Norma Wallace receives first Shelburne Senior Achievement Award

December 22, 2015 · 0 Comments

On Sunday, December 13th, Mrs. Norma Wallace became the first person to receive the Town of Shelburne’s new Senior Achievement Award. The 89 year old, who now resides at Shelburne Residence, 200 Robert Street in Shelburne, was surrounded by family and friends when she was presented the award by Mayor Ken Bennington around noon time on Sunday.
Born September 21, 1926 to parents Ernest and Ella Horsley, Norma was raised in Amaranth Township with her sister Verna and two brothers Edgar and Elgin. She worked at the old Shelburne Creamery and in 1946 married Kenneth Wallace, who sadly passed away last year. The couple raised a family of six on their 100 acre farm in Mulmur Township – Beth, Gwen, Bob, Debbie, Kathy, and Dianne. Norma and Ken were also blessed with 13 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
Norma’s daughter Dianne told the Free Press that through the years her mother “was an active member of the Whitfield Women’s Institute, Whitfield Anglican Church Ladies Auxiliary and put in many years of service on the Shelburne Fair Board in which she was the president of the ladies’ division for a time.” With a passion for knitting and quilting she won many awards at many local fairs, as well as for her baking and preserves. She hand quilted quilts for all her children and grand children and then 16 of her great grandchildren received hand quilted baby quilts, at which point she was no longer able to quilt due to health. Dianne also said her mother was a strong support to their father with many of his projects during their years together, and most recently, the “Lost Soldiers Project.”
According to Town criteria, “the purpose of the Shelburne Senior Achievement Award is to recognize and honour outstanding seniors who, after age 65, have made significant contributions to the community. The outstanding voluntary or professional achievement may have occurred in any field of endeavour.” Each year, one individual will be selected to receive this prestigious award.
When Shelburne Residence employee Darlene (Jelly) Taylor saw the award announced, she said, “I knew before even finishing reading about it that this was for Norma.” Darlene, who knew Norma’s husband Ken Wallace through her father, who like Ken was a veteran, has come to know Norma even better since her time at Shelburne Residence. She calls Norma, “The most wonderful person you’ve ever laid your eyes on and the perfect senior of the year.”
Darlene noted Norma’s many contributions to community through Legion and church events. She says, “Here at the residence, she never asks for anything and is always grateful.” She knows Norma to be “a kind hearted, sweet and giving person who is an honour to know.” Darlene nominated Norma for the award and her nomination was supported by Lyn Thompson, also an employee at the Residence.

By Marni Walsh