This year’s outstanding service award recipient first got involved with community theatre quite by chance and over 40 years later, they are still going strong! They have had a hand in over 60 productions - directing, stage managing and producing. They have been the President of their home community theatre group on three different occasions and have worked as box office manager (where they initiated and implemented a computerized ticketing system)!! This person has also helped other organizations in their hometown to secure grants for theatre capital projects. Our Outstanding Service Recipient doesn’t only excel with the Eastern Ontario Drama League, but has stepped forward to the benefit of such events as “Cycle for Autism”, the “Special Olympics”, the “Canadian Cancer Society” (for which they have volunteered for more than 40 years). They were a teacher for 20 years - working with children aged 6 to 21 with intellectual delays including but not limited to: medically fragile children, children with autism, Down’s Syndrome, and those with acquired brain injury. I mentioned earlier that this person first got involved with community theatre by chance …rumour has it that SHE was recruited from the audience to handle props during a 1984 Whispers Dinner Theatre production! She is the recipient of a Lifetime Membership from the her local Theatre Guild and was inducted into Kenner Collegiate’s Hall of Honour in 2018. She has received an Ontario Volunteer Service Award and TWO City of Peterborough Civic Awards. Her husband thinks that her favourite show might be either “Seussical the Musical” or “Titanic” and her most challenging show so far has probably been “Mary’s Wedding” - a 90 minute play with 179 cues! A friend and fellow volunteer with the Peterborough Theatre Guild says that:

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“SHE always goes the extra mile when she is dealing with volunteers, including hand written personal notes of thanks to all who have helped her with a project. That’s why people come back to join her the next time. She is a hard worker who sets an example you are happy to follow.” On a more personal note, our recipient’s family helped raise money to open the first Ronald McDonald house in Toronto! Forty-one years after having been one of the first people in Canada under the age of 21 to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Marilyn Robinson works to raise awareness as the Chair of the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope in Peterborough. In a newspaper article telling Marilyn’s personal story, she said: “Up until recently when I learned more about the fatality rate of ovarian cancer, I didn’t know just how lucky I was. I hope other women see my story as something to give them hope.” Well Marilyn, may we say that WE are the lucky ones - to have had you share your time and talent with the Eastern Ontario Drama League for lo these many years! You have been our Awards and Guidelines GURU for EIGHT years!