Fogo Island resident honoured for volunteerism

Whether it’s a hockey coach, committee member or Santa in the annual Christmas parade, without volunteers none of these activities would be possible.

In 2012 the Newfoundland and Labrador Volunteer Hall of Fame was established to honour the efforts of people who make long-standing contributions to their communities through their volunteer work.

On April 16 eight people were designated as the 2014 inductees into the Hall of Fame. Among them was Bridget Leyte of Fogo Island. It is the first time a resident from the island has received such an honour.

Leyte, who has spent the past 34 years volunteering with numerous causes on Fogo Island, was humbled by the accolade.

“I don’t deserve this award any more than anyone else who volunteers,” Leyte said.

She has dedicated her time to preserving and promoting the heritage and culture of Fogo Island and is heavily involved with the Brimstone Head Folk Festival. Leyte is the chairperson of the festival committee and shares her love of volunteering with her husband who is also involved with the annual festival.

For the past eight years the couple has volunteered to cut the Lion’s Head Trail and help organize the 100 plus campers that show up for the Brimstone Head Folk Festival annually.

Leyte is passionate about keeping her community clean and litter free, and volunteers in clean-up efforts regularly. Fogo Island has been a recipient of both the Tidy Towns award and Communities in Bloom award.

The Fogo Island Santa Claus parade, volunteer fire department and Fogo Island Folk Alliance are also causes that she actively volunteers with.

Leyte was nominated by her daughter for the award and said, “When she told me she was going to nominate me I told her not to be so silly, but when I received the call that I had won, I was humbled.”

Since news of the honour began spreading Leyte has received some 200 emails congratulating her on being inducted into the Volunteer Hall of Fame. Leyte, along with the seven other inductees, will be honoured at a gala dinner October 3 in St. John’s. For now Leyte is busy doing what is close to her heart and that’s volunteering on Fogo Island to help make her community a better place to live.

christy.boyd@pilotnl.ca

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Source: Google Alert - leyte