DORCHESTER, N.B. — In honour of her pioneering spirit and her outstanding contribution to the community, Dorchester volunteer and entrepreneur Debbie Wiggins-Colwell has been honoured with this year’s Molly Kool Award.
Wiggins-Colwell, who has been an active part of the Dorchester community for nearly four decades, was presented the award during a ceremony at the Molly Kool Heritage Centre in Alma on Sunday afternoon.
“Debbie works hard in the community every day and asks nothing in return,” said Reg Tower, chair of the Greater Dorchester Moving Forward Co-op, when announcing Wiggins-Colwell as the latest award recipient at the end of the candidates’ debate earlier this month.
Tower said the Greater Dorchester Moving Forward Co-op nominated Wiggins-Colwell for the award, backed by letters of support from other local individuals and volunteer groups. He said no one is more deserving of the award.
Wiggins-Colwell, a co-founder of the Greater Dorchester Moving Forward Co-op, loves her community and, as a longtime entrepreneur, is dedicated to its economic revival. She is an avid champion for autism support and education and sits on several local and regional community development committees such as the Southeast Recreational Advisory Committee and the Sandpiper Festival Committee.
Tower said the award is given out by the Fundy Guild in recognition of Molly Kool of Alma, N.B., who became the first licensed female master mariner (sea captain) in 1939.
“She fought very hard to get where she was in a time when only men sailed ships,” Tower explained.
The goal of the Molly Kool award is to recognize women in southeastern New Brunswick for outstanding contributions to the community in such areas as arts, culture, conservation and environment and wh expects little recognition in return.
The award also helps mark Women's History Month, an opportunity to highlight the past and present contributions of women to Canadian society and to recognize the achievements of women from all walks of life as a vital part of Canadian heritage.
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