This past May 23rd featured the Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Aware Dinner and Ceremony. The Georgian Triangle Humane Society was nominated for non-profit of the year as well as Volunteer of the Year for our own Carolyn Williamson. We are so proud of her!
Carolyn has been volunteering as a Cat Care Supervisor for GTHS for many years. She dedicates two to three long days each week often staying from 9am to well past 5pm. Her energy is unwavering as she works to visit, care for and nuture each and every cat in the shelter. GTHS would not be the same place without her.
Below is the submission letter offered to the Chamber of Commerce for consideration;
My name is Carolyn Williamson. Being nominated is a great honour and I want to thank the Georgian Triangle Humane Society for considering me but more importantly for all the work it does for the homeless animals in our communities. Everyone involved with our Humane Society is deserving of the highest praise.
I grew up on dairy farm and my earliest memory is getting sick with measles and being cheered up when FOUR playful puppies were brought in to my bedroom to visit ! I grew up with a deep love for animals and a desire for their well being. The universal plight of unwanted, abused, abandoned and forgotten animals touches my soul. They desperately need every ounce of kindness we can give them. Awareness, education and action are the keys to change. The organizations that exist locally and globally strive to make their lives better. I am proud to be part of that effort.
Growing up I always wanted to be a vet’s assistant, but life’s other work seemed to push my dream aside. I began by volunteering with the Toronto Humane Society, the Brampton OSPCA and a wonderful privately run animal sanctuary in Palgrave called the Haven of the Heart. In 2008 I retired to WasagaBeach and found the Wasaga Beach Cat Rescue close to home. Soon I was splitting my time there with all the work that had to be done at GTHS. Back in 2008 our Society was in transition from a motley crew of disorganized though well intentioned people to the brilliantly run organization it is today. We have all gone through the steep learning curves associated with hands on animal care, adoptions, fundraising, training and scheduling new volunteers, public relations and building maintenance. The people I know here are the most dedicated and professional group of “starry-eyed animal lovers” I have ever met. We succeed in putting our ideals of service to the animals and the people in the communities they come from to the test every single day with NO holidays. We see these precious pets come in lost or stray, hungry, hurt and broken-hearted.
The honour of being part of the team who either reunites them with their owners or brings then back to health and happiness to find a new loving home is the most important thing I can do.
Thanks to the Collingwood Chamber of Commerce for considering me.
My Best Regards, Carolyn Williamson
Although Carolyn did not receive the award, she is still Volunteer of the Year in our eyes (as well as the GTHS kitties!)
