The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor He's considered one of Flin Flon's top advocates for the poor, but Dennis Hydamaka isn't looking for any kind of recognition. Nonetheless, the Hudbay retiree has received a provincial award for his tireless efforts to ensure no resident goes hungry. 'I'm just compelled to do it,' says Hydamaka, who was recently named a recipient of the 2012 Golden Carrot Award from Food Matters Manitoba. 'It's just to help people that are less fortunate than myself.' Hydamaka is one of nine Manitoba individuals or businesses to receive the award this year. It honours those whose work fulfills Food Matters Manitoba's goal of 'healthy, sustainable and fair food for all.' Hydamaka has volunteered with the Lord's Bounty Food Bank since its inception in 1991 and remains a driving force behind the charity. He played a key role in the food bank's community garden, which operated for two years in the 1990s and let needy residents grow their own vegetables. Through a separate committee, about six years ago, Hydamaka helped launch a program that allowed residents to grow vegetables in containers at their homes or apartments. He has been involved with other projects, too, all in the name of promoting food for all. Staff at Winnipeg Harvest, a charity that feeds the hungry, have long corresponded with Hydamaka. It was they who nominated him for the Golden Carrot Award. Hydamaka was invited to go to Winnipeg to accept his award on Oct. 12, but he was unable to attend due to prior commitments. Another northern Manitoban, Chuck Stensgard of Leaf Rapids, also received the award.
