An Angel In Our City

I attended a very special ceremony last week.  The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award was presented to Prince Albert’s only recipient,  Marie Mathers-Ross.  This award is being presented to deserving people across Canada to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s reign. 

I have known Marie for approximately ten years and she has never ceased to amaze me with her generosity and commitment to helping others.  She has resided in Prince Albert since 1966.  Since then, many organizations and individuals in Prince Albert, and indeed, across Saskatchewan, have benefited from Marie’s extensive leadership skills, expertise and enthusiasm.   Marie continually gives of herself to her community. She volunteers a great deal of time and puts tremendous effort into everything she does. 

She works diligently with the Royal Canadian Legion, the Federal Prison Officers’ Club of Saskatchewan and the Federal Superannuates Association of Prince Albert and District.  She does so because she believes it is extremely important to honour those who have worked and sacrificed to permit us to have the quality of life we now enjoy.   Marie has also worked extensively with the St. John Ambulance and the Provincial Emergency Measures Organization.

Marie has always been a strong advocate for newcomers to our city.  She is fluent in English, French, German and Yiddish, which is beneficial when working with families who have chosen to make Prince Albert their home.  These skills and talents are also put to good use as a member of the Prince Albert Multicultural Association, the Prince Albert Housing Authority and the Welcome Wagon in facilitating their integration into our community.

Marie’s sharing heart, compassionate soul and commitment to the most vulnerable in our community has led her to work with the Prince Albert Food Bank, the Downtown Improvement Association and the Prince Albert Council of Women. Marie was very involved with Girl Guides and the Boy Scouts of Canada for over forty years.  She assumed many roles in the scouting movement. 

Marie has received many awards in recognition of her outstanding contributions throughout her lifetime.  She has been the recipient of the scout’s movement’s Good Service to Scouting and Medal of Merit.  She was honoured with the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal.  The Prince Albert YWCA’s Women of Distinction honoured her with the Lifetime Achievement Award.  She has received the Council of Women’s Certificate of Recognition of Women Leaders in Prince Albert.  As well, she has received the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal.

Throughout all of these years of service to her community, Marie was a wife and a mother of a large family. 

 The last few years have seen Marie struggle with health issues and surgeries, but still she continues to give of herself.  I have seen her come home from Saskatoon after a medical procedure and, rather than rest, head off to one of her many meetings.  She books her meetings and hours of volunteerism around her doctor appointments. 

As I watched Marie, her tiny frame sitting on the huge official chair at City Hall, it struck me again how one person can make a difference in the world.  I admire her strength in the face of the many struggles she has dealt with and her commitment to her community.  She understands how the actions of one person can change the life of another. 

Congratulations, Marie, on this well-deserved recognition.  You are truly an angel and we in Prince Albert are fortunate to have you working for us.  Special people receiving well-deserved recognition . . .  it's a good thing!