Years of service recognized

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A very special lady was honored with a very special award that recognizes her many years of service to the community.

As part of her 84th birthday party held at the Shulus Hall, Pearl Clayton was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Merritt Ambassador Society in appreciation of her work with First Nations youth, as well as many organizations within the community.

Clayton was born April 14, 1916 in the tiny village of Upper Nicola. She moved to Merritt 28 years later.

Along the way, she raised nine children of her own (all still live in Merritt), and welcomed many young people into her home, providing food and shelter when they needed it.

Many members of the Lower Nicola Band passed through her doors - and most of those people still keep in touch and call her Mom, including Victor York, who went on to become Chief of the Lower Nicola Band.

Even now, one of Clayton's passions is volunteering, a habit she developed many years ago.

Clayton was a founder of the Nicola Valley Native Community Law Society, and serves on the board of directors, and who offers her expertise as a proofreader.

Another organization that saw Clayton's assistance in getting off the ground was the Nicola Valley Counselling Centre, for which she served as president for many years. That organization is known as the Conayt Friendship Society now. Clayton continues to support it and attends its many functions.

Clayton is currently a member of the board of directors of the Nicola Valley Affordable Housing Society and a member of the Lower Nicola First Nations Elders. She also sits on the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology Elders Advisory Council, working with the president and dean to assist with policy setting, curriculum development and program planning.

Clayton works at the institute three days a week, tutoring students in the Thompson Language, providing counselling, teaching classes and taking part in many other meetings and functions.

Even with all that, she continues to take in young people off the street and feed them when they need the help.

Clayton was presented with a plaque by Merritt's Youth Ambassador Team 2000, who led her gathered relatives in a rousing chorus of 'Happy Birthday' and thanked her for the thousands of hours she has spent helping the community of Merritt.

Pearl Clayton's next goals are to do her best to make it to this year's Elders gathering in Campbell River, and to continue doing the work she loves in the community.