Back to SearchThe Municipality of Mississippi Mills recently recognized Al Potvin, Jane Torrance and Sherryl Smith for their exceptional contributions to life in Mississippi Mills with a Community Builder Award.
Al Potvin:
From the Office of the Mayor:
“I want to make this place better for generations to come.” This is the sentiment of a man who to know him, is to understand what genuine community building truly is; what tireless commitment to making that community a better and healthier place to live, work and raise a family looks like over a lifetime of giving. And this is simply Al’s unassuming way of life.
Al Potvin dedicated decades of his life nurturing and transforming his property on Carss Street into a community space. Neighbours and friends were welcome to explore the walking trails, enjoy the stunning field of sunflowers, come together for solstice bonfires, and compost mountains of leaves.
The Potvin family further supported our community with employment opportunities at Hilan, a play structure company Al and his first wife Barb founded, as well as through countless fundraising and volunteering initiatives for local charities including the Almonte General Hospital Fairview Manor Foundation, the Almonte Potters Guild, the Almonte Civitan Club and Home Hospice North Lanark.
Now in his mid-80s, Al wanted his estate to continue to give back to the community. After carefully choosing a developer to carry on his vision of the Carrs property, Al has created an incredible legacy by donating $1M to support youth in Mississippi Mills from the proceeds of the land sale. The Al Potvin Family Foundation will provide funds for the kids in our community to access tutoring, therapy and important life opportunities. It is his hope that the Al Potvin Family Foundation will help empower the children and youth of Mississippi Mills to reach their potential.
As a testament to the impact he has had on the community and its residents, Al received two separate nominations for the Community Builder award. I’d like to share some of the comments from the letters of support:
“Al has thought and planned and given generously and selflessly to leave a legacy of support to local youth. He embodies the spirit and wisdom of a true community builder.”
“Al has not only earned this nomination for the Community Builder Award but has the respect and gratitude of the many individuals and organizations he has served.”
“His many good works have arisen from his guiding motto so well articulated in a recent interview concerning his $1 million fund for youth, “I want to make this a better place for generations to come.” In achieving this goal, he has definitely succeeded!”
“Al is a generous and selfless man, a true community builder, bringing people together.”
“I believe that a quiet, unassuming gentleman, who steps forward to generously provide a million dollars to area kids, to help them experience life and grow into contributing members of this community, would surly, to my mind, satisfy any criteria to be recognized as a community builder.”
“I am happy here now, I feel at home and welcomed and that, in no small part, is from Al and the way he models for everyone here what it means to be a community leader and steward of everything we all value in a small town.”
Al Potvin is an extraordinary, living legacy. I am grateful for his kindness, generosity and for being a role model we can all strive to learn from. On behalf of Mississippi Mills Council, it gives me great privilege to present the Community Builder Award to Al Potvin.
Sincerely,
Christa Lowry
Mayor of Mississippi Mills
Jane Torrance:
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR:
When you hear the name Jane Torrance, you may think: “leader,” “Puppets Up! Mastermind,” “tireless volunteer,” or “community cheerleader”. We can also add Councillor, advocate, and bagpipe enthusiast extraordinaire to the list.
Jane has spent the last three decades demonstrating her commitment to the well-being of Mississippi Mills and its residents through her countless contributions to community organizations and projects. As it’s been said, she has worn so many hats over the years that it is challenging to recall them all, but a short list includes roles as President of the Almonte Community Coordinators (The Hub); Co-Chair of Almonte Celtfest; member of the Mississippi Mills Festival Consortium; Secretary of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 240; Facilitator with Lanark County Community Justice and Chair of the Mississippi Mills Youth Centre.
And Jane’s most recent accomplishment perhaps tops them all, with the return of the much beloved Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival earlier this month. After a 6-year hiatus, the streets of Almonte again saw some of the best and most innovative puppetry from around the world in a festival that was bigger and better than ever before! Thanks to the dedication of Jane as Director and her Festival Team, scores of volunteers and sponsors were inspired to bring puppet-magic back to Mississippi Mills after some difficult pandemic years, Jane and her team reconnected the community to celebrate, laugh and have a lot of fun together again. What a resounding success!
I’d like to share with you some of the comments noted in Jane’s nomination file:
“I have consistently been impressed and amazed by Jane’s positive, tireless and responsible approach to everything she has taken on. She leads by example and is an outstanding role model and mentor, both to me personally and to many other volunteers and community members which whom she has interacted. Our community is decidedly richer for her ongoing involvement.”
“Jane’s community contributions reflect her inspirational and versatile leadership, dedication to innovative possibilities and commitment to positive change.”
“If anyone has made a lifelong and lasting impression on our community it is Jane Torrance.”
On behalf of Council, I’d like to recognize Jane Torrance for her years of dedication and commitment to Mississippi Mills and present her with the Community Builder Award.
Sincerely,
Christa Lowry
Mayor of Mississippi Mills
Sherryl Smith:
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR:
This nominee is a force to be reckoned with. She is a tireless community advocate and a bold and compelling leader. Sherryl Smith is driven by her desire to help people. As a trained nurse, she was a practitioner, educator, policy maker and builder of networks designed to facilitate access to resources.
In retirement, Sherryl has used these same skills and knowledge as a community champion with a long list of community activities and ways she is involved in bettering our community.
In 2015 she co-founded Bridging Generations, an organization whose goal is to advocate for Pakenham to become an age-friendly community. Part of her role is to liaise with Pakenham Public School and help ensure a healthy relationship with the young families in the village.
With her public health background, Sherryl has an interest in the environment, including clean drinking water and wastewater facilities. This led her to organize an open house featuring a panel of experts to inform residents about alternative wastewater systems, improved systems, rules and regulations in the industry and what homeowners’ should consider for their properties. At the Pakenham Fair in 2017, she organized a trade show with vendors demonstrating new wastewater systems and functionality. Sherryl also facilitated a child-friendly, interactive and experiential program which provided a hands-on approach to learn about water and watershed health.
Sherryl is a member of the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust and spearheaded the Festival of the Wild Child held annually at the High Lonesome Nature Reserve. She is also Board member of the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit. Earlier this year she worked with the Health Unit to host a COVID vaccination clinic in Pakenham to make it easier for residents to access vaccine appointments. She volunteered to become a member of the Lanark Ontario Health Team organizing committee on behalf of Bridging Generations to advocate for age-friendly services.
One comment from her nomination form shares that,
“[Sherryl] has been contributing to this community for many years and is likely just hitting her stride. She is a leader, a visionary, a hard worker and a very positive and sharing person.”
Another statement reads: “I want to acknowledge Sherryl for her activities in the health sector that she carries out on behalf of our community – the equity issue is front and centre – ensuring that rural residents have access to health care and community resources that are available to others across the province. Sherryl’s efforts on both the LGL District Health Unit and especially the Ontario Health Team will have long term effects on residents in Mississippi Mills, will enrich the lives of many and impact the community for the better.”
Another support letter states: “Sherryl is a focused individual; she displays leadership and a commitment to change but is not afraid to put in the work to make it happen. Pakenham is privileged to count Sherryl Smith as one of our own and I encourage Mississippi Mills Council to celebrate her active involvement and contributions.”
On behalf of Mississippi Mills Council, I’d like to recognize Sherryl Smith for her years of dedication and leadership and present her with the Community Builder Award.
Sincerely,
Christa Lowry
Mayor of Mississippi Mills
