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Community Achievement Award for Clinton resident

Mayor says Robin Fennell was excellent person to nominate

Barbara Roden

I didn’t expect it at all.”

So says Clinton’s Robin Fennell regarding the phone call he received from a woman at the British Columbia Achievement Foundation.

She was phoning to inform the longtime Clinton volunteer that he was one of 30 recipients of the 2016 BC Community Achievement Awards.

Fennell says he had no idea he had even been nominated until he found out he’d won.

I understand Jim Rivett had a lot to do with the nomination.”

The Clinton mayor downplays his part in the process. “I saw a bulletin from the government about the award, and when I read what it was for, I thought Robin would be a perfect fit.”

The award “recognizes and celebrates the spirit, imagination, dedication, and contribution of British Columbians to their communities.”

While council made the motion to nominate Fennell, Rivett says there were a lot of people involved with providing support for the nomination, many from organizations that he has been involved with over the decades.

These include Integris Credit Union, of which he has been a director for a number of years; the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department, from which he recently retired after 30 years (“I can’t run fast enough anymore,” he laughs); the Clinton and District Outdoor Sportsman Association; the South Cariboo Historical Museum Society; the Clinton Legion; and the Clinton Community Woodlot Association.

Fennell says being on the board of directors for Integris is closest to his heart.

They do a lot for the community; they’re here for the community. When the Bank of Montreal left Clinton 15 years ago, the Quesnel and District Credit Union – as Integris was then – stepped in.

It’s very important for a small community to keep a financial institution.”

Fennel says he had to keep the news of the award to himself for a few days, until the official announcement was made.

Rivett laughs when he heard this bit of news.

We had to make the nomination and then gather support for it more than a year ago, without letting Robin know. It was quite something to keep people quiet about it.

I’m very happy he’s getting it. He was an excellent person to nominate, and the fact that lots of people were more than willing to help support the nomination shows how deserving he is.”

Barbara Roden is the Ashcroft Cache Creek editor.