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Blind River couple Sally and Dick Hagman receive volunteer award

They were nominated for their work on maintaining ski trails in and around Blind River
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Blind River couple Sally and Dick Hagman received a volunteer award from the Ontario Cross Country Ski Association for their work on maintaining ski trails in and around Blind River. 

Blind River couple Sally and Dick Hagman received a volunteer award from the Ontario Cross Country Ski Association for their work on maintaining ski trails in and around Blind River. 

The award was handed out at the association’s annual general meeting Sunday and recognizes the work and support the couple gives to the local Blind River Cross Country Ski Club.

They were nominated for the award by Michel Ménard and Margo Déquanne, Biathlon and XC Skiing coaches.

"For the Blind River Cross Country Ski Club, we are nominating volunteers who have dedicated their time and energy for the past two decades," reads their nomination papers.

"We are nominating a couple because they work together, support each other, and they are both essential to our club’s continued growth and well-being."

Sally and Richard ‘Dick’ Hagman have been long-time supporters and presidents of the Blind River Cross Country Ski Club. Dick oversees the trail system and repairs or improves town's infrastructure. Sally has been an assistant trail groomer, accompanying Dick or replacing him on occasion. She has also played a key role in organizing a skiing event for students from Blind River’s six schools this year, according to the nominators. 

“The club has always encouraged local schools (six schools) to bring students skiing, but this year Sally applied and received grant money for buses. Her initiative encouraged the schools, and all local schools have participated,” Ménard and Déquanne wrote. “It is well and good to encourage the schools to come out, but that also means volunteers have to be contacted. They need to greet the teachers and students, prepare equipment, accompany the students on the trails and sort, dry and put away the equipment. Sally contacted the individual schools for numbers of participants, boot sizes, took out the boots the night before and ensured that enough volunteers would be present the following day. Participants and volunteers had a great time.” 

When they are not organizing or leading student groups, Sally and Dick are skiing the trails, stopping to welcome or help members and new skiers. It’s all part of their special interest in activities in nature, either on land or on the water.

“Sally and Dick devote uncountable hours to our Club (grooming alone takes two to five hours, at least twice a week). They are our best ambassadors. They live and breathe Blind River and the great sport of cross-country skiing.” 



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About the Author: Kris Svela

Kris Svela has worked in community newspapers for the past 36 years covering politics, human interest, courts, municipal councils, and the wide range of other topics of community interest
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