Hall of Recognition – Over 400 people gathered at the Point St. Charles YMCA on September 29 for the 15th annual Hall of Recognition event, which honoured five leaders in the neighbourhood who have volunteered their time and energy throughout the years towards the youth of the area, as well as its many community programs.
This year’s inductees to the Hall were Bob Red Ross (former president of the Leo’s Boys Hockey club), former Montreal fireman and volunteer Gordie Bernier, Hockey Hall of Fame inductee and volunteer Frank Dilio, volunteer Linda Miller, and the Erin Sports Association. There are now a total of 72 inductees, and each one is honoured with a plaque that hangs on the wall in the entrance of the YMCA building, which describes their dedication to the Point St. Charles community’s rich history.
As well, 19 students received scholarships from monies raised at the event. Over the past 15 years, the Point St. Charles Scholarship program has given more than $250,000 in scholarship money to a total of 275 post-secondary students who live in the Point.
Credits: Jad Abukasm
Montreal broadcaster Chantal Desjardins served as emcee for the event; and award-winning veteran Montreal sports writer Michael Farber was its guest speaker.
The Hall of Recognition is an opportunity to celebrate the deep sense of community that was instilled in each of us as children, said Kevin Figsby, who is the Hall of Recognition event chairman. The event came about when I was contacted about the possible closure of the ‘now’ Point YMCA, which was the Point Boys and Girls Club when most of us grew up in Point St. Charles. It was the home of our beloved Leo’s Boys Sports Association and the hub for all community activities. Rather than allow the building to close, we put a group of friends together who had grown up in the Point and we decided to honour people from the past who through their volunteerism and accomplishments allowed us to dream and aspire.
Mr. Figsby added that eight former scholarship recipients attended this year’s event to talk about how receiving the scholarship helped them to achieve their respective successes, as well as the encouragement they received from the community at large as a result.
The funds which are raised have an immediate impact, as they are used to support youth activities in the Point St. Charles community and to support the dreams and aspirations of students from the community who are pursuing post-secondary education, he said.
Feature image: Attendees seated for the 15th annual Hall of Recognition event.
Credits: Jad Abukas
