Syd Kemsley Award 2023

Background

Syd Kemsley was a member of Kiwanis for 65 years. Syd was passionate about Kiwanis and thus served the community and the children of the world throughout his long career. He was a true believer in the Objects of Kiwanis. In his daytime career he served the public as owner of Syd Kemsley Florists. Syd passed away in February 2014 at the age of 98.

The Award

The Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent Golden K established the Syd Kemsley Award in 2009 and presented Syd with the first award. When the two Chatham Kiwanis Clubs merged in 2014 to become the Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent, the Board decided to continue the annual tradition of selecting a deserving Chatham-Kent citizen who serves the children of the world and/or this community in the same spirit and passion as Syd Kemsley.

Cathy Telfer

This year the Board of the Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent decided to present the award to Past Distinguished Lieutenant Governor and Past President Cathy Telfer.
Not only has she served on almost every committee in our club, she has spearheaded many fundraising initiatives, such as the annual Kiwanis Bus Trips and more recently Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Outside of Kiwanis, Cathy has volunteered in a long list of organizations, most notably:

• Canada Cancer Society
• Chatham-Kent Hospice
• Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
• Ronald McDonald House, London
• Chatham Women’s Centre
• Ontario Health Team

The Club is very happy and proud to present the Syd Kemsley Award this year to Cathy Telfer.