Doug Nielsen has been drawn to giving back to the community and making a difference in the lives of children for years.
The 63-year-old Stoney Creek resident has felt that pull since helping out as a volunteer firefighter at station 2 — now station 16 — in Winona. He joined the station in January of 1981 at age 25 and served there for 12 years.
“If we responded to a call and children were involved, I was the guy that went to the little ones to help them,” he said. “That was my thing — I always gravitated to the kids — and that’s how it all started.”
Nielsen has lent his hands to a number of causes in the community that have put smiles on the faces of many children over the years.
He’s played the part of Santa Claus in Stoney Creek and Winona for about 20 years, donning the red suit at schools and for Brownie, Beaver and Cub scout groups.
He also puts on the white beard and suit — which his wife made — for the Breakfast with Santa event at Fifty United Church each year.
Nielsen said he loves playing the role.
“I’d like to say I’ve made a lot of children happy, but I’ve made a few cry too,” he laughed. “I just love spending time with the little ones and talking to them about Christmas, their holiday plans and wish lists.”
Nielsen also has been a member of the Winona Men’s Club for 38 years, having served as president, secretary and treasurer for the non-profit charitable group.
He headed up the club’s corn on the cob booth and famous peach sundae tent at the Winona Peach Festival for 27 years and also started its ice cream cone booth at the event.
He’s run different activities, like kids nights, and other events with the organization as well.
Nielsen said it’s an honour to be part of the Winona Men’s Club, which organizes and participates in a variety of fundraisers in support of the community.
“I think the best part about the club is all of the proceeds that we bring in all go back into mainly children’s programs to help the little ones in our community,” he said. “To see that money going back into the community and helping to give kids a hand up means the world.”
In addition, Nielsen has lent his time to coaching in Stoney Creek.
He headed up T-ball and other squads in the Stoney Creek Optimist Little League for about eight years and coached with 1812 baseball for a couple of years.
Nielsen also volunteers his time to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln.
He’s an activities co-ordinator for the non-profit, youth-focused organization, plays the part of Santa Claus each year and, with the help of his wife, runs a party for kids every holiday. He’s also served as president.
For Nielsen, making a difference in the lives of children is important for today and tomorrow.
“It’s so important to help them, make them laugh and just let them be kids,” he said. “We have to treat our children well because they’re our future.”
For his efforts, Nielsen has been named Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Citizen of the Year and will be honoured during the chamber’s annual Community Achievement Awards gala on May 16 at Winona Vine Estates.
Longtime friend, fellow volunteer firefighter and nominator Tom Busch said Nielsen couldn’t be more deserving of the recognition.
“He’s all about making sure kids are looked after; he’s very conscious of their well-being,” he said, adding the pair have been friends for almost 40 years. “He doesn’t do it for the accolades, he just does it. He has more of a heart to serve than he does to receive, I’ll tell you that.”
Asked how he felt about being named the 2018 Citizen of the Year, Nielsen said, “Humbled.”
“I don’t do any of it for the recognition,” he said. “I do it for the community … I do it for our youngest citizens.”
Doug Nielsen has been drawn to giving back to the community and making a difference in the lives of children for years.
The 63-year-old Stoney Creek resident has felt that pull since helping out as a volunteer firefighter at station 2 — now station 16 — in Winona. He joined the station in January of 1981 at age 25 and served there for 12 years.
“If we responded to a call and children were involved, I was the guy that went to the little ones to help them,” he said. “That was my thing — I always gravitated to the kids — and that’s how it all started.”
Nielsen has lent his hands to a number of causes in the community that have put smiles on the faces of many children over the years.
He’s played the part of Santa Claus in Stoney Creek and Winona for about 20 years, donning the red suit at schools and for Brownie, Beaver and Cub scout groups.
He also puts on the white beard and suit — which his wife made — for the Breakfast with Santa event at Fifty United Church each year.
Nielsen said he loves playing the role.
“I’d like to say I’ve made a lot of children happy, but I’ve made a few cry too,” he laughed. “I just love spending time with the little ones and talking to them about Christmas, their holiday plans and wish lists.”
Nielsen also has been a member of the Winona Men’s Club for 38 years, having served as president, secretary and treasurer for the non-profit charitable group.
He headed up the club’s corn on the cob booth and famous peach sundae tent at the Winona Peach Festival for 27 years and also started its ice cream cone booth at the event.
He’s run different activities, like kids nights, and other events with the organization as well.
Nielsen said it’s an honour to be part of the Winona Men’s Club, which organizes and participates in a variety of fundraisers in support of the community.
