Woodstock Rotarians pay homage to community heroes with the presentation of Paul Harris Fellowships and other awards
The Woodstock Rotary Club celebrated its ongoing success in serving the Upper St. John River Valley community and several individuals who helped ensure that success during a special dinner on Monday night, June 24.
During a ceremony at the Best Western Woodstock, the club combined the Paul Harris Fellowship awards presentation with the annual President’s Dinner, celebrating the past year’s success and future goals.
The evening’s highlight saw the Woodstock Rotary present the International Rotary Club’s most prestigious honour, a Paul Harris Fellowship, to four deserving individuals — former Hartland Mayor Betty Lou Craig, former Woodstock Mayor Art Slipp, the late community leader Brian Hayden and active Rotarian and business leader Corey Clark.
The Rotary Club presents the Paul Harris Fellow Award — named in honour of Chicago attorney Paul Percy Harris, who founded the humanitarian organization in 1905 — to club members and others who made outstanding contributions to the community.
As outgoing Woodstock Rotary President Rob McCormack and Rotarian retired Dr.Gary Beatty stated during the ceremonies, Monday evening’s four recipients surpassed the fellowship standards through their outstanding contributions and inspirational service to their communities.
The award includes a $1,000 (USD) donation in the recipient’s name to Rotary International’s Annual Program Fund, which fuels Rotary’s worldwide initiatives.
Betty Lou Craig
Beatty presented the first award to Craig, describing her as “a woman of action.”
“A wife to John and mother of three — Ben, Megan and Katelyn — she works tirelessly to make Hartland, Carleton County, and New Brunswick a better place to live,” said Beatty.
Craig’s long list of accomplishments showcases someone who recognizes a community need and goes into action.
In 1987, recognizing the need for a kindergarten in Hartland, she helped create JOY Kindergarten, which today is JOY preschool. From that point on, Craig’s leadership and accomplishments helped establish the Dr. Walter Chestnut Public Library and the Central Carleton Chamber of Commerce.
Craig played pivotal roles in essential fundraising projects, including the Hartland Community School, the former Carleton Memorial Hospital and the Upper River Valley Hospital, where she currently co-chairs the URVH Foundation.
She helped raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society, Red Cross, Sanctuary House, Woodstock Baptist Church projects,
Craig was elected Hartland’s first female mayor in 1998. Over the past decade, she and her husband, John, who works for the family firm Craig Manufacturing, have sponsored the Turn Around Awards for parts of the Anglophone West School District.
“I’m sure I’ve left out many of Betty Lou’s achievements, but I’m sure you’ll all agree that she has “given” to her community and deserves this recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow,” said Beatty.
Craig praised the Rotary Club, noting its widespread support for the community, including its “wonderful donation,” for the URVH Foundation’s multi-million-dollar MRI project.
“I truly truly thank you for this,” she said. “It’s very touching and means a lot.”
Arthur Slipp
Rotarian Ed Barrett introduced and presented Slipp with the Paul Harris Fellowship, joking that the former teacher, school and community leader, mayor, and UMNB executive’s list of accomplishments may make them miss the first period of the NHL Game 7 final on Monday night.
“Arthur Slipp has been a significant contributor to our town and the surrounding area in many different ways – as a teacher, a coach, a team and consensus builder, a councillor, and the second longest running Mayor of Woodstock after L. P. Fisher,” explained Barrett.
He noted Slipp’s tremendous contributions to Woodstock High School, where he taught from 1972 to 2004. He listed Slipp’s extensive accomplishments beyond the classroom and his leadership within the school and provincially with the New Brunswick Teachers Association.
Barrett then listed the staggering number of community boards and committees upon which Slipp served, including the Valley Food Bank, L.P. Fisher Library, Carleton County Historical Society, Sports Wall of Fame, Carleton Civic Center Fund Raising Committee, several committees surrounding the Carleton Civic Centre and AYR Motor Centre and a host of positions on minor hockey committees and boards.
Barrett detailed Slipp’s vital roles with the Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick (UMNB), the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and numerous provincial committees.
Barrett continued his long list of Slipp’s accomplishments by outlining the many Woodstock assets Slipp championed as a councillor and mayor.
“Much of the work of the Rotary Club has involved working with Art, and he has always been there, spending countless hours making sure things get done,” said Barrett. “To say that Arthur Slipp has contributed to his community is an understatement . Art has made it his life’s work to make our community a great place for everyone to live.”
Slipp thanked the Rotary Club for the honour by quoting the club’s mottoes, “Service Above Self” and “He Profits Most Who Serves Best.”
He noted how the club and the town partner on many wonderful projects.
“It has been a joy and my pleasure to have been a part of some of those amazing projects,” Slipp said. “During my time on council, we were blessed to have had tremendous administrative leadership and strong councillors to guide and direct the growth of our town.”
Brian Hayden
Beatty returned to the podium to posthumously award Hayden, a highly respected community leader who died suddenly in 2023.
