‘She helped everyone achieve success’: King volunteers honoured at appreciation night

18 people were given awards for their service to the community

Yorkregion.com
May 25, 2022
Laura Broadley

Volunteers are the backbone of King township.

Eighteen people were recognized by King township council at a volunteer appreciation night for their contributions to the community.

Michelle Frauley was recognized as citizen of the year for her dedication to the people of the township. She was given the award because she is a caregiver, volunteer, resident and business owner.

Frauley has over three decades of nursing experience and, in 2013, she founded Hospall Private Homecare for residents of King and surrounding areas. In 2016, she received an award from the International Nurses Association as a worldwide leader in health care.

Frauley is also known for her leadership role during the COVID-19 pandemic at the King Township Vaccination Clinic.

“It was her personal goal to make our clinic and municipality a true success story and she did just that,” said Mayor Steve Pellegrini. “She provided exception support, guidance and encouragement and was a mentor to the community volunteers, the doctors and nurses that she worked alongside with. She helped everyone achieve success while safeguarding the community all at the same time.”

Frauley said helping in the community is a part of who she is and getting such an award is “humbling.”

“I didn’t actually think that I deserve the award because I love to help and make a difference in people’s personal lives, professional lives,” she said.

Frauley dedicates so much of her time to King because of how much she loves it.

“It’s an honour just to be a part of this community. It’s been amazing to see how much we’ve grown as a community just during this pandemic. I just feel very blessed and grateful,” she said.

Frauley’s passion is to give back.

“Ever since I was young and became a nurse, and as a person, I just always wanted to give back. It’s in me. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s a part of who I am. Volunteerism is about finding something you’re passionate about and just going for it and giving back. It helps make you feel good too,” Frauley said.

Pellegrini said volunteers are essential to King township.

“I tell people that King has the gorgeous, picturesque rolling hills and everything, but it’s truly beautiful because of the volunteers,” he said. “We’re the largest municipality in terms of size with the smallest population... A lot of the facilities are there because of organizations like the Lions that have contributed. We run on volunteers here in King.”

Pellegrini said the township is too big in size to afford to pay the amount of staff it would take to keep it running smoothly without volunteers.

“Volunteers are vitally important,” he said.

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION AWARDS

Special recognition award

Bill Jones

Catherine Flear

Dorita Peer

Geoff Simpson

Charles Cooper (Schomberg Village Association)

Alf Budweth

Jennifer Eaglesham

Latif Kassam (past president of Nobleton Lions)

Ian McClelland and King City Lions Club

Earl Groombridge and the Nobleton Lions Club

Gord Dobson and the Schomberg Lions Club

Special recognition award (nonresident)

Ann Del Favero

Senior citizen award of merit

Carolyn Kanitz

Lifetime achievement award

Bill Salter

Dennis O’Hara

Youth award of merit

Celina Lovisotto

Sofia Elisabeth Ouslis

Citizen of the year

Michelle Frauley