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Osted named Hay River citizen of the year

Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, February 26, 2007

HAY RIVER - Peter Osted has been named Hay River's citizen of the year for 2006.

The honour was announced Feb. 23 at the annual banquet of the Hay River Chamber of Commerce.

Unfortunately, Osted was not on hand to pick up the Alfred Mansell Citizen of the Year Award in person.

The winner was on vacation in the Caribbean, but sent his two grown children to accept the honour and read a message on his behalf.

In his acceptance letter, Osted wrote it was quite a surprise to hear he had won the award while he was in Tobago.

"I am very pleased and proud to have been honoured this way," he wrote. "I have enjoyed my 40 some years in town watching it grow and change."

Osted was selected for his contributions to numerous community organizations, such as the museum society, the Legion, the shooting club, the seniors' society and the army cadet corps, which he commanded for many years as a commissioned officer in the Canadian Armed Forces.

He still participates in training cadets as a civilian instructor.

"I have enjoyed working with many people in many groups and have been involved in the development of many community organizations," he noted in his message.

"All in all this has been a rewarding experience over the years or else I wouldn't have done it."

In 2004, he also received the Queen's Jubilee Medal.

Osted first came to Hay River as a teacher in 1966 and retired from teaching in 2001.

A native of Denmark, where he was born in 1940, he moved to Canada with his family in 1954 and grew up in Winnipeg.