Alexander White wins citizen of the year. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Keaton Brown

Local's best

Alexander White wins Battlefords Citizen of the Year award

Feb 18, 2020 | 1:34 PM

An exceptional citizen received an extra special surprise this morning.

Alexander White, more commonly known as Al, was named citizen of the year this morning at the North Battleford Re/Max office.

The citizen of the year is awarded each year by Discovery Co-op, the North Battleford Lion’s Club and 1050 CJNB.

White’s nomination form came complete with letters of support from the Battlefords Trade and Education Centre (BTEC), the Battlefords Union Hospital (BUH) Foundation, local RCMP, and MLA Herb Cox.

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White is instantly recognizable with his signature beard, voice, and always having a friendly hello. He’s found at almost every single North Stars game, at any of the charity golf tournaments around the Battlefords, or riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle in support of the Legion’s Ride for a Vet.

White is also an avid supporter of the BUH Foundation and enjoys spending time with people in the palliative care unit. He is also a fan favourite delivery driver for Meals on Wheels and all his clients say they love his cheery disposition.

He is a great supporter of the Empty Stocking Fund each year and even dresses up as Santa Clause for schools, charities, or to just bring some extra Christmas cheer to kids in the Battlefords.

Kayla Petersen, who helped nominate White, said Al also bought a table and took a group from the BTEC to the Festival of Trees Gala.

“If you could have seen the looks on their faces. They were all dressed up and so proud and happy to be there and enjoy the displays and the nice meal served to them. He always has a kind word and smile for every person he is in contact with each day,” she said.

White started his professional career serving in peacekeeping missions overseas with the United Nations. He then transitioned to the RCMP where he had a successful 30-year career before finally moving into the real estate business with Re/Max.

Petersen said he was passionate about both careers and always worked tirelessly for the betterment of others.

“Al has always been an honest, trustworthy and ethical person and this reflected in the work he did. For the real estate industry here in the Battlefords as well as in the province, Al worked to achieve a high standard and always pushed to maintain a good work ethic and way of doing things to the realtors he mentored,” she said.

Leanne Ducommun, manager of marketing and communications at Discovery Co-op, said White’s nomination had everything you would be looking for in a citizen of the year.

“His application was absolutely outstanding, I mean the man has been dipped into everything. Everywhere you turn around in this community, Al is there volunteering his time,” she said.

Al White with CJNB’s Darien Rae and The Rock’s Sutton. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

As one would expect from a citizen of the year, White was both gracious and humbled when he was presented with the news.

“I haven’t done anything to put a new bridge over a body of water or created a building that was going to do this or that. [Everything I’ve done has] all been with people and the rewards are intrinsic and the rewards being intrinsic just fills your heart and makes your day,” he said.

White is the first of three citizen of year announcements this week, with junior citizen of the year and citizen of the decade to follow.

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Keaton.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow