This past Friday the 19th annual Swift Current Business Excellence Awards handed out the first-ever Citizen of the Year Award. 

The inaugural winner was Betty McDougall.

McDougall, who retired in June, said she was honoured to win the award.

"It was such an honour," she said. "To be one of the seven initially considered was such an honour because so many people do so much for our community. Then to be in the semi-finals with Shann Gowan and Charmaine Westbury [the other two semi-final nominees] who have contributed so much to the community, it was a real honour,"

McDougall said that when it comes to the work, she liked to do, volunteering and helping youth was where her heart was at.

McDougall gave some advice on how she was able to be considered Citizen of the Year.

"I think the advice is to be involved and do what you can. I firmly believe that everyone must contribute to whatever they can. I encourage people to keep on doing whatever they can; there is so much satisfaction from just doing it."