Nominations needed to honour county employees

A County of Simcoe steering committee is seeking nominations for inductees into the Duncan Green Arboretum, a memorial that was built in honour of a long-standing community advocate and county administrator.

Both political leaders and staff have helped shape what the County of Simcoe is today. The arboretum was established to recognize the contributions of past and present staff to the county's success. While many county staff has provided lengthy service, the county's first CAO, Duncan Green, left an indelible and compassionate footprint on the Corporation. He served Simcoe County from 1976 to 1997.

Green supported the concept of an arboretum and upon his death in 1998, County Council established the Duncan Green Arboretum in his memory on the grounds of the Administration Centre in Midhurst.

Green was a well respected member of several professional organizations, active in his church and served on several housing boards in the community. His convictions about wellrounded and strong communities, as well as his long-standing service to the county, inspired many.

County council established a process to provide for nomination of any present or former member of staff for induction to the arboretum based upon any of the following criteria: exceptional service; team building and teamwork; mentoring; heroism on the job and length of service.

"This is a fitting tribute to a valued and dedicated county employee," said warden Tony Guergis. "Throughout Simcoe County, there are hundreds of employers, but the county itself is one of the largest. More than 1,600 employees work for the County of Simcoe. It takes a special group of people to make this such a successful organization and I know that Green was someone who inspired staff to do their very best everyday, placing the residents of this county first."

Any present or former member of county council or staff may submit nominations to the Arboretum Steering Committee, care of the Purchasing, Fleet and Property Department, County of Simcoe, located at 1110 Highway 26, Midhurst, L0L 1X0, by Monday March 31.

Nominations will be reviewed by the committee and the initial inductees will be announced at the Warden's Staff Appreciation Day in June.

Inductees will each have a tree and commemorative plaque designated in their honour at an induction ceremony to be held in late summer or fall at the arboretum.