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Valerie Hinsperger (second from right) of North Algona Wilberforce won the 2025 Warden’s Community Service Award in the individual category. Taking part in the award presentation (from left) were Warden Peter Emon, Development and Property Committee Vice-Chair County Councillor Rob Weir and County Councillor Janet Reiche- Schoenfeldt.
RELEASE DATE:
November 28, 2025
The County of Renfrew presented the 2025 Warden’s Community Service Awards, honouring an individual and two not-for-profit organizations, at the November 26, 2025 session of County Council. These awards are a meaningful way to recognize and thank the recipients for their numerous community contributions.
The recipient of the individual award was Valerie Hinsperger of North Algona Wilberforce, nominated by Laura Griffith; while the Arnprior/McNab/Braeside Men’s Shed, nominated by Darrell O'Shaughnessy, and the Arnprior Regional Health Auxiliary, nominated by Maggie Harbart, were recognized in the not-for-profit category.
Ms. Hinsperger was honoured for her exceptional dedication to volunteerism and community service within North Algona Wilberforce, Bonnechere Valley and greater Renfrew County. Her contributions span sports and recreation, health care, food security, arts, and local economic development. Her energy, compassion, and leadership have made a lasting impact on countless individuals and organizations.
She serves as coordinator of the Renfrew County 55+ Summer and Winter Games and is co-founder of the Bonnechere Cycling Group; she is as an active member of the Eganville Community Choir, long-time member of the Eganville & Area Horticultural Society and an active member of the North Algona Wilberforce Recreation Committee. She is also the co-owner of Bonnechere Caves, a family business that sponsors and supports numerous community initiatives.
Since it was established in 2019, the Arnprior/McNab/Braeside Men’s Shed has become a vital hub for senior men in the community. It provides a welcoming space where men can connect, share skills, and support one another, reducing social isolation and promoting mental, emotional, and physical well-being and lifelong learning.
The membership of the Men’s Shed expected to exceed 60 members by the end of the year. It has contributed more than 5,700 volunteer hours in 2025 alone. Among some of the signature projects completed by the group are building wheelchair-accessible picnic tables for municipalities across Renfrew County, memory boxes for The Grove Nursing Home, raised planter boxes for Arnprior and local seniors’ centres and youth woodworking kits in partnership with the Dementia Society and Children’s Aid.
The Arnprior/McNab/Braeside Men’s Shed received the 2025 Warden’s Community Service Award for a not-for-profit organization. Taking part in the award presentation (from left) were County Councillor Dan Lynch, Warden Peter Emon, Development and Property Committee Vice-Chair County Councillor Rob Weir, Men’s Shed members Gary McBurney, Denis MacNeil, Darrel O’Shaughnessy and County Councillor Lori Hoddinott.
The Arnprior Regional Health Auxiliary has been a cornerstone of community service for more than 60 years, supporting local healthcare through volunteerism and fundraising. What began as a small group sewing for the hospital has grown into an organization of more than 180 active volunteers, deeply woven into the fabric of Arnprior and surrounding communities. The members have logged more than 25,000 volunteer hours in the past year.
The fundraising efforts of the Auxiliary have had a tremendous impact on the community. Contributions include $600,000 toward the new Grove Nursing Home, $480,000 for a new CT scanner and $300,000 for the Echocardiogram equipment with more than $3.5 million raised in the past six decades for hospital equipment and patient care.
Following the presentation of the awards, Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon congratulated the recipients and thanked them for the passion displayed through various initiatives.
“The Warden’s Community Service Awards remind us of the incredible impact that dedicated individuals and organizations have on life in Renfrew County,” said Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon. “This year’s recipients exemplify compassion, leadership, and a commitment to making our communities stronger and more vibrant. Their efforts inspire all of us to give back and work together for the greater good.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Kelley Chief Administrative Officer 613-735-7288
Tina Peplinskie Media Relations Coordinator 613-735-7288
The Arnprior Regional Health Auxiliary received the 2025 Warden’s Community Service Award in the not-for-profit category. Taking part in the award presentation (from left) were Warden Peter Emon, Development and Property Committee Vice-Chair County Councillor Rob Weir, Auxiliary Treasurer Lesley Lapierre, Arnprior Regional Health Foundation Executive Director Ben Gardiner and County Councillor Dan Lynch.
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