Muriel, the late Bill Coultes named Jim McGee Award winners

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

Last week, Muriel Coultes was presented with the 2025 Jim McGee Community Volunteer Award, handed out by the Belgrave Community Centre Board. She accepted the award not just for her, but also on behalf of her co-winner, her late husband Bill, who was honoured posthumously.

 

The board has been handing out this award to honour volunteers in the Belgrave area for years now, since the untimely passing of McGee, who, himself, was one of the community’s great volunteers. Some of the most well-known names in Belgrave have been named winners of the award and now Muriel and the late Bill Coultes have added their names to that list.

 

The award was given to Muriel last week when the board held its annual general meeting at the centre. The Coulteses were nominated by their children.

 

As part of the presentation, Bill and Muriel were called “steadfast pillars of our community” who have “touched our lives with their unwavering commitment, kindness and generosity.” 

 

The presentation, given by members of the McGee family, heaped praise onto both Muriel and Bill for their tireless work on behalf of their community.

 

“Muriel, a name synonymous with dedication and warmth, has been a beacon of light for so many of us. Her tireless volunteer hours have left a mark on our community. From managing the bookings at the arena to ensuring every event ran smoothly, Muriel’s meticulous attention to detail and her welcoming smile have been constants in our lives,” the presentation went. “Her involvement with the arena board, Vacation Bible School, and as a devoted member of the Belgrave United Church Women speaks volumes of her dedication to nurturing our community’s spirit.”

 

Of Bill, they said, “Though Bill isn’t here to accept this award, I’m sure he has a front-row seat with Jim as we remember him tonight. Bill’s legacy continues to resonate within the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know him. He was a man of many talents - a successful farmer, a church elder and a cherished choir member,” the presentation went. “His ability to fix anything and everything was matched only by his love for his community. Bill’s leadership as a School Fair president and his role as a Sunday school teacher demonstrated his commitment to education and the future generations of Belgrave.”

 

Bill and Muriel’s love for sports and involvement in minor hockey and baseball were also highlights of the night.

 

The nomination form submitted by their daughters - Janice Matheson, Joanne Robinson, Karen Cook, Andrea Stevenson and Alison Wightman - detailed their parents’ work with local sports, the Elementary School Fair, the Belgrave Fowl Supper, Sunday school at church and the arena board itself, as well as their steadfast dedication to both their family and their community.