Jul 02, 2009 - 03:26 PM

By Jeff Hayward

UXBRIDGE -- "I couldn't think of any one more deserving than him."

That's a comment from one of many who submitted a nomination for resident Pat Higgins, owner of Canadian Tire Uxbridge, who has been chosen as the 2009 Times-Journal Citizen of the Year.

"He believes in the efforts of everyone else," said another.

Mr. Higgins, 52, born in the Gananoque area and an Uxbridge resident for the past 11 years, is the driving force behind an annual Huck Finn fishing derby at Elgin Pond that has taken place for seven years. "(Gananoque) is where the Huck Finn idea came from," he said. "They had a bass fishing day on Canada Day."

Mr. Higgins also serves on the Uxbridge Cottage Hospital Foundation, helps organize an Uxbridge toy drive every Christmas season, provides a program (Jump Start) that subsidizes the cost of local sports for kids while also sponsoring sports teams and events within the township.

"As a family, we are involved in a lot in the community. It's great to have something to be part of," he said.

While he has three children himself -- Shaun, 20, Jeff, 18, and Leslie, 11 -- he paused to think when asked why so many of his efforts benefit young people. "Kids are our future," said Mr. Higgins. "There's a lot of kids out there who need help and their parents are not in a position to pay for sports." In the past two years, Mr. Higgins has focused any available dollars for Jump Start within Uxbridge, and community groups have responded with donations, he said. "Jump Start has been really great for us."

Among the nominators for Mr. Higgins is the Township of Uxbridge. "It's still pretty humbling," said Mr. Higgins of the recognition. "A lot of people in the community do a lot of great things."

Mr. Higgins was scheduled to receive his award from the Times-Journal during the Township's Canada Day celebrations.

Other 2009 Citizen nominees include Richard Tutty, 61, who gives his time in the community despite physical struggles with MS; Sherry Cockburn, 53, for her contributions to youth theatre; Karen Perrott, 59, for her volunteer work with the Uxbridge Pregnancy Centre; Ray Laswick, 87, life member of the Kinsmen Club and helper for Community Care; Ed Canning, 80, who has served on boards relating to health, policing, transportation and planning; and Cathy Christoff, 49, for fundraising efforts benefiting Uxbridge Cottage Hospital and heading up Roxy Kids in Action, a community volunteer group.