Connie Douglas awarded the 2025 Senior of the Year Award for St. Marys

Connie Douglas with her 2025 Seniors of the Year award.

By Wendy Lamond

Congratulations to Connie Douglas for being recognized with the provincial 2025 Senior of the Year award.

The award gives each municipality in Ontario the chance to honour one outstanding community member who plays a vital role in shaping our town by volunteering countless hours of their time and by making our community better for all. I am beyond honoured to write this story about my mother as I know she is so deserving of this award.

It was presented to her at the regular council meeting on June 24 by deputy mayor Brogan Aylward and town council members. Douglas, along with her husband, Harold, started the Town and Country Cheese Shoppe in 1990. Since the sale of their business 10 years ago, she has spent many days volunteering at the Friendship Centre.

Through the centre, she has helped prep meals, delivered groceries and participated in the outreach program by visiting with those in the community who want company.

Besides the Friendship Centre, Douglas has also volunteered her time with the Salvation Army manning the kettle in December, helping at the food bank throughout the year and assisting with anything else they need help with. She has helped set up for induction day for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and she has helped with many events put on by her church, the East Nissouri Union Church.

She has met many people through this time and has loved being able to give back to our community. Her warm, welcoming personality is a magnet to all who meet her.

“We would like to congratulate Connie Douglas on this well-deserved recognition,” said Aylward. “Recognizing those who dedicate their time to our community is important for all of us on town council.”

Douglas, who is very humble about the award, shared what a huge honour this is and that she feels very fortunate to live in a town where there are so many people who can volunteer their time to help others.

She also thanked the staff at the Friendship Centre for being so active in getting seniors involved and by making sure they are looked after.

“I would just like to thank everyone for the kind wishes. We are lucky to have so many opportunities to volunteer, something to keep us motivated when we retire and still need to accomplish something in a day,” Douglas said.

Congratulations, mom!