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Ron Paull honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award

Paull will receive his award at the Quesnel 2012 Citizen of the Year gala evening April 23
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Ron Paull will receive his lifetime achievement award at the Citizen of the Year gala evening April 23.

Ron Paull is this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award handed out at Quesnel’s Volunteer Citizen of the Year event April 23 at the Legion.

Born in the south of England, Paull arrived to Canada in 1955, at the age of five.

After spending time in Victoria, his family relocated to Fort St. John, where they developed a cattle and grain operation which still operates today.

After completing high school, Paull did a tour of duty with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Once he returned to the north, Paull worked at the Quesnel Cariboo Observer in sales for three years.

Paull then began working for the Town of Quesnel, being appointed the assistant clerk in 1973.

After 24 years as a city hall staffer, Paull began his home-based business, Ron Paull Communications. One of the most significant accomplishments of Ron Paull Communications is the Quesnel Visitors Guide, which was first published in 1996.

One of the first experiences Paull had with volunteering was when he first arrived in 1970, working with the Quesnel Winter Frolics, a winter festival.

In 1973, Paull was the founding member and a ten-year president of the Billy Barker Days Society. Ten years later, Paull was appointed to the Expo 86 Tourism Advisory board by then Minister of Tourism, Grace McCarthy. In conjunction with Expo 86, Paull ran a successful tourism marketing initiative.

Paull also volunteered extensively on the boards of Northern B.C. and B.C. Winter Games, hosted by Quesnel in 1982, 1993 and 2000.

One of Paull’s proudest achievements is being instrumental in the development of the Hospice House in Quesnel.

“Not many cities the size of Quesnel have hospices,” he said.

In his spare time, Paull spends time with his parents, who live next door as well as with his children, who have all stayed in Quesnel with their families.

Although he has done a lot with and for the community, Paull did not expect to be nominated for the award.

“I was surprised when I found out,” he said.

“It means an awful lot to me.”

Paull explained one of the issues Quesnel will be facing soon is the aging volunteer core group.

“The demographic of quality volunteers is older,” he said.

“The community will hurt when we don’t have those volunteers any longer.”

Paull pointed to examples such as the Mail Run and the Highland Games, which were cancelled in large part because of a declining volunteer base.

Although Quesnel is facing a volunteer shortage, Paull said this problem is not only seen in our community.

“Local government and UBCM should encourage volunteerism and hold forums and seminars,” Paull explained.

“They should do everything in their power to nurture volunteerism.”

Paull pointed to the three Rs of volunteerism: retain, recruit and reward.

As for what’s next for Paull, he hasn’t quite made concrete plans.

“I ran for mayor and am a nine-year veteran of city council,” he said.

“Some people are pressuring me to get back into politics but I’m not sure that’s what I want to do.

“I’ve thought of becoming a

snowbird and I will continue to advocate for a better environment for seniors and be an activist for people.”