2019 Citizens of Distinction Award Recipients

Congratulations to the 2019 Citizens of Distinction. Our community is a better, brighter place because of your contributions. Thank you.

Carson Theriault
Athletic Achievement Award

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Carson is a lacrosse player who has received recognition at the local, provincial, and national levels. He has played sports for most of his life, starting with box lacrosse with the Leduc Lacrosse Association at the age of nine. In 2017, he was drafted third overall by the St. Albert Miners. He earned the second highest points for rookies in the league and was the team’s Offensive MVP. In 2018 he competed for the national Minto Cup with the Calgary Mountaineers, and in 2019 helped lead the Junior B Fort Saskatchewan Rebels to a northern provincial championship. In 2019, Carson signed with Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina, to play field lacrosse for their inaugural NCAA Division II men’s team. Read Carson’s full bio here.

Dennis Gulley
Community Spirit Award

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Dennis was the lead teaching pastor at Leduc Fellowship, and has been with the Leduc Fellowship staff since 2007. He is quick to support the community in any way that he can. Over the years, Dennis has hosted events at the Leduc Fellowship Church, ministered to his congregation, served on the Leduc Social Needs Assessment Committee, volunteered as a driver for Meals on Wheels, served as a facilitator for the Heroes youth development program, and volunteered as a Block Connector Coordinator for the Good Neighbours initiative. For 12 years, Dennis has also led the annual Fall Food Round Up for the Leduc and District Food Bank, organizing collections and recruiting volunteers. Read Dennis’ full bio here.

Clint Lewing
Arts, Culture, and Heritage Recognition Award

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Clint is a natural body builder, fitness model, stuntman and actor, whose work has put the City of Leduc in the national and international spotlight. Raised on a farm near Leduc, Clint decided to enter a natural bodybuilding competition in 2015 on just four weeks’ notice. He placed second, and went on to earn three Men’s Physique Pro Cards/overall national titles. Clint then ice climbed the face of Fortress Mountain in Kananaskis, rappelled out of a helicopter in Mexico for Pennzoil’s “Joyride” short film series, and played the lead in several music videos including the hit single “Dive Bar” by Gord Bamford. Clint focuses on inspiring the younger generation, promoting positive change in the world, prioritizing mental health, and encouraging alternative ways of living to lessen our environmental impact. Read Clint’s full bio here.

Doug Hube
Environmental Achievement Award

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Doug is a professor emeritus of the University of Alberta’s Department of Physics who is passionate about the environment. Doug completed his PhD in astronomy at the University of Toronto in 1968, and joined the University of Alberta faculty a year later. He is known for his exceptional teaching, research and outreach activities. Doug moved to Leduc in 2014. He has since served for three years on the Leduc Environmental Advisory Board (LEAB) and focused on promoting dark skies in the community. He met with the City’s Engineering and Public Service directors to discuss city lighting, resulting in changes to lights at the rowing club and at the Leduc Recreation Centre parking lot. He also influenced the lighting that Fortis selected for their streetlight retrofitting project. Going forward, all new communities in Leduc will be dark sky compliant thanks to Doug’s advocacy. Doug leads by example and constantly challenges the community to conserve, protect and enhance the environment. Read Doug’s full bio here.

Brooklyn Valaire
Youth Award of Merit

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Brooklyn is eight years old, and has already shown a drive to help others that inspires those around her. After hearing about homelessness on TV one evening in 2018, Brooklyn started asking questions and insisting that they do something to help. Brooklyn and her mom, Crystal, came up with the idea of Brooklyn’s Backpacks for the Homeless. Crystal used Facebook to call for donations, and the response was immediate. They filled 50 backpacks with essentials such as gloves, toques, socks and toiletries, and handed them out outside of Edmonton’s hope mission in September 2018. Brooklyn and Crystal continue as volunteers to cook and serve meals and hand out supplies. They have also partnered with the Leduc Hub and Bissel Centre. Their goal is to be able to offer food and supplies to the homeless on a continual basis. Read Brooklyn’s full bio here

Susan Perry
Mayor’s Choice Award

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Susan continues to display tireless dedication to the community, and is known especially for her work with the Leduc Hub. She is passionate about helping the vulnerable. The Leduc Hub started in 2011, joining forces with the Leduc and District Emergency Shelter Association. Susan knew she wanted to be involved right away, and volunteered as the chairperson. She is now the Executive Director and oversees all aspects of operations and training new volunteers. Thanks to her efforts the Hub is a thriving organization that provides assistance and support to the most vulnerable in our community. Motivated by a desire to serve and a great sense of compassion, Susan has built a self-sustaining organization that has a powerful impact on the Leduc community. She hopes to see even more coordinated support for the homeless in the future. Read Susan’s full bio here.

Thank you to our 2019 Citizens of Distinction Sponsors:

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