Rod Voth was doubly honoured last week.
The long-time Rotary Club of Williams Lake member was presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship award recognizing the “tremendous” contributions he has made to the community over many years as a Rotarian.
“Rod is a hardworking businessman. His commitment to improving the lives of citizens in Williams Lake is ongoing and generous,” said Guenter Weckerle, Rotary president. “Rod devotes a great deal of his time and energy toward serving humanity in many ways.”
Voth’s name was put forward for the Paul Harris Fellowship because he volunteered hundreds of hours to help transform two, 10-by-40-foot trailers into a library for the First Nations community of Yunesit’in (Stone) west of Williams Lake.
The library was officially opened on Sept. 11 by lieutenant governor Steven Point.
The accolade was followed up by Cariboo Chilcotin Liberal MLA Donna Barnett awarding Voth a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his continued commitment to ensuring people in different places in the world have adequate housing.
Barnett said she first met Voth when she was the mayor of 100 Mile House and needed a garbage contractor. He had a great sense of humour,” she recalled.
Three people nominated him for the medal. One described him as the “most generous individual in Williams Lake.”
“Rod is one of those types of generous people who will show up when someone needs a hand to fix, build or repair something. He has integrity, a strong belief in God, and is an active member of the Gideons,” Barnett said.
Recently Voth learned that a local youth group needed a meeting place so he provided the materials and built an addition on the back of a restaurant.
He’s built homes for the homeless in the Philippines, helped rebuild homes after the fires in Barriere in 2003, volunteered to work with AIDS victims in Africa, or closer to home delivered firewood to needy people in Likely.
Through Rotary he’s volunteered with Operation Red Nose, helping deliver people home safely from parties, and helped with Citizens on Patrol.
“You might not know that Rod likes classical music, bluegrass and quartet singing,” Barnett said, adding he also really loves pie.
Sixty thousand Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medals have been given to deserving Canadians across Canada in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th anniversary on the throne.
“The people that nominated Rod said the medal could not have gone to a more deserving person,” Barnett added as she gave him his award.