He recounted how Hayden, born in 1953, attended Mt. Allison University in the early ’70s before returning to his hometown in 1975 to make his mark as a businessman and community leader.
“He returned with a Bachelor of Science and Susan – who was definitely the bigger prize,” said Beatty.
Brian and Susan married in 1978 and started a family — Amanda, Gregory, Katelyn, Daniel, and Rachel.
Beatty detailed Hayden’s business skills, starting with his father’s car dealership and branching into real estate and modular homes.
“But Brian’s true calling was to give – to his community,” said Beatty. “He patiently and generously gave his time to children – through minor hockey, the Woodstock Figure Skating Club and The Children’s Wish Foundation.
Beatty noted Hayden’s support of church projects and his long dedication to local government through several roles with the local service district and regional service commission.
Beatty explained Hayden’s compassion and caring were no better displayed than through his support, generosity and compassion for the seniors at Carleton Manor. Hayden said on both the manor board and the foundation board.
An emotional Susan thanked the club for honouring her late husband’s contributions to the community.
Susan said Brian, like many volunteers, got more out of volunteering than he gave.
“Brian was a big volunteer without a doubt, but you know a good volunteer is a selfish person,” she said.
While Susan admitted that might sound strange, helping the seniors at the Carleton Manor or dealing with children at the skating club brightened Brian’s spirits.
She recalled that when he came home or to the office after a manor visit, she asked, “How are your folks?”
Susan explained how Brian would enthusiastically recount his interactions with the residents.
She said the same situation would occur when he returned from skating practice.
“He’d say, oh those kids are so sweet. Oh my God. They’re so sweet,” Susan recalled.
She said Brian was a true volunteer who benefitted from his actions to benefit others.
Corey Clark
When Corey Clark arrived at the Best Western Woodstock for the awards evening and president’s dinner, he had no idea he was among those being recognized for his ongoing Rotary Club efforts. Finding his parents, Weldon and Mavis, in attendance provided a hint that something was up.
Woodstock businessman and long-time Rotarian Scott Dunlop presented Clark with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award.
Dunlop described how Corey, who became a Rotarian in 2018, used his skillset to help guide the club through the pandemic.
Born and raised in Woodstock, Clark left Woodstock after high school to study information technology in Moncton. After working in IT for several years, Clark returned to Woodstock in 2011.
Dunlop noted Clark changed career paths in 2016, establishing a landscaping and snow-removal business called Clarkview Outdoor Living Solutions.
Upon joining Rotary, Clark became an active member in several areas, but Dunlop noted his fellow Rotarian’s efforts on the Bingo and Dance and Draw committees.
“He quickly moved onto the board and was our club Secretary during this last 2023-2024 Rotary year,” explained Dunlop. “He will sit on the board as president elect this year and will move into the president position for the 2025-26 year.”
Dunlop explained that Clark’s Paul Harris Fellowship results from “his initiative and dedication” in using his computer and broadcasting skills to enhance the club’s fundraising, especially during the pandemic.
“When people were not allowed to socialize, our annual in-person dance fundraiser was on hold,” recalled Dunlop. “And when Rotarians were not permitted into the radio station for weekly Bingo, we had to shift gears. Corey came to our rescue.
Dunlop detailed how Clark used his skillset to relaunch and enhance Bingo online during COVID restrictions. The ongoing results of Clark’s efforts increased Bingo participation to several hundred per week, Dunlop explained.
He said Clark used those skills to deliver two consecutive successful Virtual Kitchen Dance Parties during pandemic restrictions. After social distancing was lifted, Clark continued to chair the important Spring Fling and Sun-Sational Soiree fundraisers.
“With the assistance of Corey’s IT knowledge and hard work, the Woodstock Rotary Club has raised literally hundreds of thousands of dollars for our community,” said Dunlop.
Clark thanked the Rotary for the recognition, recalling how Dunlop encouraged him to join the club.
Clark said his tech knowledge helped him make Rotary fundraising adjustments during COVID, but the success resulted from the concerted effort of all Rotary members.
“There were a number of us that took that task on together and quite a few of us in the room here today, but I want to send a special thank you to Scott Dunlop, Rob McCormack and Kent Orlando.” he said. “Since 2020, we did a lot of big things together, but a big part of this is fellowship.”
Other awards
The Rotary Club handed out several other awards on the evening, including Business of the Year Awards to Dunlop, owner of Home Zone Electronics, and Clark, owner of Clarkview Outdoor Solutions.
Incoming Rotary president Ashley Farrell and Orlando earned Rotarians of the Year plaques.
Hilary Stockford and Andrew Garnett earned recognition for their outstanding service to the club and the community.
Carleton MLA and Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Bill Hogan attended the dinner, presenting certificates of appreciation from Premier Blaine Higgs and himself.
As outgoing Woodstock Rotary president, McCormack recounted the club’s success over the past year, noting it raised $427,750 in the past 12 months.
As incoming president, Farrell detailed plans for the upcoming year, noting the continuing strength of the organization and its dedicated members.
