The 2020 Acton Citizen of the Year has been awarded to Anne and Lloyd McIntyre. The Rotary Club announced their decision last Wednesday after sifting through a number of strong nominations, according to Nancy Wilkes who champions this event for the Club.
Anne and Lloyd McIntyre, married 50 years, are known amongst their friends as stalwart boosters of everything Acton and have been volunteering for community projects all their adult lives. In recent years, their names are synonymous with Heritage Acton, where they have both taken leadership positions in a number of campaigns and events supporting the restoration of the Acton Town Hall Centre.
Lloyd is Chair of Heritage Acton and has been instrumental in maintaining and preserving the life of the building since the addition was built in 2013. He takes all the bookings, fixes toilets and replaces light bulbs. He also coordinates all of the maintenance and renovation activities. Anne sits the board, as well as the events committee, which she also chaired at one time. She is also active on the calendar committee which produces the annual calendars.
(Photo: Lloyd Mcintyre)
The McIntyres both come from farming backgrounds. At one time they played in a local rock band known as the Shaynes, who was well-known at dances in the area. They each ⁹had engaging careers; Lloyd worked in the human resources field at the time when it was still called employee relations, first at Imperial Tobacco in Guelph, and later under contract to the University of Guelph.
Anne went to Teacher's College and eventually read for several degrees including a Masters of Education from the University of Toronto. As a public school educator she taught all grades from kindergarten to Grade 6, worked in Milton, Georgetown and Acton, and eventually ended up as vice-principal at Limehouse P.S., the same school she graduated from in grade 8 in 1963.
The McIntyre's have always had a strong sense of community spirit. The couple moved to their family homestead on Dublin Line in 1972, on land that was a section of the original McIntyre family farm. “We felt strongly about living in a place where people helped each other and we could give back,” said Lloyd.
Anne and Lloyd got involved in community life at Trinity United Church in the 70's and 80's, and they were always available to play a supportive role when their children - Scott, Daryn and Meighan started school and joined the school band, theatre productions or volleyball, basketball, soccer and hockey teams.
The list of the couple's volunteer efforts over the decades is too large include here, but their daughter, Meighan McIntyre, sums up the profound influence they have had. “Throughout the past 50 years in Acton, Anne and Lloyd have spent countless hours bringing people together. They have been a conduit for many new connections and friendships in the community because of their creativity, passion and ability to succeed at their goals.”
They both admit to being completely surprised when they were notified last Tuesday evening by a phone call from Nancy Wilkes. “In a way, it's not fair that we're getting this award because we're surrounded by some many good people. We can't do anything without the committees, all we do is lead a bit,” said Anne McIntyre.
“Usually I'd be organizing a dinner for the winners at this time, but everything is different this time,” said Wilkes. “I think we'll do it virtually this year on Facebook.”
(Photo: Nancy Wilkes)
Wilkes champions this event for the Rotary Club which has been running yearly since 1958. But she doesn't sit on the award committee which is comprised of previous winners. And the winner doesn't have to be an individual or couple, it can also be an organization that has had a positive effect. Previous winners have included the Acton Firefighters and the Acton Citizens' Band.
“We are blessed with so many giving people in the community that we always seem to get a variety of nominations and we did again this year,” said Wilkes. “Every nominee I've had in the last five years has made an outstanding, long-term contribution to the betterment of Acton.”
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