2024 Community Awards Spotlight – George Yaremchuk

George Yaremchuk – Exceptional Volunteer Award

For more than 20 years, George has led by example, through kindness, character and concern for his fellow Mississippi Millians. Though quiet in nature, his actions speak loud and clear when it comes to his commitment to the community. 

A man of many talents, George is a founding member of Mississippi Mills Bicycle Month, established in 2008, was instrumental in achieving Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community status, and has helped redefine a healthier, active community.

For almost 20 years, George has been involved in the Canadian Adaptive Snowsports' Sit-Ski program at Mount Pakenham, volunteering with children and youth with physical and intellectual disabilities.

George is a compassionate and caring instructor who encourages his students to reach their full potential. His humour and generous nature makes him one of the favorite instructors for those lucky enough to have him. He has also been a mentor to many new adaptive ski instructors over the years ensuring they become competent and confident in their roles. 

Over the last couple years, George has utilized his considerable ingenuity and skill to help several Ukrainian families seeking refuge in Canada. From sharing meals and holiday events, to helping with housing and employment, acting as a translator, and as a genuine friend, George has dedicated much time, talent, and heart during this exceedingly challenging period to make life a little easier for Ukrainians displaced by war, building a new life in Mississippi Mills.  

Known well as a technical wizard, you will often find George behind-the-scenes, helping community events like Puppets Up or Almonte in Concert run smoothly. He’s the first to show up and the last to leave – a talented engineer, calm-mind, and master troubleshooter!

Without being seen or receiving any credit, George is behind the success of many community events held in this auditorium. Not only did he voluntarily set up the projector and the turnkey sound system, but he also created a user manual, that ‘in theory’ anyone can follow. And when community groups (or even staff) can’t follow... George is still there to answer frantic calls and texts when the image is suddenly upside down or backwards or there is no sound coming from the speakers. His usual response is simply “I'm on my way."

Here is some of what George’s nominators had to say about his volunteerism in Mississippi Mills:

• “George has been a most valuable part of Almonte in Concert since 2012, assisting us with our concert stage lighting. He has spent many hours of his time not only working during the concert, but also meeting with artists during their rehearsals and sound checks. His attention to detail has been much appreciated.”

• “It’s been a pleasure working with George over the years. He’s a dedicated, hardworking volunteer whose abilities cover the gamut from hands-on physical and technical ‘get it done’ help, to more involved planning and program implementation, to high-level strategic decision-making. Our community is blessed to have George’s quiet and consistent help.”

• “As the Canadian Adaptive Ski Program Coordinator for many years, I was always grateful to have George as part of my team. He was the one I could count on to fill in when another instructor was sick, to take on a new student with particularly challenging needs or to drive to the ski hill with short notice to fix a piece of equipment that was not working. He always said ‘yes’.”

• “George shows up for us. He leads or follows, in whatever way he can, or whatever way we need him to. He is foundational, a rock, a steady and loyal friend to the Puppets Up! Festival and to his team…Although George does not seek the attention or applause, we genuinely feel that he deserves it all for his outstanding and continued volunteerism and support to Puppets Up! and to our community as a whole.”

We are pulling George to the front of the stage with this well-deserved recognition. Congratulations, George!

For more information about the Mississippi Mills Community Awards, please visit: www.mississippimills.ca/communityawards/