“I think the best part about the club is all of the proceeds that we bring in all go back into mainly children’s programs to help the little ones in our community,” he said. “To see that money going back into the community and helping to give kids a hand up means the world.”
In addition, Nielsen has lent his time to coaching in Stoney Creek.
He headed up T-ball and other squads in the Stoney Creek Optimist Little League for about eight years and coached with 1812 baseball for a couple of years.
Nielsen also volunteers his time to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln.
He’s an activities co-ordinator for the non-profit, youth-focused organization, plays the part of Santa Claus each year and, with the help of his wife, runs a party for kids every holiday. He’s also served as president.
For Nielsen, making a difference in the lives of children is important for today and tomorrow.
“It’s so important to help them, make them laugh and just let them be kids,” he said. “We have to treat our children well because they’re our future.”
For his efforts, Nielsen has been named Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Citizen of the Year and will be honoured during the chamber’s annual Community Achievement Awards gala on May 16 at Winona Vine Estates.
Longtime friend, fellow volunteer firefighter and nominator Tom Busch said Nielsen couldn’t be more deserving of the recognition.
“He’s all about making sure kids are looked after; he’s very conscious of their well-being,” he said, adding the pair have been friends for almost 40 years. “He doesn’t do it for the accolades, he just does it. He has more of a heart to serve than he does to receive, I’ll tell you that.”
Asked how he felt about being named the 2018 Citizen of the Year, Nielsen said, “Humbled.”
“I don’t do any of it for the recognition,” he said. “I do it for the community … I do it for our youngest citizens.”
Doug Nielsen has been drawn to giving back to the community and making a difference in the lives of children for years.
The 63-year-old Stoney Creek resident has felt that pull since helping out as a volunteer firefighter at station 2 — now station 16 — in Winona. He joined the station in January of 1981 at age 25 and served there for 12 years.
“If we responded to a call and children were involved, I was the guy that went to the little ones to help them,” he said. “That was my thing — I always gravitated to the kids — and that’s how it all started.”
Nielsen has lent his hands to a number of causes in the community that have put smiles on the faces of many children over the years.
He’s played the part of Santa Claus in Stoney Creek and Winona for about 20 years, donning the red suit at schools and for Brownie, Beaver and Cub scout groups.
He also puts on the white beard and suit — which his wife made — for the Breakfast with Santa event at Fifty United Church each year.
Nielsen said he loves playing the role.
“I’d like to say I’ve made a lot of children happy, but I’ve made a few cry too,” he laughed. “I just love spending time with the little ones and talking to them about Christmas, their holiday plans and wish lists.”
Nielsen also has been a member of the Winona Men’s Club for 38 years, having served as president, secretary and treasurer for the non-profit charitable group.
He headed up the club’s corn on the cob booth and famous peach sundae tent at the Winona Peach Festival for 27 years and also started its ice cream cone booth at the event.
He’s run different activities, like kids nights, and other events with the organization as well.
Nielsen said it’s an honour to be part of the Winona Men’s Club, which organizes and participates in a variety of fundraisers in support of the community.
“I think the best part about the club is all of the proceeds that we bring in all go back into mainly children’s programs to help the little ones in our community,” he said. “To see that money going back into the community and helping to give kids a hand up means the world.”
In addition, Nielsen has lent his time to coaching in Stoney Creek.
He headed up T-ball and other squads in the Stoney Creek Optimist Little League for about eight years and coached with 1812 baseball for a couple of years.
Nielsen also volunteers his time to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln.
He’s an activities co-ordinator for the non-profit, youth-focused organization, plays the part of Santa Claus each year and, with the help of his wife, runs a party for kids every holiday. He’s also served as president.
For Nielsen, making a difference in the lives of children is important for today and tomorrow.
“It’s so important to help them, make them laugh and just let them be kids,” he said. “We have to treat our children well because they’re our future.”
For his efforts, Nielsen has been named Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Citizen of the Year and will be honoured during the chamber’s annual Community Achievement Awards gala on May 16 at Winona Vine Estates.
Longtime friend, fellow volunteer firefighter and nominator Tom Busch said Nielsen couldn’t be more deserving of the recognition.
“He’s all about making sure kids are looked after; he’s very conscious of their well-being,” he said, adding the pair have been friends for almost 40 years. “He doesn’t do it for the accolades, he just does it. He has more of a heart to serve than he does to receive, I’ll tell you that.”
Asked how he felt about being named the 2018 Citizen of the Year, Nielsen said, “Humbled.”
“I don’t do any of it for the recognition,” he said. “I do it for the community … I do it for our youngest citizens.”