PORT WILLIAMS, N.S. — The Village of Port Williams received the Lieutenant Governor’s Community Spirit Award at a ceremony following a Harvest Dinner at their community centre Oct. 27.
The dinner was the last of the four 2019 award presentation events. Communities chosen to receive the Community Spirit Award promote citizen engagement, civic pride and a positive outlook on the future. The village’s application, although submitted by its newest group, the Port Williams History Committee, was all about the contributions of the 16 organizations whose interconnectedness and support of one another is one of the things that makes the village special.
The roast beef dinner prepared by the Port Williams and District Lions Club was accompanied by a glass of wine from the Port Williams-based Planters Ridge Winery. This was a most appropriate choice as the winery’s 2018 Tidal Bay was one of four wines that had received the 2019 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Nova Scotia Wines.
In his remarks before the presentation, Lt.-Gov. Arthur LeBlanc mentioned a few of the things in the village’s application that stood out to him: their Port Williams Days with so many organizations and people participating, the creation of the village’s many recreation facilities, special to him as the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles is one of his goals, and its Random Acts of Kindness Day. He was impressed that all of this had been achieved by a community with a population of only 1,200.
The award, a crystal statuette, was then jointly unveiled by LeBlanc and village commission chairperson Lewis Benedict. NovaScotian Crystal Ltd. creates a unique piece for each winning community and the one crafted for Port Williams spoke to the past and present of the village with a sailing ship on water, a nod to village’s history as a port, followed by a stylized plant referring to the ongoing importance of agriculture. The five cuts on the right are a design element that is common to all of the awards.
After the unveiling, Benedict spoke briefly, thanking those who were responsible for the award application and the members of the organizing committee of the event.
“This is truly your night to be recognized,” began the remarks of Kings West MLA Leo Glavine, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage, whose department is responsible for the administration of the award. Glavine highlighted two events hosted by the village of which he had firsthand knowledge: the Walk for Cystic Fibrosis and the Terry Fox Warm Ups and Runs.
Kings North MLA John Lohr presented Benedict with an official certificate of the Member Statement made in the Legislature congratulating the community on being chosen for the award. He said that he was proud that Port Williams was recognized with this award and thanked “all who contribute to making Port Williams such a great place to live.”
- Article by Sylvia Jacquard
