聽 聽 聽Although the YMCA calls her 鈥渁n amazing woman from southern Saskatchewan,鈥� when Arcola's Cathy Burton received official notification that she was named to the ranks of the province's most distinguished women-as a nominee for the YWCA's Women of Distinction Award for Community Leadership and Enhancement-she wept.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t was a good thing I was alone at home when I received the news,鈥� says Burton. 鈥淏ecause I just cried and cried. In fact, the only person I told for a long time was my husband, Alan. I knew I was nominated, because I had to sign a few forms, giving permission, but when I saw the letters people wrote on my behalf, it was completely overwhelming.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Since then, word of Burton's nomination has travelled, and her family was in attendance to watch her take the stage at the Nominees' Gala, at the Conexus Centre of the Arts, Saturday, March 28 in Regina.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t was a wonderful, exciting, and very overwhelming occasion,鈥� she says. 鈥�(The nominees) were in a separate room together, before we were piped on stage, with bagpipes. The room was beautifully-decorated with yellow roses.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淏ut I have to say it was awesome to meet and to be included in a group of such amazing women, and it was equally awesome to have my family there-my husband, Alan, our sons Kris and Matt, our daughter-in-law, Bailey, and Alan's brother Tim, his wife, Sandy and our niece, Jennifer.鈥�
聽聽聽 鈥淚'm sure I had the biggest, silliest grin on my face. It was such an honour.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Burton's honour puts her in the running to receive the Community Leadership and Enhancement聽 award, which states that the nominee is 鈥渕eeting community needs and is recognized as a source of strength and heart in her community.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 According to Marj Askin of Arcola-who with her three daughters, Terry Johnston, Jayne Paton, and Melinda Wyatt-initiated the idea to recognize Burton, she is already a winner.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淓verybody knows her; everybody likes her,鈥� says Askin.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淪he has a heart of gold and would literally do anything for anyone and never expect anything in return. She's a real jack-of-all-trades and she uses all of her many talents to help others. We can't think of anyone more deserving.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Although Askin started the nomination process, she was soon inundated with those wishing to add their testimonials to the list of letter-writers needed for the nomination process.
聽聽聽聽 Retired Arcola School teacher, Roberta James wrote, 鈥淐athy Burton is one of the kindest, most generous people I know. I first met Cathy when she was given the job of educational assistant in my kindergarten classroom.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淪he volunteers for the Arcola Optimists, helping to organize the Poker Derby and overseeing the registration of snowmobiles that day. She volunteers in the community at fundraisers, weddings, and funerals. She bakes cupcakes for Arcola's Canada Day celebrations, and for retirement parties.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淪he is extremely organized,鈥� James continues. 鈥淪he helps with fundraising for the daycare, the school, and the Optimists. She is also a Daycare board member. She is the Speech Assistant at the school. She is this community's go-to person, if you need some alterations done...鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淪he is also a great friend. When I had to have surgery, she was the first person to arrive at my door with a full meal, prepared with love, so that I would be able to rest and recover. She has done this for other people, too.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淪he never ceases to amaze me with her seemingly endless supply of energy,鈥� adds James. 鈥淚n winter, she voluntarily shovels the walkway for all of the neighbours on her block, and she shovels the walk at the Optimist Hall, as well.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Fellow Arcola resident and Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal recipient, Phyllis Cameron agrees.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淐athy is a Canadian-born city girl who has transplanted successfully to a small Saskatchewan town,鈥� says Cameron. 鈥淎nd now I can't imagine Arcola without her.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淪he has done so much. She's painted the Legion Hall inside and out, and she's also painted the theatre. She's shoveled snow for me and for others. She works as a Deputy Returning Officer (DRO) for local elections, and she uses that as an opportunity to arrange for teachers and their students to visit, so she can explain both voting procedure and the importance of voting to our young people.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淪he is also very involved with the Arcola school's SMACK club, which teaches our young people about kindness and volunteering,鈥� adds Cameron.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淎 year ago, I was in the hospital for a while,鈥� says Cameron. 