Morden’s Citizen of Distinction is a tradition that stretches back decades.
This year, the figure in the spotlight is Shelly Voth, the city’s immigration coordinator who exemplifies what it can look like to blend professionalism and volunteerism “seamlessly,” according to Lenore Laverty of the Morden Area Foundation.
A worthy celebration
Voth, who is now a part of a long line of memorable Mordenites, officially received her award on May 25th in a ceremony to which the entire city was invited.
“It blows my mind that people would take their time to come out, and it was a really interesting afternoon of having a lot of people from different parts of my life and different parts of the community come out,” says Voth of the ceremony. “It was really great.”
Voth says that one of the surprises of the day was the diversity of the people who took the time to celebrate her.
“Shelly is someone who cares about the community. She's someone whose work has assisted in making [Morden and Winkler] diverse communities. She stands for growing the community. She stands for inclusion, diversity. She is the best.”
-Zainab Zubair, a director with the Morden Area Foundation, on Morden’s newest Citizen of Distinction.
“The groups that were dancing and singing were newcomer groups, and I wasn't expecting that at all. I didn't know what to expect,” she says. “It was just such a great surprise to see those community groups.”
‘She is the best’
For Zainab Zubair, a director with the Morden Area Foundation who is also involved with the African Pembina Group, Voth has been an important part of helping “newcomers feel welcome to the community.”
“When newcomers come in and they don't know how to get housing or what clothes to wear, most of the time, Shelly is their first stop. Even the African Pembina group, when we have newcomers come in, the first thing they say is, ‘Shelly told us to come this way,’” she says.
“Shelly is someone who cares about the community. She's someone whose work has assisted in making [Morden and Winkler] diverse communities. She stands for growing the community. She stands for inclusion, diversity. She is the best.”
Interacting at a personal level
Zubair notes that it is not only what Voth does that makes her a gleaming example in the Pembina Valley, but also how she does it.
“She takes time for each person,” she says. “Shelly will sit down with you and interact at a personal level, and that's something that I really love about her. I'm happy to share this joy .... This is well-deserved.”
In her role as Morden’s mayor, Nancy Penner also has firsthand experience of how Voth enriches the community and helps facilitate its growth.
“It's inspiring. Shelly is a wealth of knowledge. She, in her immigration role, understands the nuances and just has such a heart for people.”
-Leah Klassen, board member of the Winkler Stanley Economic Development Corporation, on Shelly Voth.
According to the mayor, Voth’s is one of the first faces newcomers see when they arrive in the Pembina Valley, and from there, connections form.
“That long-lasting relationship they have with her is just unbelievably strong. The impact she has on them as newcomers has just been incredible, so that's where I really see her role shine with the city,” she says.
Because Voth goes about her role “quietly,” the mayor says it’s exciting to see the influential community member acknowledged.
Leah Klassen, who sits on the board of Winkler Stanley Economic Development Corporation, agrees.
“It's inspiring. Shelly is a wealth of knowledge. She, in her immigration role, understands the nuances and just has such a heart for people,” she says.
Notice from the community
Voth’s Citizen of Distinction award is one that resulted from the community’s notice.
Laverty says the first version of the award was instituted in 1948, and for a while, citizens were recognized based on their volunteerism alone.
More recently, that has changed.
“Some years ago, The Morden Area Foundation decided that we should really include people's work experience as well, so it's a combination of those,” she says, noting that this year’s Citizen of Distinction is a good example of someone who represents both.
“Shelly, in both those capacities, really embodies that in terms of the work that she does with the city as the immigration coordinator,” she says.
Related stories:
- Morden Mayor Nancy Penner congratulates Citizen of Distinction
- Champion for newcomers honoured as Morden’s Citizen of Distinction
As for some of the projects Voth has been involved in Morden, Laverty says she has been “instrumental” in the formation of 500 Stephen Street as well as multicultural events in the city.
A final word from Morden’s 2024 Citizen of Distinction
When it comes to Voth’s reflection on the work that has garnered her appreciation, she says she can’t name just one thing that is most meaningful to her.
“The thing I enjoy is having a lot of things going on at the same time — just the synergy that works between things when you know different people from different projects and then just bring them on board for something else.”
In the end, Voth’s hope is that others also become involved in the community as she has.
“I would really like to see everybody step up, become part of a board, become part of a council or committee, and just use your talents to lead something,” she says.
With files from Mikaela Warkentin and Connie Bailey
