If it’s happening in P.A., chances are Sheryl Kimbley has had a hand in organizing it.
Sheryl Kimbley thought she was just going for a lunch meeting.
Voices of the North is coming up and Kimbley is one of the organizers instrumental in the event’s success.
That’s why it was weird her husband wanted to tag along.
She arrived at Shananigan’s, her favourite coffee shop, to find her family there as well. Her brother said he was on a romantic date with his wife and just happened to be there at the same place, at the same time.
She knew something was up.
Across the coffee shop, a group of Kinsmen huddled together. CTV was in the corner, and the Daily Herald was ready to go.
Cameras up, the group approached Kimbley and told her the news – she was chosen as the 2016 citizen of the year.
2016 Citizen of the Year Sheryl Kimbley is embraced by her father, Lawrence Joseph, after learning she was chosen for the honour.
“I’m still in shock,” Kimbley said shortly after hearing the news. “I’m not really sure how they came to choose me, but I’m really happy.”
A panel of six – three Kinsmen and Daily Herald staff members, – sifted through the applications to choose this year’s winner.
They settled on Kimbley due to her heavy involvement in the community.
Kimbley was nominated by Shauna Sayese, who was sitting across from her at Shananigan’s when the media and Kinsmen ambush arrived.
“I nominated (Kimbley) three or four times before I finally got the phone call last week,” Sayese said.
“It’s just all of the hard work she does for our youth with Voices of the North and how she promotes Prince Albert. She’s a true Prince Albert citizen in that she’s really proud, she’s always welcoming people into our community and working really hard to make sure the citizens – and especially the youth of P.A – all have what they need.”
Kimbley is driven by the community she loves.
“I love Prince Albert. Ask anybody, I don’t allow anyone to say any negative things about Prince Albert in my presence because I believe how we raise a healthy community and healthy children is to be proud of where we’re from,” she said.
“What drives me is my own children, my love of the community and I really work for our youth because when I’m done on this earth I really want to leave behind a community I can say I had something to do with.”
For more on this story, please see the Dec. 30 print or e-edition of the Daily Herald.
