Some 31 Elliot Lake residents were presented awards on New Year's Day at Mayor Dan Marchisella's annual New Year's Levee. The presentations were made by Mayor Marchisella, City Councillors Ed Pearce and Sandy Finamore, and Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes in the auditorium of the Lester B. Pearson Civic Centre.
Most of the City of Elliot Lake awards were handed out to local winners of various martial arts, karate and five-pin bowling competitions held in 2018 in Elliot Lake, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Ottawa and Prince Edward Island. Also recognized were a number of young Elliot Lakers who have won medals over the years and continue to compete and teach martial arts.
Grand Champion and/or Gold medal performance certificates were presented to Stephanie Jacques, Tate Lawson, Gracie Sprague, Dana Jacques, Emma Farenzena, James Terry, Marcus White, Isabelle Roy Vanleaken, Brett Mahoney, Tommy Paton, Cristian Owl, Lucas Eadie, Brookelynn Barry, Melanie Morel and Camryn Hennessey.
Other certificate winners included Paige Lawson, Vander Lavigne, Laura Dunlap, Manon Rouillard, Mia Sheare, Brittany Drakes-Kalaw, Christopher Mayberry, Tristan Arnold, Marni Kay, Michelle Barry, Jesslyn Barry, Paige Patchett, Alexis MacGillivray and Kallam Thompson.
Marc Bernatchez and his family were presented with hero awards for saving a canoeist who tipped over while fishing on McCarthy Lake while visiting Elliot Lake. Thankfully, Marc and his family were in the right place at the right time.