Celebrating Canada Day in Armstrong's Memorial Park, Keith Meservia and his wife, Mary, heard the announcer talking about the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year for 2024, and how they were in the park.
The announcer mentioned that the citizens of the year were a couple; that they were from Alberta; that the woman was involved in local choirs and doing a number of things within the community.
"I turned to Mary and said, 'Hey, that's you,'" said Keith. "And that's where they notified us."
The Meservias were named the 2024 Citizens of the Year July 1, and, on Tuesday, Sept. 10, the chamber 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ led by event emcee and board president Madison Reynolds from Asparagus Community Theatre, and executive director Patti Noonan 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ hosted the annual Citizen of the Year Tea at the Zion United Church. The event was attended by more than 10 former citizens bestowed with the honour, as well as local dignitaries.
Keith was solo on Tuesday as Mary was under the weather and unable to be there. The couple received gifts from North Okanagan-Shuswap MP Mel Arnold, and a joint commemorative plaque from Township of Spallumcheen Mayor Christine Fraser, and City of Armstrong councillor Neil Todd.
Married for 40 years, the Meservias arrived in Armstrong nearly seven years ago from Sundre, Alta., about an hour northwest of Calgary. Keith was a gas plant operator and Mary worked the front end of a doctors' clinic. They decided to retire to the North Okanagan, where they had no family but the city was halfway for both relatives and friends to visit 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ Mary's family is in Calgary, Keith's family is mostly on Vancouver Island.
"We've never had so much company since we moved here," laughed Keith.
Upon arrival, the duo became part of the community by volunteering. Mary is a member of numerous choirs and helps put on teas at Pleasant Valley Manor. Both help former Citizen of the Year John Hoile with his school sandwich program one day a week.
"I'm more of a worker bee, I don't like the limelight," said Keith. "But to be named Citizen of the Year is quite an honour. I didn't see that coming."'
Retiring Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo joined the other dignitaries in congratulating the Meservias. To a person, all four speakers said volunteers are vital to municipalities.
"Volunteers are the backbone of the community," said Todd. "We have people who couldn't be here today because they are out volunteering."
Past winners on hand at the United Church included Judy Els (1989), Cathy Crane (1998), Shirley Fowler (2004), Edna Luxton (2007), Betty Bifano (2012), Rea Smith (2013, who shared the award in Armstrong91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s Centennial Year with the late Ruth Bosomworth), Hoile (2015), Carol Maxson (2016), Barb Schmidt (2018), Ken Brandel (2019), and Linda Fisher (2022).
"To see all of the former winners come out every year and support this year's top citizen is amazing," said Fraser. "Thank you to the Meservias for coming to the community and helping out as much as you have."
