Woodstock Relay For Life: Marie Bowerman's luminary committee seeks volunteers

Sales of luminaries to take place soon at Woodstock grocery stores and the Saturday market at fairgrounds

Time now to also recognize Marie Bowerman for long-time volunteerism

By Mark Schadenberg

News from the Relay For Life LUMINARY committee.
Volunteer Request.
Here's a terrific way to volunteer for Relay For Life (RFL) and the Canadian Cancer Society.
The 'Luminary Ceremony' at Relay For Life is always very memorable every year. As you know, you can buy a luminary to honour someone who is battling cancer or purchase a luminary to remember someone who has died from cancer. It's part of the Relay tradition and is always a solemn moment.
Marie Bowerman and her sub-committee is seeking volunteers to sell luminaries at both the Saturday market at the fairgrounds (May 21 and 28, and June 4) and . . . also at Foodland, No Frills, Zehrs and Food Basics on both May 27 and May 28. For the grocery stores, the volunteers’ schedule will only be 2-hour shifts.

Contact Marie at lbow6974@rogers.com or call 539-1075.

MARIE BOWERMAN

Focus and dedication are two words you can use to recognize the efforts of Marie Bowerman over the years –whether it be the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) of the Woodstock Skating Club (WSC).

Just this past skating season, Marie retired after 56 years in administration for the WSC. Their association held a large retirement party to thank Marie for her countless hours of working for the skating club. The event included a thank-you letter from Skate Canada and other dignataries.

Picture from: Snapd Woodstock paper

Former Woodstock mayor Pat Sobeski (who passed away earlier this year), Marie Bowerman, Aaron Loup, and City of Woodstock events coordinator Brad Janssen

To put everything into perspective, I remember when the community complex was under construction in early 1996 and Marie Bowerman agreed to talk about what the new facility would mean for the City of Woodstock as I was working on a documentary with John Payne for Rogers TV. At that point, Marie would have already spent 35 years with the WSC and would continue for 20 more years.

Marie’s husband Larry died this past September. Their 4 daughters were all competitive figure skaters – Julie, Shirley, Brenda and Lisa. Julie won national medals in novice in 1973 and junior in 1975.

I mention Larry as his role was also very prominent. For example, when the RFL committee decided they wanted to place a wooden block inside the luminary bags to assist in displaying the tealights inside, Larry retreated to his back yard woodworking shop and produced about 2,000 blocks to exact specification to fit the bag, sanding them to avoid splinters, and drill a circle inset for the lights.

Marie and Larry both far exceeded what could possibly be expected from someone in volunteering.

Marie Bowerman is also a member of the Woodstock Sports Wall of Fame, and I believe one of just seven honourary life-time members of the Woodstock figure skating club. Her dedication also included coordinating programs for the local Special Olympics group.

As a baseball fanatic, Marie received a Blue Jays jersey from pitcher Aaron Loup as part of Woodstock Day in 2013 at Rogers Centre.

Be sure to watch the Rogers TV video below when Marie was a guest on Daytime Oxford to promote a skating show. The reason it’s important to click on the link is that you can see and hear Marie’s passion in her voice both for the club and the Woodstock skating carnival shows as she discusses the club’s history.

While most certainly best known for her efforts with figure skating over the years, Marie Bowerman has also been completely dedicated to the Canadian Cancer Society, Relay For Life and many CCS fundraising events such as Grand Desserts. Marie’s background includes past chair of Relay, and past chair of the CCS of Oxford.

The Oxford community office of the CCS supplied this note about the importance of Marie Bowerman to their organization over the years:

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Marie Bowerman has been a volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society since 1979 in a variety of roles. She began in a fundraising capacity as a residential door-to-door canvasser and has since taken on more and more leadership roles with the Canadian Cancer Society.

Marie co-chaired the Relay For Life Woodstock committee for two years, and has chaired various Relay For Life subcommittees since 2003 and continues to do so. She also actively personally fundraises for the event each year. Marie is currently the driving force for another Society fundraising event, Grand Desserts, and has been for its nine-year history. She also lent her leadership skills in chairing the Oxford County Unit Council (now Community Office Advisory Committee) from 1998 until 2008.

In addition to her leadership contributions, Marie digs in and helps wherever needed. She annually sells daffodil pins and pink ribbons and helps out wherever needed.

Marie is a valued volunteer of the Canadian Cancer Society. She is very visible in the community, also being very involved with the local Woodstock Skating Club as well as regionally, Special Olympics, and in her church.

Beth Boulard and Marie Bowerman

Luminary Ceremony begins at dusk

Marie has been awarded many Canadian Cancer Society honours, including:

2009 – Community President’s Award

2011 – Community Award Celebrating Teamwork as part of the Unit Council (now Community Office Advisory Committee)

2012 – Community Celebrating Dedication Award

2013 – 35 Years of Service Award

2014 – Celebrating Impact in Community Revenue Award as part of the Grand Desserts committee.

Marie Bowerman has made a definite impact in the Canadian Cancer Society contributing her leadership skills and in fundraising. She has modelled volunteering for the Society, and through her efforts, has been a contributing factor in raising over $3 million through Relay For Life, and much more through her other endeavours. This has enabled the Society to fund life-saving cancer research and provide information and support to those living with cancer.

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Relay For Life is Friday, June 10 at CASS, but there are many areas which require volunteers leading up to the event, including luminary sales.

The Relay For Life committee is immensely proud of Marie Bowerman’s on-going determination to raise money and awareness for the CCS.

It’s easy to see how she is a past recipient of a Celebration Award for volunteerism from the Canadian government.