Dianne Penrice named Georgetown's Citizen of the Year By LISA TALLYN Staff Writer Volunteering in her community is a big part of Dianne Penrice's life. The Georgetown woman is being recognized for all of those efforts over the years earning the distinction of being named Georgetown Lions Club 2010 Citizen of the Year. Penrice, who has lived in town for more than 50 years, said she was shocked when she heard the news. "It came totally out of the blue," said Penrice. "It's a great honour." Penrice has been married to Doug for more than 40 years and the couple has two children and three grandchildren. She gives freely of her time and talents to many community organizations. "I look for the things that interest me, that's where I like to put my energies and quite a few of them end up being community things. It can be a lot of work, and it can be a lot of fun," said Penrice, a Realtor for the past 24 years. As a young girl she was a brownie, then a Girl Guide, and ranger. As an adult she continued with the Girl Guide organization as a brownie and guide leader. As a young mother with two children and a full-time job she decided she wanted to get more involved in her community and joined the Jaycettes. She volunteered on many community projects such as The Crazy Boat Race where she was a committee member for a number of years working up to be the Jaycettes co-chair. She also worked on the Meet the Candidates Night, baseball tournaments and Winterfest, along with many other smaller projects like Christmas Chocolates, car washes etc. to raise funds for community projects. The Baby Seat Rental Program, which provides infant car seats to new moms for the first six months of their baby's life, was one of the larger Jaycettes programs she was involved in. She served as president for two terms. Penrice has been a member of the Brampton Real Estate Board since becoming a real estate sales representative, serving on the board of directors Longtime volunteer Dianne Penrice has been named the Georgetown Lions Club's 2010 Citizen of the Year. Photo by Ted Brown last June and the yearly Symposium held in January. In 1998 she served on the local Board of Directors for the Canadian Cancer Society and became president of the Georgetown office a short time later. During her presidency the Canadian Cancer Society announced it would be closing the Georgetown office, and moving it to Milton. Like many others, Penrice was shocked and upset Halton Hills would no longer have local support for those touched by cancer. So she and her team were instrumental in the formation of Cancer Assistance Services of Halton Hills (CAShh). She assumed the role of president and with a dedicated Board of Directors and support from the community established a new office for CAShh. She volunteered hundreds of hours during the initial stages to get the organization up and running while maintaining the services offered to those suffering from cancer. Penrice also volunteered her time and energy to working on the 2007 Georgetown Homecoming that brought together thousands of past and current residents for a weekend to remember. In early 2008, she once again volunteered her time to Light Up The Hills, assisting in getting it incorporated and establishing bylaws as well as volunteering in various fundraising events and gaining corporate sponsorships. She continues to volunteer for Light Up the Hills today, something she said is "dear to my heart." "It's fun, it's something were building in the community and it's going to be there forever and a day, hopefully." She said the highlight of her volunteering has been "seeing that Tree of Hope lit up for the first time in Dominion Garden Park." She has also been an active community canvasser for Heart and Stroke, Canadian Cancer Society, Kidney Foundation and many others. The Citizen of the Year Award dinner will be held March 29 at the Lions Hall. Tickets are $35 each, and available from The Carpet Barn or by calling Lion Linda Dilks at 905-702-1284. 3 Independent & Free Press, Thursday, March 3, 2011 and various committees. She served four years as director and a year as vicepresident as well as volunteering on the Education Committee, Bylaws, Professional Standards Membership and the Social Committee. She volunteered for five years on the Arts Alive Committee for the Halton Hills Library Cultural Centre, helping to organize events that would raise funds for the complex. She's an active member of the Halton Hills Cultural Roundtable and is currently serving on the steering committee. Most recently she volunteered in organizing The Big Daddy Festival held e-mail: hassellsauto@bellnet.ca www.hassellautomotive.com Warranty Warranty Warranty 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe Leather, Loaded, V6, Auto, Mint Shape 2005 Hyundai Elantra GT Auto, Loaded, Reliable $6,400 $16,200 2007 Honda Accord 4 Cyl., Auto, Air, Loaded, Leather, Sunroof, Nav. $16,200 CALL