Sandy McMurray’s first reaction to learning she was named the Armstrong Spallumcheen 2017 Citizen of the Year was disbelief.
Patti Noonan, executive director of Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce, tracked her down at a friend’s house Monday night to tell her the news.
“I’m nervous, I’m not used to big crowds and being the centre of everybody’s attention,” said McMurray, when asked what she thought about the honour.“I like to work in the background.”
Born in Vernon, she has lived in the Okanagan Valley and has called Armstrong home for many years. A teacher in the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District for 34 years, McMurray never let working full-time interfere with volunteering. She has been a volunteer assisting various organizations and programs all of which make Armstrong Spallumcheen a better place to live.
“Sandy is always the first to volunteer for fundraisers to benefit the community,” said a nomination.
McMurray has been a member of the Armstrong Lions Club since 2007, being elected to secretary, zone chair, president and retention chair.
A familiar face at the weekly Lions bingo, McMurray has also organized fundraisers such as the 2016 Mystery Dinner and community events like the upcoming Lions Family Picnic to celebrate the Lions anniversary.
“Sandy is always the first to step up to give a hand with whatever someone might need,” said another nomination. “Including improvements to the Memorial Park playground and the Lions Gazebo that is used all year, including at Valley First Music in the Park during the summer.”
McMurray was honoured by past Citizens of the Year, dignitaries and invited guests at a tea Thursday hosted by the Armstrong Spallumcheen Museum and Art Gallery and the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce.
She said that she learned working as a teacher how much the schools relied on volunteers to keep them running smoothly.
Now that she’s retired, she says she works even more doing all her volunteer work.
“I lost my dad when he was 63, so he didn’t really have a chance to volunteer very much, but he was involved with the boy scouts all the time and the Legion, so he did volunteer and I would say he inspired me to volunteer,” said McMurray.
She will receive official recognition as Citizen of the Year 2017 during the opening ceremony of Canada Day Celebrations in Memorial Park on July 1.