Bon Accord volunteer recognized for 52 years of service

By Grant Cree 

Bon Accord resident Gail Critchley received an award for volunteering for more than 50 years in the community. The presentation took place on May 18 in the Bon Accord Arena concession room. Mayor Brian Holden and town staff gathered with a group of residents to personally thank Critchley for her services. 

Mayor Holden presented Critchley with a plaque for the “Community Services Appreciation Award” that now hangs on the wall in the arena concession room.  

He noted she began volunteering  52 years ago in 1970 and continues to help.  

“She’s been in many, many volunteer positions,” said Holden, praising Critchley for continuing to help with bookings for the arena and sports grounds. “She did all of that selflessly from home. Gail wanted things done well to make things run smooth for the town, and she achieved that.” 

Jodi Brown, Chief Administrative Officer/Town Manager for the past year, is impressed with Critchley’s dedication to Bon Accord. “She’s been a phenomenal help to our organization and supporting youth in sports in the community,” said Brown. “I can’t say enough.” 

Before attending the presentation, Brown and other Town staff wrote heartfelt messages of gratitude on a greeting card to Critchley. “We were struggling to find words,” said Brown. “How are there words to express when you have a volunteer who committed hours and hours and over 50 years of community service?” 

Gail Critchley began her journey of volunteering in 1970 when she coached the local girls’ ball team. A few years later, she coached her two son’s sports teams. 

“I was always in sports,” said Critchley. She got involved in the local sports committee, helped the community league, and worked with the Bon Accord Recreation Board. 

“Way back in the day, they had to have a recreation board to build the arenas,” said Critchley. “The recreation board through the town was a volunteer from each one of the community groups. So it was from community league as the volunteer itself.” 

She continued to stay active in sports and described playing hockey as her favourite team activity. There’s a team photo of her with the Bon Accord Raiders hockey team in the arena concession room.  

Critchley offered some advice to residents: “Get involved in the community because you are the community,” she said. “If you haven’t volunteered, don’t complain. Volunteering is one way of meeting a wonderful group of people, every year, there’s a new group, and it’s just awesome.”