There is only one problem with Bent Harder鈥檚 selection as Citizen of the Year 鈥� he was out of the country and unable to accept the honour in person.

When his son Lorne accepted the award Saturday night on behalf of his father, there was nothing else flawed about the choice.

Bent travels far and wide, speaking to fellow Rotarians in other clubs about Rotary International鈥檚 Rotaplast program, which provides surgery to repair cleft pallets. He ventures even farther, going to some of the world鈥檚 poorest countries as part of missions to perform life-altering surgeries.

He has volunteered for decades with many local organizations, which you might already have read about on page 3 of today鈥檚 Record.

Last year, he was the community torchbearer for the Olympic Torch Relay. He also volunteered for days on end during the Olympics and Paralympics in Vancouver.

How the Danish native keeps going in his 80s is anybody鈥檚 guess, but he鈥檚 a great example for the rest of us. He always seems on the verge of 鈥� and often does 鈥� breaking into a big grin. This is a man who clearly enjoys life, and rubs off on others.

With no disrespect intended for fellow finalists Charlie Zerkee and David Mellin, Bent Harder was a perfect choice for Citizen of the Year.

Accepting the Business of the Year Award was bittersweet for Jorden Marshall, co-owner of the popular Hot Chocolates and the Cakebread Artisan Bakery.

The prestigious honour was sweet like one of the company鈥檚 renowned confections, but Marshall could not help but think of his wife Sherry, who succumbed to cancer last year.

As the co-founder (with her mother Deanna Stewart) of Hot Chocolates, Sherry鈥檚 footprint remains on the company.

In a classy move, Jorden praised employees for 鈥渢aking care of the business鈥� while he cared for his wife.

All award recipients and finalists deserve credit, but so does Dianne Hawkins and her Chamber of Commerce crew for making it all possible.

editor@comoxvalleyrecord.com