Holy Rosary High School student Marleigh Mann, left, is this year’s Lloydminster Lions Club Junior Citizen of the Year, while senior Larry Sauer is Citizen of the Year. The presentations took place Monday night at the Legacy Centre. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
It was double deception night for recipients of this year’s outstanding citizen awards, presented by the Lloydminster Lions Club.
Teenager Marleigh Mann, named Jr. Citizen of the Year and senior Larry Sauer, Citizen of the Year, each thought they were invited to speak about pet projects at a Legacy Centre supper Monday night.
The 17-year-old Mann, who will graduate from Holy Rosary High School this year, talked about her involvement with the Beda club that earned her the award, presented by Lion Kathy Smithson.
“I was definitely surprised and I think it’s really an honour because I know how many great individuals are in our community and how many kids my age volunteer so much,” said Mann.
“I am really grateful to the Lions Club for selecting me and it really is an honour.”
The Beda, or baby club, is currently planning to make gift baskets for needy mothers to take home when they leave the maternity ward at the Lloydminster Hospital.
“We’re putting together diapers and baby wipes, stuff like that,” said Mann, who joined Beda this year after learning how active they are at school.
“I also really believe in what they were doing, which was lots for single mothers and babies, but also for some bigger humanitarian causes. I really believe in their causes.”
Sauer, who tagged off with his wife, Leanne, to talk about their organ donor experiences, was surprised to be ambushed as the Lions Citizen of the Year, but he said the recognition “feels good” nevertheless.
“I think Marleigh said ahead of me that there are a lot of citizens who have been recognized before in our community who do a lot, so to be a part of that group is something special,” said Sauer.
Smithson also highlighted Sauer’s extensive volunteerism behind his award with his personal highlight being his 30 years as a teacher at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School.
“I loved working with young adults at the high school age, and being involved in the sporting area really helped me as an administrator at the high school,” said the retiree and former city councillor.
He and Leanne also taught in China for two years.
Ironically, Sauer was originally recruited to teach in Lloyd to play hockey for the Border Kings, whom he helped coach to win the Allen Cup in his later years.
“A lot of people got recruited for things like that. They were recruited not only to teach, but to be part of the community. I feel that’s important,” said Sauer.
These days, Sauer laces up with the Never Sweats.
He can see the net thanks to contact lenses and receiving a cornea transplant in 2006, and he and Leanne, being a donor, talked about it at the Lions’ supper.
Leanne donated one of her kidneys years ago to her sister Elaine, who is healthy and over 70 today.
“Organ and tissue donation is a big thing,” stressed Larry.
“We know it saves lives, many lives, and the awareness has grown a great deal since 2006 when I had my corneal transplant, to this day.
“Certainly, younger people now are going ahead and taking the step to make that decision for themselves.”
Meanwhile, Mann will take the university transfer program in science this fall at Lakeland College and then attend the University of Saskatchewan in agriculture, which also has a Beda program.
“That’s pretty cool for sure,” she said.
Mann grew up on a farm and teaches 4-H, riding clinics and equine camps and helps the Northminster community with a cemetery cleanup.
She also volunteers at the Grace United Church booth during chuckwagon races at the Lloyd Ex, prompting the question ‘Where does she find the time?’
“I think for one, my family is so supportive and they help me with everything. With 4-H, my dad helps us so much with our cattle and everything like that,” said Mann.
“I also really believe being busy helps you learn about time management. I hope that will help me in the next couple of years as I go into university.”
