CJTT FM Citizen of the Year

& Lifetime Achievement Awards

 

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Media release: February 24, 2026: 

 

Haileybury Legion & Rick Baron to be honoured with CJTT FM Citizen Awards

 

The Haileybury Royal Canadian Legion Branch 54 has been named the 2025 CJTT FM Citizen of the Year. In addition, Rick Baron will be honoured with the CJTT FM Lifetime Achievement Award.

 

The CJTT Citizen of the Year presentation coincides with Branch 54 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Haileybury celebrating its 100th anniversary. The Legion remains a favourite social hub for its members and the community with live music, comedy and sports, including shuffleboard, cards and darts.

 

In 2025, Branch 54 donated over $68,000 to local organizations, youth programs, veterans’ initiatives and community events. These donations reflect the Legion’s ongoing commitment to supporting veterans, seniors, youth, families and community development throughout the area.

 

Under the leadership of current President Don Martin, the Branch continues to grow and evolve to better serve everyone in the community including the recent installation of an elevator, ensuring seniors and those with mobility challenges can access the Branch.

 

Rick Baron is being honoured with the CJTT Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of 50 years of coaching, leadership and service to minor hockey in Temiskaming Shores.

 

His minor hockey coaching career began in 1974 at the age of 18. This year marks his 50th year as a coach, a milestone that reflects a rare and extraordinary level of commitment.  Over 5 decades Rick coached at every level of minor hockey from the initiative programs through to Midget (now U18), often coaching multiple teams in the same season.

 

Baron is a HP-1 certified coach, a Hockey Canada Master Facilitator, a board member and director for the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, and recipient of the prestigious Rick F. Albert Memorial Award for Development in the NOHA. He has also received the Bill Richmond Memorial Award for Development through the Ontario Hockey Federation, recognizing his contributions to minor hockey on a provincial scale.

 

His 50-year coaching journey represents more than longevity. Baron’s influence spans thousands of children and families.  At a time when rising costs placed increasing strain on families, he consistently stepped in to support children who could otherwise not afford to play.

 

The Citizen of the Year and Lifetime Achievement awards will be presented live on CJTT FM in the coming weeks.

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CJTT Citizen of the Year Award Recipients:

2025: Haileybury Legion, Branch 54

2024: One Light Diversity Center

2023: New Liskeard Lions Club

2022: 100 Women Who Care

2021: Frontline Workers

2020: Marc Dessureault

2019: Peter Nietlispach & Colleen Pender

2018: North On Tap Craft Beer Festival Committee 

2017: Temiskaming Shores & Area Physician Recruitment & Retention Committee

2016: John & Shelly Zubyck & The One Foot Forward Foundation 

2015: Tri Town Ski & Snowboard Village

2014: Sarah Marsden

2013: Harder 4 Carter Committee

2012: South Temiskaming Active Trail Organization (STATO)

2011: Smytty Memorial Committee

2010: Joel & Pat Boucher

2009: Temiskaming International Plowing Match & Rural Expo Committee

2008: Temiskaming Art Gallery

2007: Elk Lake Relay for Life Committee

2006: Save Thornloe Cheese Committee

2005: Cat Scan Committee

2004: Barry Phippen & the Biker's Reunion Committee

2003: Rogert Dodge & The Northdale Manor Fundraising Committee

2002: Earlton-Timiskaming Regional Airport Committee

2001: Sharon Evans O'Shaughnessy

2000: Victim Crisis Assistance Total Services (VCATS)

1999: The South Temiskaming Transportation Action Committee

1998: Peter & Sue Grant

1997: Ontario Games for the Physically Disabled Organizing Committee

1996: Mike Imbeau & Jeff Laferriere: Tri Town Challenge Committee

1995: The Temiskaming Nordic Ski Club

1994: Roger & Vivianne Chartrand

1993: Gil & Lorraine Loranger

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CJTT Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients:

2025: Rick Baron

2024: Patricia Willard-Inglis

2023: Terry Fiset

2022: Bill Gabbani

2020: Biker's Reunion Committee

2019: Martin Drainville

2018: Dot & Andy Poupore

2017: George Lefebvre

2016: Frog's Breath Foundation

2015: Darlene Bowen

2014: Kye Palmer

2013: Al Swartz

2012: Dave Morin Sr.

2011: Founding Members of The Temiskaming Foundation

2010: Patricia Wilson

2009: Don & Ruth Shepherdson

2008: Eric Campsall

2007: George & Sue Dukovac

2006: Lawrence "Bun" Eckensviller

2005: Georgie Church

2004: Edie & Tom Josephowich

2003: Kathleen (Kay) Smylie

2002: Sharron Graydon

2001: Len Wilson

1998: Joan Bolger

1996: Rod & Elinor Armstrong

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 Nominations for the CJTT Citizen of the Year & Lifetime Achievement awards are open during the month of January. These awards recognize local individuals and groups who have contributed to improving the quality of life for the people of South Temiskaming.

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Nominations should include the name of the person or group being nominated with a list of achievements and how these volunteer efforts made an impact in South Temiskaming. Please be as complete as possible to give the committee a full overview of the person or persons you are nominating. 

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Nominations can be submitted by:  

 

EMAIL: HERE

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MAIL:

CJTT Citizen of the Year

P.O. Box 1058

New Liskeard, Ontario

P0J 1P0

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IN PERSON:

CJTT FM Studios

55 Riverside Drive

New Liskeard

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Posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award recipients:

2020: Tina Sartoretto

2019: Peter Ramsay

2018: Sandra McLellan

2017: Vivian Hylands

2016: Larry Aquino

2015: Morley Shepherdson

2014: Dave Armstrong

2013: Dr. Peter-John (P.J.) Pace

2012: Porky Waters

2011: Gord Zubyck​​​​

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