Janet Carriere had been told to come into work for a last minute meeting with government representatives. Instead, she was greeted by the Kinsmen Club and the Daily Herald who awarded her the distinction of Citizen of the Year. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Committed to community

Janet Carriere named Citizen of the Year

Dec 31, 2019 | 7:00 AM

The executive director of the P.A. Indian Métis Friendship Centre has been named the 2019 Prince Albert Citizen of the Year.

The annual award is presented by the Prince Albert Daily Herald and the Kinsmen Club.

Janet Carriere, its 62nd honouree, was surprised with the distinction at her workplace on Monday.

Her colleague Georgette Arcand nominated her.

“She doesn’t put herself above anyone else,” Arcand told paNOW.

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“If she says, ‘Can you do this?’ She’ll be in there doing it. That’s the kind of leader she is.”

Nominator Georgette Arcand (right) and Janet Carriere embrace. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

Carriere serves in numerous committees including the Board of Police Commissioners and the Community Advisory Board for Homelessness.

On Monday, she arrived at work having been told she was needed for a last-minute meeting with the government. She was visibly shocked when she was greeted instead with a room full of friends and colleagues.

Representatives from the Kinsmen Club and the Prince Albert Daily Herald told an emotional Carriere that she’d been named the Citizen of the Year.

“I feel like this is insane. I’ve done nothing to deserve this, I just do what I do,” she told paNOW after making her way around the room to personally greet everyone in attendance.

When asked what she thought were her greatest achievements, she said she was proud to have been an advocate for the Friendship Centre’s clients.

“We’ve taken a voice to tables and places in our community where it didn’t exist before. Voices for those that don’t have a voice, trying to create a more equal community. And I feel like we’re slowing getting there,” she said.

Janet Carriere poses with representatives from the Kinsmen Club and the Daily Herald. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff).

The date for the annual Citizen of the Year banquet, typically held in late January or early February will be announced soon.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom