Three finalists whose kindness, encouragement and willingness to go the extra mile have touched lives across the Highlands have been shortlisted for High Life Highland’s People’s Choice Award.
More than 200 nominations were submitted by members of the public before the field was narrowed to Joanna Ewing from Inverness Leisure, mobile library driver Iain Morrison and the team at Craig Maclean Leisure Centre in Grantown on Spey.
The People’s Choice Award forms part of High Life Highland’s annual i care awards and is the only category decided through nominations from the public, recognising staff and teams who have delivered outstanding service and gone beyond what was expected of them.
Joanna received nine nominations, with customers describing the Inverness Leisure trainer as inspirational, encouraging and someone who takes time to understand the individual goals of the people attending her classes.
One nomination said:
“Joanna is so inspiring.
“I started attending her classes around a year ago and can honestly say she is the reason I have consistently attended weightlifting classes.
“I’ve made huge progress and that’s down to her knowledge and encouragement.”
Iain received 11 nominations for his work taking the mobile library service into Highland communities, where his role has clearly become about considerably more than delivering books.
One customer said:
“I cannot praise him highly enough; he brings the sun with him even when it is raining to brighten my day.”
Another praised the patience and understanding he shows their neurodivergent children, taking time to help them find exactly the right books whenever the mobile library visits.
The Craig Maclean Leisure Centre team also received nine nominations, with customers highlighting the warmth of their welcome, the quality of classes and swimming lessons and the patience and compassion shown towards children and families.
One nomination said:
“Without exception the whole team are always welcoming, polite and cheerful creating a great atmosphere in the centre.
“They treat everyone with respect and nothing is ever too much trouble.”
Behind the nominations are hundreds of everyday encounters between Highland communities and the people providing services within them, from helping someone discover a love of exercise to carrying library books to a garden gate or teaching a child to swim.
The winner will be revealed at High Life Highland’s annual i care awards celebration on Thursday 19 November, being held at The Inverness Castle Experience for the first time.
Last year’s People’s Choice Award was won by Steve Jones from Tain and Golspie Leisure Centres.
