Page 13 - The Brandon Sun - 2017 Community Leader Awards

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017 • THE BRANDON SUN COMMUNITY LEADER AWARDS • 13

» SERVICE ORGANIZATION VOLUNTEER AWARD

Chrisp exemplifies dedication and teamwork

BY MICHAELA SOLOMON

It doesn’t matter the event, if it’s going on in Brandon, chances LEFT: Bernie Chrisp has been an integral part of the community
are Bernie Chrisp had something to do with it. for decades and was named the inaugural Service Organization
Volunteer. (Michaela Solomon/The Brandon Sun)
Since his days as a young man in Virden, Chrisp has taken BELOW: Chrisp carried the Olympic torch on stage to light the
on several roles, including chairman of the 2007 Special community cauldron during the lead-up to the 2010 Winter
Olympics Canada Summer Games, vice-president of athlete Olympics in Vancouver. (File)
services for the 1997 Canada Summer Games, chair of Parkland
Summer Games Committee, chair of support services for the He recalled the night he ran through Brandon with the last year by UCT in partnership with the Rotary Club. Chrisp
2010 Memorial Cup, and chairman of the Manitoba Games Olympic torch, specifically that it was -35C outside and that the was the chair of the event.
Council, to name a few. Chrisp is also the president of Brandon torch event had to be moved inside.
Riverbank, a non-profit organization that, with the City of “UCT actually approached me and asked if I would chair the
Brandon, focuses on revitalizing the Assiniboine River corridor “I think there were about 1,500 in the Manitoba Room when event, and if I would possibly get the Rotary Club involved,”
while making it into a place where Brandonites can enjoy the I ran into that room with the torch,” he said, adding it was an he said. “So there’s two service club that actually went together
nature of the river. honour to light the fire at the Keystone Centre while his family and made it a real success.”
and friends watched.
Chrisp can also add winner of the inaugural Community Chrisp said the combination of UCT and the Rotary Club
Leader Award in the category of Service Organization Despite his own work and dedication to a large number of was perfect for bringing events like lawn bowling, and pickle
Volunteer. organizations, Chrisp maintains that the recognition he receives ball to the Brandon’s 55-plus community.
is thanks to the volunteer community.
In his career, Chrisp worked as a public health inspector in “I just want to say thank you to whoever nominated me for
Virden and a regional supervisor with the ministry of the “A lot of these events just wouldn’t be successful without the this award.”
environment in Dauphin, before moving to Brandon in 1991, volunteer component.” Chrisp said.
where he worked as the regional director of the Park West region » The Brandon Sun
until 2001. One such event was the 55-Plus Games, which were put on

In 1995, Brandon Riverbank was established. Chrisp explained
that the organization works together with the City of Brandon
to create the best plan for developing the land around the
riverbank to attract tourists and community activity.

Chrisp said that despite best intentions, it has been an uphill
battle trying to fulfil the plan.

“We lost a number of our paths in the spring of 2011 in the
flood,” Chrisp said. “In 2014 we had another flood during the
summer when we had just gotten back on track after the 2011
flood. So we went backward again.”

But the organization has persisted through the environmental
challenges and has responded with a 20-year-plan, which will
include an amphitheatre, more pathways, and a developed
garden area at the Riverbank Discovery Centre where wedding
ceremonies can be held.

Chrisp’s community involvement, however, began in Virden,
when he started getting involved with the Kinsmen Club. He
moved up in the organization until he became president before
becoming Kinsmen’s governor for District 2. As governor he
worked with Kin Canada and its executives to increase club
membership.

“I love working with people and other organizations,” Chrisp
said. “I enjoy seeing the improvement in the community and I
love giving back to the community.”

Chrisp’s volunteerism was on display in 2012 when he was
awarded a Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Presented to Chrisp by former Brandon-Souris MP Merv
Tweed, Chrisp said the award was an incredible and emotional
honour. He credits the honour to his fellow volunteers.

“The award was presented to me but it was really presented
to everybody I’ve worked with over the years,” Chrisp said.
“That’s what makes success, when you’re working with great
volunteers.”

