CBS woman named a senior of distinction

By Mark Squibb, The Shoreline

Kathryn Atkin of Conception Bay South was among the 12 seniors recognized by the provincial government as a 2026 Senior of Distinction.

 A founding board member of United Way of Avalon, now United Way Newfoundland and Labrador, Atkins served as chair and remains involved in the Community Investment Program. She also served as chairperson of the Drug Abuse and Resistance Education Program of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary for 22 years and has been a dedicated Rotarian since 1995.

Atkins spent 10 years as executive director of Shallaway Youth Choir and has also assisted with the not-for-profit Hope and Homes for Children International.

 She currently serves as board chair of local non-profit Connections for Seniors and has been honoured several times for her volunteer efforts, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Mark Brown Community Builder Award from United Way, the Elizabeth Laurie Community Impact Award from the Conception Bay Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary International’s Service Above Self Award for her unwavering dedication to both Rotary and her community.

Other seniors recognized include E. Fred Cram of Old Perlican, Mary Ennis of St. John’s, Pheobe Farr of Carter’s Cove, Amy Farrell of Marystown, Barry Fordham of St. John’s, Alfreda Hopkins of Old Perlican, Mildred Lavers of Port Saunders, Glenn Ford Ploughman of George’s Brook-Milton, Sevtap Savas of St. John’s, Herman Augustus Walters, of St. John’s, and Malcolm “Max” Winters of Happy Valley-Goose Bay (posthumous).