Portage volunteer, artist and coach recognized

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This article was published 11/12/2017 (3036 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Three women were recently acknowledged for their contributions to Portage la Prairie’s youth programming, arts and sports sectors with Portage la Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce awards.

Local volunteer and Recreation Opportunities for Kids (ROK) Central executive director Lynne Parker received the citizen of the year award and ROK was named the not-for-profit organization of the year.

Artist, instructor and Portage & District Arts Centre marketing and events coordinator Lee Beaton was honoured as arts/cultural person of the year.

Special Olympics coach Cathy Holmes was named as sports person of the year.

Parker serves as a board member of the City of Portage parks committee and on the Community Food Matters committee. She said improving food security for local families and helping local youth stay active and healthy are top priorities for her.

“It’s the kids that I work with that inspire me,” she said.

When she was young, she considering teaching as a career, but her life took another pathway. However, she uses her knowledge of local social services to help educate and guide families on the resources they need.

ROK offers an after-school program for youth who might otherwise have no access to organized sports or other activities because of financial barriers. Parker said the organization is partnering with other Portage agencies to run a family enhancement program to teach positive parenting skills and run cooking classes for parents, with free childminding service.

“We’re partnering more to make things happen,” Parker said.

She said she was surprised to hear ROK’s selection for the not-for-profit of the year award, but believes it reflects ROK’s growing public presence. The organization received a $24,000 donation from Roquette Canada in November to support its youth after-school program.

Parker said people are able to see photos of the activities ROK has held through viewing its Facebook page.

“People like to see what we’re doing,” she said.

She invites local residents to attend a Skate with Santa event planned for Sun., Dec. 17 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the BDO Centre (390 1st St. NW).

Beaton is one of three local artists who mentored seven youth over the summer in ROK’s Canada 150 mural project. The mural decorates an exterior wall at the BDO Centre.

Now working on her Fine Arts degree at Brandon University, Beaton has exhibited her own work as well as promoted the work of many local artists through exhibits in the PDAC gallery space. She said she’s using the new techniques she’s learning at university to take her work in new directions.

Beaton has also taught art classes at PDAC and been involved in Portage la Prairie’s Cultural Days event for the past two years.

Holmes has volunteered as coach of the Portage Stampeders club for about 10 years. It offers local residents with intellectual disabilities the chance to participate in basketball and track and field events, and to train to compete in Special Olympics events.

“I love coaching Special Olympics as the athletes are so enthusiastic,” Holmes said.

She served as assistant coach for the Special Olympics snowshoe team from Manitoba in a national competition in Newfoundland two years ago.

Holmes said she was very honoured to be chosen to receive the Chamber award as Portage has many people involved in a wide range of sports.