Not long after his Diamond Jubilee Medal, Chrisp was
honoured again by the Brandon Wheat Kings with the Innovator
of the Month Award.

“The recognition I got from the Wheat Kings was fantastic,
but it was really recognition, again, of all the people I’ve worked
with over the years.”

In 2010, Chrisp was part of a committee that organized the
run of the Olympic torch through Brandon.

“The committee, and I wasn’t part of the vote at all, but they
recommended that I be the person who actually lit the fire at
the Keystone Centre.” Chrisp said.

Mumin an advocate for young people

Hamid Mumin (centre) works tireless on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Brandon, where he tries to make a difference in children’s lives. down through the path of alcohol and drugs, sometimes they
actually end up on the streets.”
BY MICHAELA SOLOMON Mumin said the organization has a particularly strong
relationship with Brandon Fire and Emergency Services. Of the homeless population in Brandon, 38 per cent are
From a farm near Milton, Ont., to chief geologist and site considered youths, nearly twice the national average, according
manager during the exploration of the Bogoso gold mine and The Kiwanis Club funds the fire department’s ‘Learn Not to to the annual Point-in-Time homeless count. Mumin said that
Ashanti Gold Belt in Ghana, Hamid Mumin is a true testament Burn,’ program, which teaches fire safety to more than 2,000 needs to change.
to the power of education. Mumin is also the current president children in the area each year. The money raised by the Kiwanis
of the Kiwanis Club where he is actively involved in making Club through fundraising and sales is used toward services to “We ran a series of awareness events and fundraisers, and
sure Brandon’s youth have the resources they need to be educated help strengthen the development of the community. now we’re helping to fund the national program, as well as local
and successful, too. programs in Brandon to work on the prevention side of the
“Youth is our future,” Mumin said. “I don’t think we can issue.”
After working in Ghana, Mumin joined Brandon University invest enough in the health — physical, mental, spiritual,
in 1995, where he instructs geology courses on mineral deposits, emotional — of our youth, and keep them as best we can on a Mumin also said they’ve organized an addition to the city to
exploration, mining geology, mineralogy, geochemistry, good road forward.” commemorate the Kiwanis Club’s 100th year. A pavilion, which
tectonics, and field geology. will be open to the public for events like weddings, family
Earlier this year the Kiwanis Club hosted ‘Push for Change,’ gatherings, and picnics, will be built in Rideau Park where the
When he’s not teaching, Mumin helps Brandon’s young which was inspired by Joe Roberts, who formerly was a Kiwanis Club hosts its annual Kar Derby.
people, who are a priority of the Kiwanis Club. homeless youth who vowed to pay it forward if he ever got back
on his feet. Roberts began pushing a shopping cart, a sign of “Community feedback is wonderful,” Mumin said.
Mumin said it’s a benefit to the individual and an investment homelessness, to raise money for other homeless youth in “Especially those who are directly affected, they appreciate very,
in the communities future when we get involved with our youth. Canada. The Brandon event involved a gala charity dinner and very much the help we can give.”
art auction in April, and a parade with Roberts on May 1.
“Anything related to young people where we can help out,” As a professor at the university and president of the Kiwanis
Mumin said. “We like being able to volunteer our time as an “It’s a national problem and its growing,” Mumin said. “With Club finding time might be a challenge, however, Mumin said
organization, and or provide funding to people.” disadvantaged and disenfranchised youth who end up spiralling that isn’t the case.

“The university as a whole very much supports community
service, and supports its members in their community activities.”
Mumin said. “They provide us with the flexibility to be able to
give to the community.”

Mumin has had the chance to work with a variety of volunteer
groups, and said what makes the best volunteer is a desire and
a passion to see their community thrive.

“Many volunteers in their younger days would have received
help somewhere along the line,” he said. “They’re able to
recognize the benefits of volunteerism and have a strong interest
in the health of their community.”

Mumin said he’s looking forward to the construction of the
pavilion in Rideau Park, and looks forward to celebrating the
Kiwanis Club's 100th year with the community.

» The Brandon Sun