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Ambassador program gives cash to community

The CIBC Employee/Retiree Ambassador program has provided an opportunity for three CIBC staff and one CIBC retiree to access $2,000 for the Blaine Lake Centennial committee for its monument project.
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CIBC Blaine Lake branch manager Elaine Pollard, Terry Lavoie, Cheryl Lavoie and CIBC Retiree Terry Rapsey present $2,000 to the Blaine Lake Centennial Monument committee.

The CIBC Employee/Retiree Ambassador program has provided an opportunity for three CIBC staff and one CIBC retiree to access $2,000 for the Blaine Lake Centennial committee for its monument project.

Staff members Elaine Pollard, Cheryl Lavoie and Terry Lavoie and CIBC retiree Terry Rapsey each received $500 to present to the committee.

The monument is currently under construction with artist Patricia Shiplett contracted to create a stook of wheat sheaves. This larger than life replica will stand three metres (10 feet) tall and consist of eight wheat sheaves placed strategically in the form of a Western stook. The Blaine Lake Centennial Monument project is scheduled to be unveiled at the town celebrations in August 2012.

Blaine Lake centennial monument committee members Maureen Barrie and Pat Ciona were invited by the artist to view the first of the eight sheaves recently.

The first phase of the cement pad has been poured at the proposed monumental site east of Blaine Lake along highway 40.

"We are on task and have a very good working relationship with Patricia," commented Pat Ciona. "She has kept us informed on the progress and we are pleased with the results so far."

The CIBC retirees have a history of giving their time and expertise as volunteers within their communities. The ambassador program was created to support the volunteer efforts of retirees actively involved with a community initiative or charitable organization in Canada. Donations between $200 and $500 are awarded to organizations based on the program criteria.