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Rognvaldson named Acton's Citizen of the Year By EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer Acton's Citizen of the Year for 2011 is a difficult person to track down. Just trying to schedule an interview and photo shoot with Dorothy Rognvaldson becomes a two-day logistical challenge, given her many volunteer commitments to a variety of community organizations. There doesn't seem to be enough time on the clock as she sorts through her itinerary for the next few days, which includes her 93rd birthday celebration tomorrow (Wednesday). Apologizing for her elusiveness, Rognvaldson explains that she was out until 9 p.m. the previous evening with her friends at Taking Off the Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), stuffing 80,000 envelopes for the upcoming federal election, remarking about how much fun they'd had, "gabbing away." "My neighbour says, `You're never home,' and my daughter says, `I call you and you're not there to answer,'" laughs Rognvaldson, an Oshawa native. "This award is overwhelming to me. I enjoy helping people and never expect anything in return. A thank you is enough." Rognvaldson and husband Clarence moved to Acton in 1945 after he finished serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force in England during the Second World War. She joined a ladies' group called the Friendly Circle at the Trinity United Church and has been a parishioner there ever since, still serving as a volunteer in the Activity Group in several capacities. In 1995, after the passing of Clarence, who was a teacher at Acton High School for 20 years, Rognvaldson felt she needed to DOROTHY become even more ROGNVALDSON active in the community. "My husband was sick for seven years and I can't tell you how good the church was to us during his illness," she added. "After he died, I didn't want to sit around feeling sorry for myself, so I decided to see where I might be able to help people out. There's a big need for volunteers out there and they can always use a lot more." Whether it's driving to Kitchener to pick up a shut-in for an outing to a restaurant for lunch twice a month as part of Links2Care's popular Wheels to Meals program, or shuttling other seniors and people with disabilities to medical appointments-- earning her recognition by the Red Cross in 2008-- Rognvaldson credits her busy volunteer schedule with keeping her in good health. She recently gave up canvassing for the Canadian Cancer Society after 30 years of knocking on doors, but remains on the Planning & Education Committee for Links2Care, the local-area community support agency. Also a member of the Acton Seniors' Centre, Rognvaldson is back to walking 30 minutes a day, five times a week, after suffering a leg injury in the fall. When she received the phone call from The Rotary Club of Acton's Bob MacKinnon informing her of the award, Rognvaldson had just returned from her first line-dancing lesson. "It went alright. I think I've got two left feet, but I'll go back again." When she gets bored, she loves to knit, and even that is done with someone else in mind creating items for the Dr. John Dougan Centre's mental health promotion. She has two daughters-- the eldest, Janet, resides near Simcoe, Ont., and Nancy lives in B.C.'s Okanagan Valley-- along with four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. A two-week family trip to Iceland is planned for June. "That's where my husband's father is from and for some reason (Clarence) never wanted to visit there," she said. "My daughters always wanted to go, so we finally decided to do it and now we can't wait." A dinner in Rognvaldson's honour for the award will take place at the Acton Legion at the end of May. Candidates to meet Friday night Voters in the upcoming federal election will have the opportunity to meet the candidates and have their questions answered in an all-candidates' debate, Friday, April 15, 7:30 p.m. at the Gellert Community Centre, 10241 Eighth Line (Main St. S.) in Georgetown. Sponsored by the Canadian Federation of University Women Georgetown, the meeting will feature speeches by candidates for Wellington-Halton Hills. Confirmed at this time are Brent Bouteiller (Green), Michael Chong (Conservative) and Barry Peters (Liberal). Candidates will address questions from the floor, followed by closing remarks. Everyone is welcome. The first all-candidates debate for the riding will be held Thursday, April 14 in the former Erin Public School building at 185 Main St. at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 18 the candidates will square off at the Fergus Sportplex (550 Belsyde Ave. E.) at 7 p.m. and a special agriculture issues debate is set for the Wellington County Museum and Archive's Aboyne Hall (R.R. 1 0536 Wellington Rd. 18, Fergus) at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 20. 3 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday, April 12, 2011 DEMO 2010 Prius Finance DEMO Low 2011 Sienna LE Finance kms up to 36 Mos. 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