Bill Carter, 440 Productions win Peace Medals

BY MICHAEL GORMAN

The Vanguard

NovaNewsNow.com

About 100 people, including members of the community and international students studying at local schools, attended the YMCA's annual International Dinner at Burridge Campus on Thursday.

As is customary, the Peace Medals, one for adults and one for youth, were awarded. This year's winners were Bill Carter in the adult category and 440 Productions in the youth category.

In the citation, read by YMCA CEO Barrie MacGregor, Carter was lauded for his extensive work with the Yarmouth Food Bank. "Bill was one of the early members of the food bank volunteers and was the key figure in making it a major force in the community . . . Many families in Yarmouth owe a great deal to Bill and the great work he has done over the years with the Food Bank."

Through the years Carter, who was unable to attend the event, has organized food drives, recruited volunteers and instituted the system for screening food recipients.

440 Productions, a local theatre group, received the youth award for its ongoing work to preserve and honour the memory and stories of veterans.

What started 14 years ago as a school-based program has developed into a touring group that travels the province performing for veterans and has made two trips to England, with a third coming this spring.

Beth Dalton, the producer for the group, said the program allows young people to learn about their past and the history of war while showing veterans that their contributions to society are appreciated and valued. "Speaking with veterans, you understand how much they appreciate what you're doing; it gives them something that they thought they lost."

The Peace Medal is award to people or groups that have no special status, resources, wealth or position. In his introduction, MacGregor said this concept helps to prove that anyone can contribute to enhancing peaceful relationships in communities, countries and the world.