Dr. Elizabeth June Watt was named Abbotsford’s citizen of the year at the Canada Day celebrations in Abbotsford Exhibition Park on Monday evening.
Mayor Bruce Banman awarded three citizens – Watt, Laughie Bell and Dennis Hill – with the Order of Abbotsford, and named Watt citizen of the year.
Watt was unable to attend the ceremony, but her father Dr. Don Watt accepted the award on her behalf.
“I’m very proud of my daughter Elizabeth,” he said. “She always loved working with youth.”
Watt was awarded the Order of Abbotsford in recognition of her contributions to a variety of health-related community organizations. She served as medical director of the Women’s Health Centre in Abbotsford and as lead physician at the Abbotsford Youth Health Centre. She has volunteered a large amount of time in assisting in the training of physicians in dealing with the health issues of the city’s most vulnerable citizens.
Banman said the choice for citizen of the year was a difficult one, with three very deserving candidates in the running.
He said the reason the committee selected Watt was due to her broad spectrum of dealing with the most vulnerable citizens of Abbotsford, regardless of their age.
