MLA for Lac La Biche – St. Paul – Two Hills Ray Danyluk received the elected community leader award from the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta and Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) on Thursday at the Telus World of Science in Edmonton.
“I'd like to congratulate this year's award recipients and thank them for the energy, creativity and commitment they have brought to their work as Alberta's outstanding active community leaders," said Lt.-Gov. Donald S. Ethell in a press release. “They serve as examples to all Albertans of the power we each old as individual citizens to change our community and province for the better."
The awards started in 2009 under the previous lieutenant-governor. ARPA, the administering group of the award, praised the local MLA.
“In Elk Point, across Alberta and beyond, Ray Danyluk's selfless dedication to employing sports and recreation in community development has reaped tangible results. A key legacy is Alberta's expanding network of trails on abandoned rail lines, which took shape under Minister Danyluk's leadership as MLA for Lac La Biche-St. Paul," reads the press release from ARPA.
“Minister Danyluk also catalyzed an award-winning trails database and mapping project that is unique in the country and perhaps the world."
“I definitely feel humbled because it's not an award for me, it's really an award for the community that does so much to make it better for its youth, its citizens and tourists that come into the area," said Danyluk on Monday.
Danyluk credited the walkers, cyclists, quadders, snowmobiles, equestrian users and landowners for building the trail. “I have to give all the praise in the world to all of the volunteers because that's what its all about."
Founding president of the Riverland Recreational Trail Society, Jerry Bidulock, sent some of that credit back Danyluk's way, “his leadership, his motivational abilities to bring people forward to have the confidence to take the trail project along forward … It's guys like him that help pull us all together."
Past society president Sheila Thompson nominated Danyluk for the award.
“We whole-heartedly commend these award recipients for their dedication to improving the quality of life in Alberta through community engagement and recreation and parks services," said ARPA President Terry Welsh of the award winners in the press release.
