Valerie Hinsperger (second from right) of North Algona Wilberforce won the 2025 Warden’s Community Service Award in the individual category. Taking part in the award presentation (from left) were Warden Peter Emon, Development and Property Committee Vice-Chair County Councillor Rob Weir and County Councillor Janet Reiche- Schoenfeldt. County of Renfrew photo
An individual volunteer and two community groups have been recognized by the County of Renfrew for their contributions to civic life.
The 2025 Warden’s Community Service Awards were presented during a county council meeting on Nov. 26, honouring North Algona Wilberforce resident Valerie Hinsperger, the Arnprior/McNab/Braeside Men’s Shed and the Arnprior Regional Health Auxiliary.
Hinsperger received the individual award for what the county described as exceptional dedication to volunteerism across North Algona Wilberforce, Bonnechere Valley and the wider region. Her work spans recreation, health care, food security, arts, and local economic development.
She coordinates the Renfrew County 55+ Summer and Winter Games, co-founded the Bonnechere Cycling Group, sings with the Eganville Community Choir and is a long-time member of the Eganville & Area Horticultural Society. Hinsperger also sits on the North Algona Wilberforce Recreation Committee and co-owns Bonnechere Caves, a business that supports various local initiatives.
The Arnprior/McNab/Braeside Men’s Shed was recognized in the not-for-profit category. Established in 2019, the group has grown into a gathering place for senior men, offering social connection and opportunities to share skills. Membership is expected to surpass 60 by year’s end, with members contributing more than 5,700 volunteer hours in 2025.
Projects completed by the group include wheelchair-accessible picnic tables for municipalities across the county, memory boxes for The Grove Nursing Home, raised planter boxes for local seniors’ centres and youth woodworking kits created with the Dementia Society and Children’s Aid.
Also honoured was the Arnprior Regional Health Auxiliary. The auxiliary has supported local health care for more than six decades through fundraising and volunteerism. Its 180 active members logged over 25,000 volunteer hours in the past year.
The group has contributed significantly to hospital equipment purchases, including $600,000 for the new Grove Nursing Home, $480,000 for a CT scanner and $300,000 toward echocardiogram equipment. Over its history, the auxiliary has raised more than $3.5 million for patient care.
Warden Peter Emon praised all three recipients, saying their work strengthens communities across Renfrew County.
“These awards remind us of the incredible impact that dedicated individuals and organizations have on life in Renfrew County,” Emon said during the presentation. “This year’s recipients exemplify compassion, leadership and a commitment to making our communities stronger and more vibrant.”
(Steve Berard)
