BY LORNE ECKERSLEY
Advance Staff
Bill and Dorathy Pfeifer have joined an illustrious line of Creston Valley residents whose contributions have earned them the title of Citizens of the Year.
The announcement was made during Friday night’s Blossom Festival opening festivities at Prince Charles Theatre.
“It’s an honour to recognize these two very fine people,” said Gary Teed, president of the Creston Valley Rotary Club, which sponsors the award.
The Pfeifers, who will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in August, were raised in Rosetown South Australia, and moved to Creston in 1971 when Bill took ownership of the Ford dealership, which became Pfeifer Ford.
Bill became a Rotarian in 1975 and in 1992 was a charter member of the Creston Valley Rotary Club. Many of his community activities have centred around Rotary projects.
Just last year, at the tender age of 83, he was the lead organizer in a $141,000 upgrade at Centennial Park, which included construction of the Rotary Pavilion and new public washrooms. He coordinated the efforts of 900 person-hours of volunteer labour.
Parks are a major passion, and in 2000 he was a major force when the Creston Valley Rotary Club constructed Millennium Park. He also organizes the club’s annual block party, in which members cut, split, load and deliver firewood to raise funds for community projects. He has also served annual Drive FORE Rotary, a golf tournament fundraiser.
Bill has been active as a volunteer with the Creston Golf Club, too, serving as chair of the building committee, which constructed the clubhouse in 1982-83, and was project manager when the “back nine” project that turned the golf club into a highly regarded 18-hole course.
Other involvements include the Creston Car Club, Creston Valley Gleaners, the curling club and junior hockey.
Bill’s son, Gavin, told the Citizen of the Year nominating committee a story about his dad.
“I was golfing in Radium last summer and met a gentleman from Southern Alberta. When I told him my name he asked if I was from Creston. After telling him yes, I had grown up in Creston, he asked if my dad was ‘Bill’. He went on to say that he played a season for the Creston Valley Thunder Cats. As a very troubled teen, he was headed down several wrong paths but he said that after talking with my dad on several occasions he decided to make his life better. He now has a family and a career. He credits Dad solely with changing his life.”
Neighbours of Pfeifers are often beneficiaries of his generosity, when after a snowfall he can be found plowing driveways as far as four miles away.
Dorathy Pfeifer became a teacher after graduating from high school in Rosetown. In addition to supporting her husband in the many projects he has spearheaded, she also has a lengthy list of community involvements.
For years, Dorathy was known as Mrs. Minor Hockey, and she and Bill billeted numerous junior hockey players. She served on the executive of Creston Valley Minor Hockey.
When the golf clubhouse was being built Dorathy and other members of the Ladies’ Club operated a shake mill and made cedar shakes for the roof. The women also painted and decorated the completed building. An avid golfer, she has held had many positions with the club.
Dorathy put her teaching qualifications to use in Creston, working as a substitute at PCSS for many years, and was an active member of the Creston Curling Club.
She was Red Cross volunteer, sewing articles for fundraising sales. From 2004-2015 she was a Gleaners volunteer, working tirelessly to improve the operation.
In recent years Dorathy has made and served breakfast for the Creston Valley Rotary Club’s program at Erickson Elementary School. She continues to work with the Food Bank, helps out with United Church lunches and, with Bill, remains active with the Christmas hamper program.
“The Rotary motto is Service Above Self,” Teed said. “Bill and Dorathy certainly exemplify this, as they both go out of their way at the drop of a hat, to help friends, family or community. They are always willing to lend a helping hand. It is our privilege to honour Bill and Dorathy Pfeifer as Creston’s Citizens of the Year”.