Longtime Rossland resident Jackie Drysdale will be receiving the Queen’s Jubilee medal tomorrow night, along with Robin Michelle Legere, from Trail.
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal is awarded in honour of the Queen’s 60 years as the Monarch, and recognizes prominent volunteers in the community.
Drysdale has lived in Rossland for the past 37 years and notably was Rossland’s first female mayor in 1985 and was re-elected two years later.
She was also a member of the 2005 Rossland city council.
Drysdale has been a part of many organizations, she is the current chair of the Rossland Historical Society and Rossland Golden City Days Society.
She said Volunteering is something she really enjoys.
“I like to volunteer, for me it’s a win-win situation,” Drysdale said. “I like to work with other people, I like to accomplish things and I like the feeling of satisfaction when something comes to completion. It usually results in good things in the community.”
She said the award is a real honour.
“I’m a huge believer in the importance of volunteering and volunteerism in the community, I think that’s the backbone of any community.”
Drysdale said that volunteerism works because of the great spirit in Rossland.
“We’ve got hundreds of people that volunteer every year, and thousands of volunteer hours every year,” she said. “They build and strengthen our community and without them, we’d be far less well off for the community, in terms of the way it is.”
She has also been on the Regional District board, the executive of the UBCM (through council).
She has been on the board of B.C. Transit, West Kootenay Power, Columbia Basin Trust, a volunteer at the Thrift Store and a Friend of the Museum.
Volunteerism is such a healthy and necessary thing for the community and for the people that get involved,” she said. “I think it’s really important that volunteers in general are recognized.”
The presentations will take place at the RDKB board room in Trail.
The address is 843 Rossland Avenue, Trail, tomorrow (Nov. 29) at 6 p.m.
All are invited to attend.