A long service award has been given to Heather Pelky, former mayor of the Township of the North Shore, for her contributions to public service in Northern Ontario.
The Long-Standing Service Award is bestowed on elected officials who have dedicated at least 25 years to public service.
Municipal Affairs Minister Rick Bartolucci presented Pelky with the award, commending her for her efforts.
“The Long-Standing Service Award is a fitting tribute to recognize our locally elected officials, and I would like to specifically thank former Mayor Pelky for her dedication to public service,” Bartolucci said in a news release.
Pelky moved to the Township of The North Shore in January 1970, where she and her husband raised two daughters. She sat on the executive board of Blind River's Block Parents and helped bring Block Parents to Algoma Mills.
Pelky was first elected to council in 1985, and served as mayor from 2006 to 2010. In addition to serving on myriad committees, Pelky was actively involved in the community, assisting with the Terry Fox Run and Canada Day celebrations. She helped build the township's first skating rink and organized activities for local children.
She additionally started the Community Policing Committee that covered Algoma Mills, Spragge, Serpent River, Cutler and Spanish, and was its president for nine years.
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