In recognition of National Volunteer Week, Tolko is proud to announce the winners of our annual Community Citizen Award. The award was created to recognize employees who contribute to the communities in which they live and work.
- The winner for the BC region, representing Tolko locations west of the Rockies, is Ross Stafford, Charge Hand at Soda Creek.
- The winner for the Prairie region, representing Tolko locations east of the Rockies, is Candy Pariseau, Woodlands Accountant at Meadow Lake Woodlands.
Ross and Candy will each receive $2,500 to be donated to the charitable organization of their choice.
In the community: Ross Stafford
Ross has been the Williams Lake and District 4-H Club President for over 10 years and has been part of the organization for nearly 40 years. He has dedicated hundreds of hours each year to ensure the youth members are able to excel in every aspect of the program including leadership, citizenship and life skills. He provides a tremendous amount of mentorship, coaching and support to youth, leaders and parents who are navigating the program.
Along with 4-H, Ross is also an active volunteer member of the Williams Lake Community Forest (WLCF) Standing Committee on Resource Values & Interests. He represents the farming and ranching community and provides guidance and information to forest professionals who manage the forest surrounding the community of Williams Lake.
“I am very excited to be the winner of the Community Citizen Award this year for the BC Region,” says Ross. “I would like to thank the people that nominated me, and I’m going to donate the money to the Williams Lake and District 4-H Council. This is a great youth organization that I have been involved in for many years as a member and now as a leader, and the donation will be greatly appreciated by the members.”
In the community: Candy Pariseau
Candy has been volunteering at the local animal shelter for two years and has done everything from cleaning and feeding animals to fostering animals at home, working fundraising booths and purchasing supplies for the day-to-day operation of the shelter. She volunteered for the “Save The Grandstand” group in Meadow Lake for two years and has also done volunteer fundraising for groups like a local homeless shelter, the Door of Hope food bank and soup kitchen, Ronald McDonald House and a senior citizen’s support fund.
At Tolko, Candy has been actively involved with the mill social club for 10 years and has looked after the logistics of every event. She is passionate about helping her community to be a better place for everyone.
“I would like to thank Stephen Mason, Woodlands Harvesting Manager at Meadow Lake for nominating me,” said Candy. “I feel very honored to just have been nominated and grateful for the opportunity to work for a company that encourages us to be better citizens.”
Congratulations to Ross and Candy — keep up the great work!
