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Vernon, B.C. centenarian who keeps local road clean named Good Citizen of the Year

Click to play video: 'Helen Sidney named Vernon Good Citizen of the Year'
Helen Sidney named Vernon Good Citizen of the Year
Helen Sidney named Vernon Good Citizen of the Year – Jan 30, 2023

Vernon, B.C. has a new Good Citizen of the Year.

Centenarian Helen Sidney was surprised with the honour this week at city hall.

Sidney said when her daughter, who knew about the award, said they were going to make a rest stop at city hall Sidney had no idea what was about to happen.

“It was the biggest surprise of my life,” she said.

Sidney is well known along Bella Vista Road in Vernon for her daily efforts to clean up the area by picking up garbage and cans.

The money she gets from the recycling, the former teacher, donates to schools.

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When asked what motivates her to do the clean-up work each day, Sidney said it grew out of her work as a first-grade teacher where she used to teach students not to litter.

Sidney says she’s been doing the road cleanups since she moved to the area more than 30 years ago.

Now 100 years old, she plans to keep up the work.

The Good Citizen of the Year award comes with $500 for Sidney to donate. She says that money will also go to a local school.

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