Lost in the shadow of last Saturday's municipal election was the annual Hats Off gala hosted by the Delta Chamber of Commerce, an event that shouldn't take a back seat to anything.
Almost 200 people packed the ballroom at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn last Friday night as the venerable business organization honoured the best in this community in a variety of categories.
The big award of the evening, Citizen of the Year, went to the very deserving Carlene Lewall, who has been a fixture in the local sports scene, particularly with gymnastics, for the past three decades. There's no denying Lewall's resume is impressive - Delta Gymnastics, Delta Sports Hall of Fame, KidSport, Operation Red Nose, Spirit of Delta Committee and more - but what sets her apart, at least for me, is the attitude she brings to whatever task is at hand.
You don't have to talk to Lewall long to realize she sees sports for more than the obvious physical benefits. She's quick to tell you they teach all sorts of life lessons, including the all-applicable message that the end result will take care of itself if you're willing to put in the effort.
And she follows her own advice. Twice in its history the local gym club had outgrown its surroundings, the last by quite a considerable margin, yet there were many times a new or expanded centre seemed like a pipe dream. With a maxed out facility and burgeoning waitlist, and a fire thrown in for good measure, it wasn't always easy.
Lewall and the gymnastics community persevered and earlier this year the much-anticipated and impressive Delta Sport Development Centre opened adjacent to the Ladner Leisure Centre. She'd be the first to tell you the long-awaited building was a team effort, and I'm sure it was, but there's no doubt who was driving that bus.
Steve Grant, Curt Jantzen, Wayne Hobbis, Jeanette McCall, and Yvonne and David Anderson were also worthy recipients in their respective categories last Friday and deserve recognition.
And I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the group that not only oversaw the awards program but put on a fantastic banquet. Co-chairs Ian Tait and Jane Ilott devoted countless hours to the undertaking that doubles as a fundraiser so the chamber can continue its good work on behalf of this municipality's business community.
A number of community-minded people were recognized by, not coincidentally, another set of community-minded people. Hats Off to them all.
