Four local volunteers will get special recognition Sunday, in the first-ever Community Volunteers Awards hosted by the Town of The Blue Mountains.

In recent years, The Blue Mountains Chamber of Commerce has honoured community volunteers with certificates and has chosen a volunteer of the year.

This year, the town has taken over the program. Nominees were sought from local volunteer organizations and the community. Although only seven nominations were received -- and no youth volunteers were nominated -- officials are happy with the inaugural year. They expect more participation will come as the program becomes more well known.

Named to receive the honours in this first year are:

Culture and Arts - Lora Gibson, who chairs the Craigleith Heritage Committee and played a leading role in preserving and restoring the Craigleith Depot. The Depot will open soon in its new role as a community heritage centre. Gibson has also been active with the Blue Mountain Watershed Trust.

Environment - Hans Eijsenck, who has been an active volunteer with the Blue Mountain Watershed Trust, Habitat for Humanity Collingwood ReStore, and the Marsh Street Centre. He has also participated in workshops and public meetings on environmental issues in the community.

Sports and Recreation - Glen Sibbett, past president of the Beaver Valley Athletic Association, has worked to improve minor sports programs for local youth, and looked for innovative ways to support community sports programs.

Community Service - Karen Newton Stewart has given her time to Beaver Valley Outreach, Beaver Valley Fall Fair, Beaver Valley Community School Advisory Committee and others local service organizations.

Other nominees were Bev Byrne, Susan Armstrong and Jeannette Oakley.

The awards will be presented at a public reception Sunday, May 4, at 1:30 p.m. at the Beaver Valley Community Centre. All community volunteers are invited to attend but are asked to contact Lisa Kidd, Communications and Economic Development Co-ordinator at the town office, 519-599-3131, ext. 282.

Local organizations have been asked to submit lists of the volunteers who will be attending.