Describing her as a “true community treasure,” political leaders were on hand in Victoria this week to honour Lynnette Cobb as one of this year’s BC Community Achievement Award winners.
“Her positive spirit, kindness, sunny disposition and selflessness help make her community a better place to live,” stated her introduction Tuesday. “Lynnette has volunteered countless hours with the Crisis and Counselling program for the Canadian Mental Health Association as a support counsellor, crisis line support worker and volunteer supervisor.”
In fact if one were to count, Cobb, 67, has volunteered a staggering 48,600 hours in support of the Canadian Mental Health Association Crisis and Counselling Centre, Cariboo Chilcotin Branch.
She also volunteered more than 3,000 hours for RCMP Victim Services and was instrumental in the construction of Baker Manor, a supportive housing facility for people with disabilities.
“It’s kind of embarrassing,” Cobb said in March, when she received word of the award. “I do this stuff because I want to and I feel honoured that people open up.”
Besides, “I’m a stubborn Swede,” she added.
As for Baker Manor, Cobb insisted there were lots of local people who helped get the building going so the city could have a place for people that was handicap-accessible.
Cobb herself has been in a wheelchair for at least 15 years. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1982.
When asked about the astounding number of hours she has volunteered, Cobb suggested she gets more out of the experience than she put into it.