Claresholm’s 2022 Citizens of the year

Linderman named 2022 citizen of the year for Claresholm

By Rob Vogt
Karen Linderman is the 2022 Claresholm citizen of the year.
She was honoured with the award at the Volunteer Appreciation event at the Claresholm Community Centre ion May 30 hosted by Claresholm and District Family and Community Support Services.
Roxanne Thompson, last year’s citizen of the year, made the presentation.
She said Linderman has been involved in many facets of the community over the years.
Linderman was instrumental in improving the breakfast and hot lunch programs at the elementary school, lobbied for more nutritious options, and found sponsors and grants to support these changes.
She started a cribbage club at the elementary school, encouraging students to learn the game while helping with their math skills.
Linderman and her husband heavily supported pond hockey in Stavely, so youth could play just for the fun of it.
She served as a board member on the board of the Claresholm and District Health Foundation, and continues to support it in many ways including offering estate-planning sessions.
Linderman was active on parent councils when her sons were attending school in Claresholm. That included championing new high school awards because wanted to see more than one top student recognized.
“She is the reason the Claresholm Arts Society exists,” Thompson said.
Linderman and a group of supporters formed the society to support the school band and other arts activities in the school and community.
She served as the first production manager for musical theatre; worked within the Culture Days framework to organize student art shows; and was instrumental in organizing the first of several fibre arts shows.
For years she also sponsored and supported the Canadian Forces Film Festival in Fort Macleod, to honour those who served and educate youth in the communities.
After a vacation in Europe, she came home with the idea of hosting Winterfest. Linderman gathered a committee of volunteers, spent more than a year planning, and reached out to every community organization and service group.
“She was the backbone of this event and successful in creating one of the most unique events this community continues to enjoy to this day,” Thompson said.
Linderman has had the unique privilege of swearing in every mayor during her time in Claresholm, and has developed a beautiful garden area around her office building in downtown Claresholm.
“She believes local citizens and businesses have a role to play in bettering our community, either through their volunteer time or supporting the things they are passionate about,” Thompson said. “Businesses are stretched to support so many great things and she has always tried to give where she could.
“She is famously known for the best gift baskets donated any local auction or raffle and is quite often seen supporting the many events in town.
“She has instilled the value of volunteerism in her children and in many others. She sets a wonderful example of doing what you can in areas that need more support.”
As Linderman approached the stage to accept her award, chants of “Speech, speech” came from the crowd.
So, Linderman obliged with a few words.
“Nobody does anything by themselves,” she said, adding her greatest supporter is her husband Keith. Everything she does is with his support and since the age of two, her sons Dan and Tom.
Linderman also paid tribute to all the people who she collaborated with on all these initiatives.
“I ask,” she said. “They’ll be there.”
Above all, she emphasized one thing.
“It’s not one person,” she said. “Thank you to everyone.
“I had so much fun doing all these things.”

Chisanga named junior citizen of the year

By Rob Vogt
A high school student who goes above and beyond at school, her church, and in the community is the 2022 junior citizen of the year.
Kozo Chisanga was honoured with the award at the Volunteer Appreciation event at the Claresholm Community Centre ion May 30 hosted by Claresholm and District Family and Community Support Services.
Rachel Lachance, representing Connect First Credit Union who sponsored the award, made the presentation.
“This young lady was nominated by many different people including her peers,” she said.
Chisanga volunteers in many aspects of the community from church and Family and Community Support Services to the Claresholm Fusion Youth ministry and her school.
“She has become very involved in the WCCHS (Willow Creek Composite High School) sports society, volunteering countless hours of her own time, including event set-up and take down, making weekly posters of all events, scorekeeping and managing teams,” Lachance said.
Chisanga is also on the yearbook committee, for the last six years, and is the first to volunteer on the first day of school to show new students around.
“And she does all of these things while maintaining a heavy academic work load,” Lachance said. “She is quiet and humble, driven and determined, and has a big beautiful smile.”
She has volunteered at several Family and Community Support Services activities including Kids Corner and Creative Kids; drumming circles; events such as Summer Bash; tumbling tots and other events in the downtown park; and has been instrumental in helping with doing intakes for people getting their taxes done through the voluntary tax program.
Chisanga helps with her church’s Sunday school and media; volunteered with the Willow Creek Ministerial Association’s Vacation Bible School; and is actively involved in the Claresholm Fusion Youth Ministry.
The award also includes a $200 term deposit in Chisanga’s name.