Brian Honeker of Luseland was recognized as the Heritage Volunteer of the Year at the fifth annual Rivers West District for Sport Culture and Recreation volunteer recognition banquet held in Radisson, April 9.

Ollie Marciniuk, Rivers West District chairperson, congratulates Brian Honeker of Luseland on being named Heritage Volunteer of the Year, at the Rivers West awards banquet in Radisson, April 9. Photo courtesy of Rivers West District for Sport Culture and Recreation

Honeker was nominated for the award by Irene Body for his work and commitment to a number of organizations and events in Luseland.

Body’s nomination letter explained, “Luseland (is) a town of approximately 600 People with numerous service clubs and organizations … the result of many, many volunteer hours which we know often falls on the shoulders of a limited number of citizens. Brian Honeker takes on a leadership role and works relentlessly as one of these persons.”

Of all the organizations with which Honeker is affiliated, the most important one to him is the Royal Canadian Legion. His mother served in the Second World War and he has been an active member of the Luseland branch of the Legion for over 15 years.

He works with the school to encourage participation in the Legion’s Remembrance Day essay, poem and poster context. He also plans the annual Remembrance Day service for the Legion and the community. During his years with the Legion, Honeker spent seven years as president and has been the secretary-treasurer since 1998.

For over 20 years, Honeker has been a key person in the planning and execution of Canada Day celebrations in Luseland. Recently, he cut back on his involvement with Canada Day hoping to encourage others to volunteer, but he continues to serve as treasurer for the committee, a role he has held since 1991 or ’92.

A member of the Luseland Wildlife Association, Honeker is involved in all aspects of the annual wildlife dinner and awards night. He is the cooking co-ordinator, helps prepare food, sells tickets, finds and organizes workers and canvasses for silent auction items. He has been a gun safety instructor for over 20 years.

Honeker first became involved with the board of the Luseland Homecoming Hall as the Legion representative. For some 15 years he has also served, and continues to serve, as the hall “handy man doing general building maintenance, cleaning, painting, monitoring water and sewer lines, takes care of the furnace, keeps sidewalks clean, makes coffee & tea for groups renting the hall,” as set out in Body’s nomination letter.

Body’s letter concluded, “Brian’s level of dedication is unwavering and he is definitely a Volunteer to be recognized.”

Body said that although only one name could go on the nomination letter, there was a group of people in Luseland who got together to help prepare the letter and to make sure none of Honeker’s contributions to the community were missed. She added that he is the type of person that, “if he says he’s going to do something, it’s done.”

Honeker also volunteers as the trainer for the Luseland/Dodsland Mallards senior men’s hockey team. He stepped into that position eight years ago; prior to that he used to run the clock at home games.

Honeker, a bachelor, farms southwest of Luseland. He grew up in the area and graduated from Major School in 1977.