鈥淐athy came all the way to Regina to bring me a teddy bear and a huge, hand-signed get well card from the students at the school.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 However, Burton's example of volunteerism isn't limited to the students of Arcola School, according to Arcola Daycare director, Whitney Rutten.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淪he stepped up and volunteered to join the board,鈥� says Rutten. 鈥淗er grandson is still a little guy. She babysits him, so there's not even any direct involvement in the daycare for her. For me to have a committee member who is so dedicated and doesn't even have a child in the daycare...Well, that means a lot to me.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 In their nomination letter to the YMCA, the Arcola Daycare Board stated: 鈥渢he board of Arcola Daycare has traditionally consisted of parents or family members of children who use our services. Parents join our board because hey have a vested interest in the Daycare and usually step down once their children have outgrown our services. Cathy joined our board with absolutely nothing to gain and no strings attached.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽 Burton is a hands-on board member, and聽 in addition to moving, meal-making, cleaning, and fundraising at the daycare, 鈥淪he regularly stops in to the daycare with baking for the staff and children, always willing to stop and read a book or offer a snuggle.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e are all so proud and honoured to have her on our board and can think of no one else more deserving of this award.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Ghislaine Carter of Arcola describes Burton as: 鈥淎 teacher, a baker, a seamstress, a labourer, and a runner. I could go on forever, and I did-for pages-in my nomination letter. She is amazing, and she uses every one of her many talents to help others. Cathy is incredibly talented in so many ways, but what's even more remarkable is the way she applies those talents to improving the lives of her family, friends, and each and every resident of our little town.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Among the examples Carter cited in her nomination letter was Burton's hosting a table every year at the Creative Tables for Cancer fundraiser in Arcola and her uncanny knack for searching out opportunities to help individuals who are going through life's tough times.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淪he sews angel dresses for babies who were stillborn, premature, or who were sick and passed away. When she heard that a family within our community had very little for Christnas, she crafted personalized stockings to be filled with presents for each of the five children,鈥� adds Carter. 鈥淪hortly after two players from the local men's senior hockey team passed away in a tragic car accident, Cathy worked tirelessly sewing commemorative patches on the team's jerseys so the rest of the players could proudly display them in memory of their friends for the first home game in Arcola.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Carter says that even Burton's passion for running is an outlet for her philanthropic spirit.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淐athy is involved with the Terry Fox Run at Arcola School, and runs it right alongside the children,鈥� she says. 鈥淪he spearheaded the Moose Mountain Marathon which takes place every summer at Saskairie, which raises money for the school. She's currently planning a Color Run in Arcola and once again, all of the funds from that run will be donated to Arcola School.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淎ny marathons and races Cathy participates in usually always have a charitable component,鈥� says Carter. 鈥淭his winter Cathy-as usual-ran in the Salvation Army's Santa Shuffle in Regina. She leterally baked hundreds of cupcakes over the course of several weeks and sold them for a dollar each to raise money for the Salvation Army. The time and effort she expended were tremendous, and she raised a large amount of cash for a very good cause.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 The Salvation Army's Major Doug Binner agrees, and says that Burton raised one-tenth of the Salvation Army's goal on her own.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淐athy was our top contributor,鈥� he says. When she told us she raised $1,008 for us this year, I was thrilled, just absolutely thrilled. Not only because she'd done it, but because of how long and how hard Cathy worked on behalf of the Salvation Army. We're indebted to all of our volunteers, but I am especially grateful that Cathy took the time to think of others and to help others.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淪he's become someone we can count on, and we're very grateful for her support.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淪he has devoted herself to making our community a better place to be,鈥� says Carter. 鈥淚 cannot think of a better way to repay her than to nominate her for a Woman of Distinction award! There is no one more deserving of this award han Cathy Burton. She. Is. Amazing.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 The Women of Distinction Awards take place Thursday, April 23 in Regina.
