Community builders ‘inspiring’

In a world where it’s commonplace to put one’s needs ahead of all else, attending last week’s Community Builder’s Awards of Excellence was a delightful tonic for the soul.

At the event, which is hosted by Northern Life, several people and organizations were honoured for being “passionate about what they do and where they live,” according to Northern Life publisher Abbas Homayed.

This was the eighth installment of the annual gala — a celebration of leaders who regularly put themselves behind the greater good of their community. Eight awards were given out in a variety of categories, including arts, economic development, education, environment, health care, sports and recreation, young leader and hall of fame. Those honoured were: Theatre Cambrian, Guy Labine, Jean Hanson, the Sudbury Horticultural Society, Dr. Pablo Cano, the Rainbow Routes Association, Alessandro Costantini and Jeanne Warwick Conroy.

Starting in this issue of Northern Life, and in several subsequent issues, we will publish the profiles of these amazing people and organizations who have gone above and beyond their usual duties to help make Greater Sudbury that much richer and more dynamic.

During the celebratory gala event held last week, it was a treat to listen to the award winners make their acceptance speeches. It was interesting to pick out the common threads in all of their words: the winners thanked their teams, friends, mentors, family and their community. They expressed their desire to dream, to make things better and revealed a deep well of gratitude for living here and doing what they do. Their humble words and tireless work ethic were inspiring, to say the least.

And why are these folks so inspiring? Because — and each winner would likely attest to this — they consider themselves to be everyday “regular” people who, simply, doggedly and determinedly, put one foot in front of the other and steadfastly head toward their goals. Along the way they pick up support, advice and help from those around them. They recognize that they cannot do what they do without support. So when they achieve their goals, the first thing they do is look around them and give thanks.

According to numerous professional development coaches, good leaders share similar traits: 

- They lead by example — They set the bar high for themselves, and strive to live up to their own expectations. However, just because they have high standards doesn’t mean they expect perfection from everyone else. Everybody makes mistakes, even those with the best intentions. 

- They are honest — Honesty and integrity are vital ingredients in any form of human interaction. 

- They have courage — If there’s one constant in life, it’s that things are never easy. It takes courage and strength of character to get yourself, and others, through these times. It also takes courage to do the right thing in the face of opposition. 

- They listen — It’s easy to bark orders at people, but it’s important to listen to those you are leading. 

- They nurture — There are a lot of talented people around who often feel as if their talents are being ignored. Great leaders can see the potential in others and encourage them to raise their game. 

- They encourage others to be independent — By encouraging others to work independently, you let them know that you trust them and that they’re valuable members of a team. 

- They plan — When working toward a goal, it’s essential to plan ahead. This lets people know that you’re serious about the project, and also gives them an idea of where things are going. (source: www.philnewton.net)

All of this year’s Community Builder’s Awards winners are natural leaders who inspire Greater Sudburians to move beyond what is, to what is possible. Our community reaps the benefits of their curiosity, judgment, determination and heart.

Congratulations to everyone and stay tuned to Northern Life and NorthernLife.ca to read more about these notable people and organizations.

Wendy Bird is managing editor of Northern Life.