“I moved here with my family in 1966 and there is no doubt in my mind that we accomplished a lot in Enderby.”
Those were Peter Gilowski’s opening remarks, as he accepted his Lifetime Civic Merit Award from City of Enderby Mayor and Council on Friday, June 19.
Mayor Huck Galbraith, flanked by Councillors Tundra Baird, Sarah Yerhoff, Shawn Shishido and David Ramey, proudly recognized Peter Gilowski for “his dedication to community service and the betterment of Enderby.”
Gilowski did a wonderful jig out of his scooter and up to the podium to the delight of the dozens in attendance.
Among his many, many contributions to Enderby, Gilowski has been a member of the Enderby & District Lions Club since 1968.
He says over his 58 years with the organization he has held nearly every executive role and it was he and another Lifetime Civic Merit Award recipient, John Pavelich, who brought the months-long, annual Lions Garage Sale to life.
Therefore, the setting for his award ceremony was perfect. Gilowski accepted his certificate, plaque and artwork outside the Enderby Curling Club, where the Lions Club hosts its Garage Sale.
Throughout the ceremony, the parking lot was abuzz with people coming and going from the Garage Sale as they searched for newfound treasures.
“I am so proud of Enderby [for] supporting the Lions Club,” Gilowski said. “Truly, truly without the Lions Club this town wouldn’t be where it is now.”
The Garage Sale injects hundreds of thousands of dollars into Enderby & District projects, not-for-profits and community events. Gilowski expressed great pleasure in the donation the Lions contributed to the new Enderby Outdoor Pool with funds collected at the Garage Sale.
From the podium, he went on to share, “I was very proud to get the high school to Enderby, I worked hard,” Gilowski beamed. “I worked hard for the seniors complex, which is a very successful building and the seniors love it. And I was always in business. I have many, many businesses.”
Enderby is fortunate for his combination of business acumen and love of community. Gilowski played a substantial role in the construction of the beloved Lions Gazebo at Riverside Park, and as the owner of Ready-Mix Ltd. he donated concrete to the project.
He is most proud of bringing A.L. Fortune Secondary to Enderby. Gilowski shared that he personally called the Ministry of Education and requested a meeting about getting a high school in Enderby.
He explained that the Ministry said they would build a school here, “but that there was no land in Enderby.” On the spot, he offered to sell his own land at cost and “just like that, we were getting a high school in Enderby.”
Thank you, Peter. Thank you for making Enderby the town it is today.