County dancer receiving provincial volunteer award

Cameron Galway performing in the Quinte Ballet School Spring Showcase 2018. Sasha Sefter photo

The County’s Cameron Galway is among local residents receiving a Youth Volunteer Service Award from the province.

Galway is among eight Quinte Ballet School (QBS) volunteers to received awards at a virtual ceremony, along with Dan Atkinson, Karen Bond, Mayanna Deryaw, Bob House, Shae Jones, Helen Kelly and Shirley Rogers. Youth awards are recognizing Galway along with QBS volunteers Mayanna Deryaw and Shae Jones.

Galway is currently studying dance at the Alberta Ballet School. Irish dancing classes at the County School of Dance were his first foray into the world of dance; he later transitioned to ballet and attended the Quinte Ballet School of Canada’s training program during his high school years. Galway has also shared his talent with the local community through his involvement with QBSC’s Dancing with Parkinson’s program and by teaching younger dancers at both QBSC and CSD.

The Ontario government is recognizing outstanding contributions and efforts of 6,658 volunteers through 27 virtual Volunteer Service Award ceremonies across the province. The individuals recognized by these awards have demonstrated how critical volunteers are and how they strengthen Ontario’s social fabric in our communities, especially with the devastating impacts of COVID-19.

Belleville resident Helen Kelly is to receive a 40-year Volunteer Service Award in recognition of her support for the Quinte Ballet School.

“I have derived great satisfaction from each of those years, furthering the art of ballet and building this remarkable school. It is a veritable gem in the Quinte Region.”

Helen Kelly was among the original members of the Belleville branch of the National Ballet Guild of volunteers that helped to increase public awareness of ballet in the Quinte region. She is a founding member of the Guild who were instrumental in bringing Founding Artistic Director, Brian Scott to teach in Belleville and serves as an ex-officio member of Quinte Ballet School’s Board of Directors. The annual Helen Kelly Award recognizes the achievements of QBSC students in their final year of studies.

Belleville photographer Bob House receives a 20-year award as a supporter of the school in various ways, from shooting photos of school performances, special events, helping with fundraisers and serving on QBSC’s Board of Directors.

Karen Bond receives a 10-year award in recognition of her contribution to QBSC’s wardrobe. A highly skilled seamstress, she has helped to design, adapt and repair costumes that have been worn by hundreds of students in QBSC’s annual shows and community events.

Other recipients of Volunteer Service Awards include Dan Atkinson and Shirley Rogers. Dan Atkinson, QBSC’s Treasurer, is a Chartered Accountant and retired partner at Welch & Company who has served on many arts boards in the region – Heritage Belleville, Quinte Arts Council and Hastings County Historical Society. Rogers has played many volunteer roles at Quinte Ballet School from organizing the school’s extensive archives to getting involved with Gala fundraisers, chaperoning students as they toured The Nutcracker and Spring Showcase to Kingston, Toronto, Hamilton and London, working backstage helping with costumes and makeup, billeting students in the professional training program and chairing the Board of Directors.