Recent History – 2000
Nov. 27, 2000
By Mark Nielsen, Daily News Staff
Long-time Dawson Creek Seal and Rotary Club member Tim Schilds was named Citizen of the Year Saturday night during the Dawson Creek and District Chamber of Commerce President’s Ball.
“Wow, this is quite an honour, quite a shock too,” said Schilds after he was presented with a plaque by Marge Monlezun, the 1999 Citizen of the Year, and Mayor Blair Lekstrom.
Before the award was presented, Lekstrom read out a long list of accomplishments and contributions that have been made by Schilds over the years.
They include organizing and managing swim meets and training officials for the Seals and other swim clubs.
“His example speaks loudly to the young swimmers because he started where they are starting and it was his commitment to attend practices and competitions that have helped to make him a success to day,” Lekstrom said.
Schilds has also been very involved with the Boy Scouts of Canada, having organized several camp-outs for local cubs and as well as a major excursion to Vancouver.
Schilds, who runs his own accounting firm, has been a mentor for the accounting class at South Peace Secondary School. “This led to the class competing with other B.C. high schools all the way to the finals where they were runners-up for all of British Columbia,” Lekstrom said. “Many of those same students have pursued careers in accounting and have remained in the area.”
A past-president of the Dawson Creek Rotary Club, Schilds was instrumental in the formation of the Chetwynd Rotary Club and spearheaded the creation of the Rotaract Club in the Mile Zero City, and he remains a counselor for them today.
He’s also a director of the Rotary Club’s District 53 World Community Service Projects initiative and served as a treasurer on the district committee for the Rotary conference in Dawson Creek, which attracted over 600 people.
He has also served on several committees at his church and taught Sunday school, and he is a past director of the Dawson Creek Curling Club.
In 1997, Schilds was chartered accountant of the year in the Peace River area. He started his own firm in 1987 and has seen it grown to include two partners and 10 employees. And a branch was opened in Fort St. John two years ago.
“Mark this on the calendar, I’m speechless and it doesn’t happen often,” Schilds said. “It’s quite an honour for me. Both my parents won this in 1979.”
Later, Schilds said that there are many others in Dawson Creek who also deserve to win the award. He also thanked his wife.
“If it wasn’t for my wife, I wouldn’t be nearly as involved as I am,” he said. “She’s supported me all the way.”
As Citizen of the Year, Schilds will be the Marshall at the Fall Fair parade.
Four other awards were handed out. Charene Pratt of Grower’s Direct was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year, the Dawson Creek Rotary Club was named the Non-Profit Association of the Year, DC Recycling was named the Business of the Year, and the Alaska Hotel and Cafe was named the Business Supporter of the Arts.