Stunned.
That’s the word Lindy McQueen used to describe how she felt after hearing she and her husband Jim had been named the City of Burnaby’s Outstanding Citizens of the Year for 2016 for their volunteer efforts.
“I guess what we do is we just consider it fun and when the opportunities present themselves, we go and do it,” Lindy told the NOW. “It’s no big accomplishment to us. Getting the award certainly is, but for us, being out in the community is such a pleasure.”
The McQueens began volunteering in 2005/06, after their retirement, at Gordon Presbyterian Church.
Since then, they’ve donated thousands of hours to different organizations and events in Burnaby. The list includes: the Edmonds City Fair and Classic Car Show; the Festival of Lights where they play Mr. and Mrs. Claus; the Burnaby Seniors’ Games; the Taekwondo World Championships; the community policing advisory committee; the community garden in Edmonds; and the Edmonds Bike Fair.
They have also used their own money to buy food and other goods for people in need, such as snacks and drinks for KRIB (Kids Recreating in Burnaby) Youth Centre.
For Jim, volunteering is about being able to connect with his community.
“Without volunteers in the community, a lot of things wouldn’t happen, or they would cost the city a fair amount of money. … It’s just a matter of looking to see what the needs are in the community and to see if something interests me and can help,” he said.
Lindy said volunteering gives her an opportunity to be involved.
“The thing is, you get to know so many people and you get to know about your community. That to me is just wonderful, that we can connect people and have that ability to problem shoot or whatever you want to call it.”
The couple was nominated for the award by Staff Sgt. Maj. John Buis, who told the NOW it took him longer to track down all the organizations the McQueens were involved with than putting the application together.
“It gave me an appreciation for how much they do. I’ve seen them at all sorts of events I’ve attended, and they keep coming to them and keep supporting the community,” he said. “It’s such a wide variety of things they volunteer for, from one end to the other. ... Where they volunteer at is just incredible.”
City council praised the McQueens for their volunteerism at one of its meetings, with the mayor noting it’s been a long time since the accolade was given to a couple.
“It’s happened before, but in this case, I don’t think you can separate the two. They do work as a team,” said Derek Corrigan.
Coun. Paul McDonell said the McQueens are “the epitome of volunteering.”
“The thing about these two people is they’re not out there bragging about what they’re doing. They’re a cornerstone to what’s been happening out there.”
Coun. Anne Kang called them the “lovebirds of the community.”
“It’s not just them volunteering, it’s also getting the community excited and volunteering together with them,” she said at the meeting.
Coun. Pietro Calendino agreed.
“There is no public event in Burnaby where you do not find Jim and Lindy. They’re everywhere. There’s so much they do that it’s incredible two senior citizens ... can dedicate so much time to the community without ever expecting anything in return,” he said.
The McQueens were awarded the Kushiro Cup during an appreciation dinner on May 5.
