in Greater Napanee as someone who is always ready to help—whether organizing events, supporting fundraisers, volunteering in schools, or recognizing the contributions of others. Her positive attitude and consistent involvement show that making a difference in the community is something anyone can do with commitment and care. Through her leadership and steady presence across many organizations and initiatives, Deb has helped foster a culture of volunteerism and community pride.

(Excerpt from nomination form)

For most of his adult life, Brian Lowry served the Napanee community as an elementary school teacher guiding young students not only in academics but in character and confidence.  Alongside his teaching career, he has been the owner and Chief Instructor of the Napanee Karate Club for over 35 years.  What began as a passion for Martial Arts grew into a lasting community institution that continues to positively impact families throughout our area. Even after retiring from his career in education, Sensei Brian Lowry never stepped away from his commitment to helping others grow. At 82 years old, he still teaches karate four nights a week demonstrating remarkable dedication, vitality and purpose.

Brian is an inspiration for health and wellness for seniors and the community.  He lives his life as an example to all his students young and old demonstrating the importance of healthy living and community engagement. In addition to teaching regular classes at the Napanee Karate Club, he has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to community service through many years of volunteer work.  He has generously donated his time teaching women’s self-defence both at his school and for many groups in the town and surrounding area, empowering participants with practical skills and confidence.

When Sensei Brian Lowry is not teaching and running the Napanee Karate Club, he brings his wife of 50+ years and his son to church where he serves as an Usher and provides music on the piano for some services and their musical nights.  He has served on two church boards in Napanee and has spent years volunteering at churches in many different ways.  Christmas Eve he could be found delivering Christmas dinners to families in need. During the Pandemic, Brian helped several friends, peers and neighbours who were unable to leave their homes.  He brought them groceries, delivered their mail, mowed their grass, arranged snow plowing and countless other acts of kindness. 

Brian has spent his whole life looking for - not waiting for opportunities to help others. leads by example every day - with humility, perseverance and a genuine desire to help others succeed.  His decades of service have left a lasting legacy in Napanee and his impact continues to grow with every student he teaches.