Marci Csumrik Is Orillia’s Citizen Of The Year
By John Swartz
Marci Csumrik was awarded the 2021 Citizen of the Year at Monday afternoon’s Orillia council meeting. Eight people were nominated.
Marci is very active in the community, giving her time and money toward several causes. In 2021 she helped establish the Vern Herron Dental Fund, which is administered by the Orillia Youth Centre, and provides funds for youth to have dental care.
She is a real estate sales representative with Re/Max Orillia Realty and is on the board of the Orillia and Area Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee, a member of the Orillia Business Women’s Association and the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce.
Marci also contributes to the Sharing Place Food Centre, the Comfie Cat Shelter, the Orillia Youth Centre, Mariposa Arts Theatre, the Orillia Museum of Art and History, and the Lighthouse.
“Oh wow. Thank you so much. I can’t believe it to be honest. I’m in a great group with the fellow nominees. I am so passionate about my city. I am honored to be able to serve the youth and arts. I will do the City proud,’ Csumrik said on learning she was chosen.
The selection committee of Mayor Steve Clarke (non-voting member), Michael Gordon, Fred Larsen, Stan Mathewson and Gill Tillmann (all past Citizens of the Year), Carey Moran, Frank Matys, and Heather Breckles chose three finalists of those nominated. The other finalists are:
Glen Wagner 
Pam Carter
- Glen Wagner is the owner of Wagner Lawn Care. He was the chair of the Lighthouse board of directors during the building of the new homeless shelter and soup kitchen, and co-chair of the Building Hope Campaign which raised over $14 million.
- Pam Carter, chair of the Mariposa Folk Festival organizing group and president of the Mariposa Folk Foundation,, two functions that would normally consume the time of two people; the former successfully pulls off the summer festival each year and the latter manages the financial and membership end of the music festival.
The other nominees are Chris Bellchambers who volunteered with just about every event which happened in the downtown core and waterfront parks – he tragically drowned last summer in Couchiching Beach Park; Angie Green-Hill who has for several years organized the Online Auction for Mental Health and raised more than $50,000 for mental health programs at Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital; Nicole Hepinstall is co-owner of Coco’s Cookies on West Street North and keeps a tip jar from which last year more than $6,000 total was donated to a different charity each month; Joyce Hird is the volunteer operator of the Pennywise Thrift Shop at St. James’ Anglican Church, Barbara MacLeod founder and volunteer manager of the Comfie Cat Shelter; and Brian Stanton who voluntarily picks up garbage at the waterfront parks and in the downtown.
Residents of Rama and surrounding townships are eligible for the award.
(Photos by Swartz – SUNonline/Orillia and supplied) Main: Marci Csumrik, 2021 Orillia Citizen of the Year
