SANDRA M STANWAY
Brooks Bulletin
Grasslands FCSS has selected the 2025 Citizen and Junior Citizen of the Year.
This event gives recognition and celebrates individuals who have given of themselves through volunteerism to better the community.
Carolyn Henrickson was named the Citizen of the Year for her volunteerism with 4-H and Presley Dyck was named the Junior Citizen of the Year for her volunteerism with children and youth.
Carolyn Henrickson
Nominated by Kathy Peltzer, Henrickson is being honoured for her volunteerism at 4-H, a program she was in for seven years in the 1970s and 80s. She was involved as a parent for her two children and was a club leader with John Ware Beef for eight years and has been the team leader for the Newell District for the past 11 years.
Henrickson said she had no idea she had been nominated and was surprised with the news when she received a call telling her she had won.
“I thought wow. Ok. It’s pretty amazing. I definitely have Kathryn to thank for that. She and I have been working in 4H for a long time,” said Henrickson.
“It means a lot. I believe the 4H program is good for the members and the skills they acquire with the program,” she said.
With 4H she helps with shows and events including the steer show and public speaking at both a club and district level.
Following the tragic loss of their daughter, Carolyn and her husband Albert, established the Illisa Henrickson Memorial Scholarship which is awarded to a 4-H member who is actively involved in 4-H, and excelling in their academics and extracurricular pursuits.
Presley Dyck
Nominated by Jamie McElgunn and Katie Doerksen of Girls Who Lead, Presley Dyck is a grade 10 student at Rosemary School.
“This was a complete surprise. Katie had asked me a couple of months ago about some volunteer work and I had forgotten about it and then I got the call one day. I was so surprised. I had no idea,” said Dyck.
Dyck, who has been part of the student council for four years, is serving as the vice president and helps to plan events for the school. She is also an assistant with the elementary school students any way she can including helping students with math or assisting with gym class.
“Helping teachers anyway I can,” Dyck said.
In addition to assisting in school, Dyck has been a volunteer junior coach for the last four years in the Girls Who Lead program.
The program is designed for girls between 11 and 16 years to help keep them active in sports and to build their confidence.
“I get to lead girls and help be a role model for them, bring them into sports and keep them active,” she said.
As a role model Dyck keeps active with hockey and baseball and as well she has served as a volunteer hockey ref.
“I love what I’m doing. It’s such a great experience. It’s really cool. We get to build up their confidence, keep them active and they all leave and are all still playing sports,” she said.
“I’m pretty proud. It’s a really cool thing.”
Dyck wants to teach high school math thanks to her role model, Debbie Henderson.
“This is a really cool thing. I love the community that I’m in and it’s just really cool to be recognized for the work that I’ve done or the things that I’ve done in the community,” said Dyck.
Henrickson and Dyck will be celebrated during the Citizen and Jr. Citizen of the Year ceremony in May. The citizen and Jr. citizen finalists will also be recognized.
