2010 Will Begin With 5 Residents To
Receive The Order Of Collingwood
The new year will see Mayor Chris Carrier present five new recipients with The Order of Collingwood. Every year, the Town of Collingwood honours select citizens who have given their time to make the town a better place for all of us to live and work. This year, Dr. Farel Anderson, Ed Christie, Peter Coates, Ian Whitton and Don Gallinger will be presented with the Order of Collingwood at the Mayor's New Year's Levee on Sunday, January 10, 2010, at Georgian Manor Resorts.
Dr. Farel Anderson is a former member of council, a Past Chair of the Police Services Board, past Contact Centre board member, Past Chair for the Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, a consistent volunteer and supporter of the local chapters of the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and a founding member of the Collingwood Toastmasters. Dr. Anderson has been involved with E3 Community Services and supports and contributes to the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, the Collingwood Music Festival and Theatre Collingwood. Over and above his contribution to the Town of Collingwood, Dr. Anderson has been a volunteer dentist at the F.I.S.H. dental clinic in Jamaica for the past 15 years.
Ed Christie is a well known Collingwood businessman. Mr. Christie was instrumental in the formation of the Downtown Collingwood Business Improvement Association and continues to be actively involved, having served as Chair on many occasions. Mr. Christie is the Past President of the Rotary Club of Collingwood, and is an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Collingwood South Georgian Bay. Mr. Christie is a past Collingwood Councilor and is a member of the Town of Collingwood Sigh Variance Committee and Collingwood Heritage Committee.
Peter Coates is a well known Collingwood musician, having made a substantial contribution to the town's music culture for over 60 years. Mr. Coates organized and performed in a concert that raised monies for Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (a Global Outreach program). He has supported and encouraged the development of many community choirs. He was the leader of the Interfaith Choir, the Collingwood Chambr Choir and Contorum (an acapella choir with focus on early music). Mr. Coates provided accompaniment to the Sound Investment Community Choir and contributed historical research to the book "Rails to the Lakes." Today, Mr. Coates continues to play piano regularly at the Collingwood Nursing Home and other area retirement homes.
Ian Whitton has been a driving force behind the success of the Collingwood YMCA. Mr. Whitton was a member of the YMCA Board of Directors from 1987 until 2002. He was Treasurer from 1988 until 1991 and again from 1995 to 1999, President from 1991 to 1993 and member of the Capital Campaign in 1989. Mr. Whitton was a member of the Regional Board of Directors of the YMCA from 2002 until 2006. In addition to his outstanding work with the YMCA, Mr. Whitton is a member of the Rotary Club of South Georgian Bay, having served as President from 2002 until 2004. He is actively involved with the Pretty River Academy and was a member of the Board of Directors and was Treasurer from 1998 until 2007. He is President of the Collingwood Clippers Swim Club and was a founding Director of the Dragon Board and Canoe Club.
Don Gallinger has been involved with many fundraising initiatives with the Collingwood General & Marine Hospital. He worked with the Collingwood District United Way from 1988 until 1991. His many other community contributions include working with Theatre Collingwood in 1988 until present and with the Big Brothers from 2002 until 2004. In 1997 he became Chair of the Fundraising Committee at the Pretty River Academy. He is an active member of All Saints Anglican Church and sponsors a family at Christmas through the Salvation Army. He is a past winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award and has been a participant of the Laurie MacKenzie Memorial Golf Gournament from 1995 until present. His many sponsorships include the Fleetwood Dance Studio, the Collingwood Junior A Blues, Georgian Bay Hospice, Habitat for Humanity, the Collingwood YMCA and Wylde Wind Foundation. Mr. Gallinger is an avid water skier and was the founder of the Collingwood Recreational Water Ski Club in 1998.
Mayor Chris Carrier and Members of Council for the Corporation of the Town of Collingwood will host the Mayor's New Year's Levee at Georgian Manor Resorts on Sunday, January 10, 2010. The Order of Collingwood Presentations will be made at 1:30pm. In addition, Sharon Goldsworthy, Barb Weider, Gary Norman, Fred Sproule and Ron Emo will be presented with the Companion to the Order of Collingwood.