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Sandy Zeznik honoured as Citizen of the Year
“Well deserved; it’s about time; and what, you haven’t won it yet?” were among the most common statements made Feb. 3 when the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce bestowed Sandy Zeznik as Citizen of the Year for 2022.
If you live in Cranbrook and attend the odd community event and don’t know Sandy Zeznik, you know her or know of her.
Also overheard during the afternoon celebration at the Heritage Inn was “did she clone herself?” and “does she have a twin sister?”
Each speaker who addressed the packed conference centre, including many past and current volunteer organization members, family, friends, past co-workers and students, as well as Kootenay East MLA Tom Shypitka and City of Cranbrook Mayor Wayne Price were effusive in outlining how Cranbrook has been blessed in having such an engaged and colourful citizen.
It was also made abundantly clear that Sandy, who is also now known as President of the World (details to follow), has a fabulous sense of humour to go along with her penchant for tardiness and lack of sense of direction.
As one speaker noted, her tardiness is often associated with arriving at a meeting late because she just left another volunteer board meeting.
And as is typical, when the time came for Sandy to address the gathering, she opened by trying to sell raffle tickets before deflecting her achievements by outlining how people can volunteer their time, why it is important and suggested a host of organizations that would love to meet them.
Sandy accepted the award on behalf of all volunteers in the community and shared “a volunteer story. It begins – parents help you – collect bottles, get pledge. Help out a school, teams, clubs. Continue – student government, school committees, community organization – services – snow shovelling, cutting grass, candy stripers, coaching, refereeing. Then comes the hockey, dance, gymnastics, soccer mom, dad, coach….fundraise for your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, friends’ kids.
“Work – volunteer – always something extra to do. Own interests – sports, services, community events. Give time and money – tickets (Hospice tickets), sponsor events, donations. Then there are adult and particularly senior volunteers – after retirement – involvement in community entertainment – Key City Theatre, Children’s Festival, events (Blitzville), community theatre, arts council, history centre.
“Then service – Rotary – Cranbrook (Villa, Mary)/Sunrise, Seniors Hall, Community Forest, Food Bank, Social Planning, Cranbrook/Kimberley Hospice, Seniors in Partnership, Kootenay CARP, Telus Ambassadors, city committees, Library/friends of Library, Cranbrook Health Care Auxiliary/Gift/Thrift shop, Backcountry of B.C., Community Foundation of Kootenay Rockies, caregivers, tourism (working at Info centre, best job, telling people where to go!…..many more!
“Driving – helping people to get to places they need to go, bringing groceries, prescriptions, etc. Neighbours helping neighbours. Boards – volunteer/working boards – keep the groups going, planning, applying for grants, organizing, etc.
“And then provincial/federal organizations – BC Community Response Network (BCCRN), Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of BC (Cosco) not the store, CanAge, CARP, COA – Council of Advisors for Seniors Advocate,” she stated, adding another volunteer plug about the upcoming visit by Isobel Mackenzie, BC Seniors Advocate, who will be at the Cranbrook Seniors’ Hall for a Town Hall and Q&A on Wednesday, Feb. 15.
Nearing conclusion, Sandy noted the importance of businesses and organizations that give to non-profits – quoting late Kimberley Mayor Jim Ogilvie: “shop local when you can!
“For all of you I accept this award… Here’s to all of the volunteers in our community, to the organizations and businesses who support them!”
And speaking of the Cranbrook Seniors’ Hall, which Sandy, or course, is president of, she outlined why she is President of the World.
“During COVID, while putting up a sign on the front door of the Seniors Hall, the kids (who always rode around in the Seniors Hall parking lot) came over to see what I was doing. The youngest, maybe four or five asked me what I was doing, and I explained about the closure because of the sickness,” she said.
“I proceeded to unlock the front door to do some work inside and the boy tilted his head, like a dog, and said ‘if it’s closed why are you going in?’ I told him I was the President and would have given him a long explanation except he interrupted with… ‘of the world?’”
As is tradition at the Citizen of the Year celebrations, past winners gather for a group photo with the current year’s winner in the middle. This year featured a packed house of former Citizens of the Year.
Lead image: Dennis Walker, 2021 Citizen of the Year, presents the 2022 plaque to Sandy Zeznik, right, Feb. 3 at the Heritage Inn in Cranbrook. Photos by Ian Cobb and Carrie Schafer/e-KNOW
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
