A surprise honour for At-Large City Councillor Rebecca Johnson.
Friday night, Age Friendly Thunder Bay presented her with the 3rd annual Senior Award, and announced it will now be named the Rebecca Johnson Senior Award.
Coordinator Bonnie Krysowaty says they wanted to commemorate her service as Chair of the group as she prepares to leave the position this year, although she will remain on the Board of the organization.
It’s also in recognition of her decades of work.
“She’s been an advocate for citizens in Thunder Bay, and for the last while, a real advocate for seniors and older adults in Thunder Bay,” which Krysowaty points out includes helping to start the Age Friendly Thunder Bay program.
Krysowaty says they kept it a surprise until the presentation.
“It was quite the ride to get things ready, but it’s been a happy time to do it, exciting, and a bit of fun to keep the secret in the meantime as well,” she says.
Johnson is now in her fifth term on Thunder Bay city council.
This isn’t the first honour Johnson has received for her work over the years.
In 2020, she was awarded the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Charles J. Carter Lifetime Business Achievement Award in recognition of “high standards of excellence in business and in community service.”
