By Jack Brittle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
On June 24, the City of Burlington recognized several individuals and organizations for their contributions to the city. Among the recipients of this Civic Recognition was Connie Price, who has over 55 years of volunteer service, according to the city’s website.
Price moved to Burlington almost 60 years ago, and started volunteering three years after arriving.
Price said that the only reason it took that long was because she was seven months pregnant when she moved, and dedicated a few years to raising her child before becoming involved in community groups and initiatives.
At the time, Price’s husband was involved with Burlington Jaycees and so she in turn volunteered with the Burlington Jaysettes, which comprised the wives of the Jaycees.
Price has also served as the chair of the Burlington Safety Council and Social Planning Council.
She also told a story about how she created the first income tax clinic for those in a low tax bracket when she was the chair of Information Burlington.
“The Burlington Post had their office right across from us, and I had a lady call into Information Burlington, and she was a new widow, an elderly lady,” Price said. “Her husband had always taken care of everything. She didn’t know how to get her income taxes done, and she didn’t have money to go to one of the agencies or to an accountant.”
Price mentioned the conversation to the editor of the Burlington Post, after which he created an ad in the paper asking if anyone would consider helping people in this situation. Price said that they were then flooded with calls and letters from accountants offering to help out, free of charge.
Price started running the clinic from there. It is currently operated by Burlington MP Karina Gould’s office.
She has also worked with her local church, St. Matthew-On-The-Plains, for over 25 years, most recently to create a drive-through drop-off for food donations during the COVID pandemic, located in the circular driveway of the church. After the drop-off, volunteers take the donations to local food banks.
“When COVID hit, all of the food banks couldn’t accept food from people anymore, but they still needed to get food out,” Price said.
“So I organized, between Partnering Aldershot and St. Matthew Church, a drive-through drop off food collection program,” she continued. “I got permission from the Health Department and the city to provide this because they weren’t allowed at that time.”
Price said that the initiative inspired other food banks to offer a similar service.
“It showed other places, once we got more into COVID and things got more regulated, that maybe they could do something like that,” Price explained. “They may not have a circular driveway, but if they had a parking lot [they could do the same thing]. So it was sort of the catalyst for some of these other organizations to help get food for the food banks.”
The program has continued operating post-pandemic, and Price estimates that close to 30 tonnes of food has been donated since it started.
Price is also the treasurer of Partnering Aldershot (a network of Aldershot charities, businesses, and local residents), Burlington Seniors Community Initiatives, and Dream Team Search and Rescue.
Because of her age, Price says that her role in the various groups and projects she is involved with has changed.
“I’m a senior,” Price said. “I’m 86, so I’m certainly a senior. And in the last few years, a lot of my work has not been physical work. It’s been work that I can do sitting in my recliner chair, on my computer, and using the telephone. I’m great at organizing, so I can organize other people to do actual physical things.”
She also says that to properly get the word out about something and organize people, you have to be direct.
“You use the personal touch,” Price noted. “You don’t just put it in a newsletter or a church bulletin. If you need somebody, you give them a phone call.”
Price says her constant drive to help people comes from a very simple desire.
“I enjoy people, and I have a knack for seeing needs that sometimes other people don’t see,” Price said. “And I’m very fortunate that I can gather people together who will do something about it.”
“I just enjoy working with people,” Price continued. “I enjoy helping people. And as I say, now that I can’t be as physical as I was, I still have my marbles, thank goodness.”
