Paul Hammond has been honoured after a “lifetime of service to the community.”
The Rotary Club of Bracebridge named him its 2023 Citizen of the Year.
“I’m very surprised and I’m also very honoured,” said Hammond. “I was raised to give back to the community and to be acknowledged for that by your own club is really special.”
According to Doug Marshall, Rotary Citizen of the Year Sub-Committee Chair, Hammond is a strong community advocate.
“Paul not only qualifies but exceeds the criteria in his selfless contributions and hard work by helping our citizens who are in need,” says Marshall. “He has been a valuable member of our club for 44 years, joining in 1979. He was club president in 1988 and was instrumental in the fundraising and construction of the Rotary Centre for Youth.”
Marshall adds Hammond was also a volunteer firefighter with the Bracebridge Fire Department for 18 years and serves as a member of multiple organizations, including the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation. Marshall says he’s played a role in helping to raise over $6 million for the hospital in Bracebridge.
Hammond is not the first in his family to receive the award. His brother, Orv, was named Citizen of the Year in 1982. That also marked the first year the award was handed out.
