Bryde Descroches saw retirement as the perfect opportunity to start giving back to the community.
The Midland resident received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers at last week's council meeting.
Desroches retired as a registered nurse 20 years ago, but she said she didn’t want to sit around and do nothing, so she immersed herself in the town through volunteer activities.
“I just think since I retired, it was time for me to give back,” she said. “I have time now and I would like to spend that time contributing to the community.”
Coming from a family of volunteers with a strong interest in supporting libraries, she gravitated, naturally to the Midland Public Library.
“My parents were also very supportive of the library in Tay Township,” said Descroches. “The library in Victoria Harbour is named after my parents: the Theo and Elaine and Bernard Library.”
Knowing of her love for libraries, her son, who lives in Ottawa, and was also a library board member, encouraged her to join the Midland Public Library board.
While on the library board, Desroches said, she led the charge in helping the library update its policies and procedures.
“We hired a new CEO, and she increased circulation and programming, making (the library) more community friendly,” she said. “I was on the building committee, too, and a big advocate for new addition to the library. The credit goes to the CEO, because it was a year after I got done with the board.”
She also volunteers at a nursing home in town and is part of an exercise program for seniors, SMART (seniors maintaining active roles together) through the Victorian Order of Nurses.
Desroches enjoys playing her ukulele at the Askennonia Senior Centre and The Villa Care Centre.
Desroches, who is also Metis, sits on the Regional Advisory Committee of the Metis Nation of Ontario Education & Training Branch Program.
On Wednesday night at council, Mayor Stewart Stratheran presented Descroches with the medal in the presence of friends and family.
“Thanks to you for all your efforts in making Midland a better place,” he said.
Even though Descroches said she doesn’t like being the centre of attention, she thanked the mayor for his kind words.
“I just love doing things and contributing and being busy and I’m very happy I’m able to do that at my age,” said the 75-year-old. “I find it very rewarding and it makes me feel very good.”
