The Port Colborne Optimist Club recognized local youth and community heroes at its annual awards ceremony on May 26, 2026, celebrating four students for their community involvement and honouring the all-volunteer marine rescue team with the Respect For Law award.
Alice Laroche, Avery Cooper, Olivia Roberts, and Zoey Sibbald received the Graham Priest Youth Appreciation Award. The program, renamed for a long-time dedicated club member, works with local elementary schools to select students who show exceptional commitment through activities like animal sanctuary volunteering, sports leadership, and peer mentorship. Alice Laroche is a Grade 8 student at École Élémentaire Catholique Saint Joseph; Avery Cooper is in Grade 6, Olivia Roberts in Grade 7, and Zoey Sibbald in Grade 8.
The Port Colborne Marine Auxiliary Rescue (POCOMAR) was presented with the Respect For Law award. Formed in 1988, POCOMAR is a registered charity and member of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, dedicated to search and rescue on eastern Lake Erie. Operating from Sugarloaf Marina with about 35 volunteers and two rescue vessels, the unit covers waters from Fort Erie to Dunnville. Their state-of-the-art equipment includes satellite communications, radar, night vision, and infrared detectors capable of locating people in eight-foot waves in pitch darkness.
Accepting the award for POCOMAR were Commander Norm Dashwood, Executive Officer Jamie Fraser, Operations Officer Hayden Gibson, and Public Relations Officer Stephanie Mazza. The organization’s average annual equipment maintenance cost is around $80,000, all raised through community events.
The awards ceremony was held at the Optimist Club’s headquarters, where honourees received plaques and enjoyed a meal before the presentations. For more information on the club and its programs, visit the Port Colborne Optimist Club website.
