By Angela Brown

Best Citizen Award winner has passion for music and volunteering

Aug 2, 2018 | 12:00 PM

A North Battleford resident has been recognized with the Best of the Best Award for Best Citizen of 2018.  

Dedicated volunteer and semi-retired teacher Gene Aulinger was announced as this year’s winner. Best Citizen was one of about 200 categories in the BOB Awards this year.  

“I’m quite surprised with all the wonderful people we have in our community,” Aulinger said. “It’s certainly an honour to be singled out for that. I really appreciate the support of the people around me.”

Since 1974, Aulinger has been teaching music in a number of schools throughout the Battlefords, and still goes into the schools at times to help with their music programs. He also volunteers in community music programs and is the director of the annual Candlelight Processional choir performance at Christmas.

“I’ve just retired from the Kinsmen Band Hall where I was putting in quite a few hours each week,”  Aulinger said, noting he was involved with the local Kinsmen band for about 30 years. 

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“I have an after-school string program that I look after,” he said. “That is community-based and set up for maybe kids who may not have the opportunity normally.”

Aulinger also has a group of students he meets with for private lessons each week, helping them learn how to play their musical instruments. He plays many instruments himself, but said the clarinet is his favourite. Aulinger said he really enjoys giving back to the community.

“It’s very selfish for me because it makes me feel like I’m making the world a little better,” he said. “It makes me feel very good to be that way. I like to be in that position rather than somewhere else. It’s very good for me.”

The BOB Award winners were chosen and nominated by the community. battlefordsNOW is the host of the BOB Awards. All the winners will be honoured at a special celebration Sept. 19 in North Battleford. 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW