By Tyler Waugh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Mayor Dave Aker presented Claudette Coombs with her Lifetime Achievement Award at the Best in Mount Pearl Awards.
It seems almost fated that Claudette Coombs received a lifetime achievement award for her volunteer endeavours at the Best of Mount Pearl ceremony held April 23, since helping others was something bred into her at a young age.
She credits her mother for mentoring her on that path even before she started school, taking her along when she volunteered at one of the local health clinics.
“She would tell me, ‘Oh go pick up this, go get that,’ you know, bring things over here, bring this to this lady, and I think it just became something natural for me that if something had to be done I would just do it,” she recollects. “But the more I realized that it helps people and I guess you just have this feeling that that's a good thing to help people, so that’s where it started and developed as I grew up.”
Her nomination outlines an award-winning dedication to service over five decades toward health, education, humanitarian service and environmental responsibility. Her service includes roles with the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Diabetes Association and as an original member of the Provincial Wellness Advisory Council, which provides advice to the Minister of Health. She has also served on the Board of the Canadian Council on Smoking and Health.
She currently serves as president of the Mount Pearl Lions Club, which just celebrated 70 years of service.
Similar to her mother, Coombs is looking to foster volunteerism in young children through the advent of the ‘Cubs’ program through the Lions Club.
She says it is rewarding to see the children begin to connect the impact they can have on others, especially during their visits to local seniors’ homes.
“It's just so exciting when you see it,” said Coombs. “When you see the way children and seniors interact and realize the impact the children are having. And it’s even more exciting when you see the children realizing the impact they are having. But that's a thing that they see as part of their lives now And they'll tell us, ok, they want to go again.”
Coombs acknowledged the contributions to community of the other Lifetime Achievement Award nominees - Wanda Tiller, Sarah Hawkins, and Roger Learning - as well as those who were not nominated and continue to do good works.
“It feels good to make a difference, and there’s so many who do. Knowing that we really can make a difference, and you don't have to have money, you don't have to have stuff. You just have to have care for it,” she said.
Coombs was one of several community members and groups honoured for their contributions to Mount Pearl at an event that coincided with Volunteer Week.
Also honoured by the City of Mount Pearl at the event were the Mount Pearl Lions Club (urban agriculture award), the Mount Pearl Junior Blades and 807 Mount Pearl Kinsmen Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron (tied for Community Group of the Year), Bonnie Evely (Richard Levandier Citizen of the Year Award), as well as the nominees for the Richard Levandier Citizen of the Year Award, Ken Gatehouse and Leah Patterson. Also recognized were Kim Murphy and Christa Skinner (co-chairs for the U18 Women’s National Hockey Championships), and Sheri Philpott, Wanda Tiller, Robert Hayes and Renee Pendergast for their work on the Frosty Festival Committee.
John Murphy was posthumously named winner of the Community Impact Award.
"Our city is so special because of the people who make it such a great place to live, work, and play," said Mayor Dave Aker. “We are proud to recognize those whose efforts have made a meaningful difference in our community."