Kiwanis Golden K member honoured with award of dedication for Western Canada

By Medicine Hat News on September 14, 2024.

A member of the Kiwanis Golden K Club has been awarded the Dirk Bannister Dedicated Kiwanian Award for the Western Canada District.

Pat Dorward, former president of the club and lifelong member, is the first person to receive the award for the Western Canada district.

She was nominated by fellow club member and friend Larry Samcoe, who she amusingly said she had wanted to nominate for the award, herself. Dorward explained she had missed the deadline due to an injury, but had believed Samcoe to be deserving of it, so her own nomination and subsequent win was a complete surprise.

“I’m very honoured, because it’s for the whole Western Canada district. That includes probably 7,000 members. I was really quite surprised, because I saw so many dedicated people that I was absolutely amazed that I was given it,” said Dorward.

Dorward is recognized for her work in recruiting new members, in co-ordinating fundraising events such as the Fashion Show and in initiating new programs like the Children’s Treasure Chest at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital.

She is always willing to lend a hand with everything from larger-scale organization to pulling a cart around downtown selling apples to fundraise for the club.

It is Dorward’s hope that this award shines a light on how vital service clubs are for the community and encourages more people to get involved, though she does insist that she, alongside her club, don’t do what they do for recognition.

“When I was president, I said that as a service club, we don’t work for applause, we work for a cause. And on the same token, to be recognized that you’ve gone above and beyond, I was really touched,” said Dorward.

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