Kingsville resident is Citizen of Year

By Mark Ribble

Alan Batke has been tending to gardens since about the age of 14 when his neighbour allowed him to work her gardens as a teenager.

All of his hard work has recently been rewarded with the Kingsville Citizen of the Year Award.

Mr. Batke has been a member of the Ontario Horticultural Association since 1960.

“Then I got married and my wife Karen became a member in 1962,” he said.

Karen Batke, who passed away in August of 2018, was actually given the same honour twice — once in 2004 and another posthumously in 2018.

“She worked hard and deserved those awards,” says Alan. “She also got an award from ERCA in 2018.”

The Batkes spent their lives serving their community, especially through the Horticultural Society, so it was fitting that Alan met up with the Sun reporter in front of the OPP station on Division Street South, where he was working the gardens there.

“This property was actually one of our first projects,” he said. “We’ve been taking care of it for a long time.”

Alan is now 82 and just refereed his last hockey game this past winter.

“It was time to hang them up,” he says. “I’d been doing it for 52 years.”

Well known in local hockey circles, he also acts as a supervisor of referees for the Ontario Minor Hockey Association.

His work with the Essex Region Conservation Authority has been a long-time commitment as well, as he and Karen spent many hours helping with the garlic mustard issue.

When asked about the honour bestowed upon him this past week, he says he’s quite humbled by it.

“It was a nice surprise,” he said. “But there are so many people who deserve this.”

Councillor Laura Lucier, who helped facilitate the award for Alan, says he has gone above and beyond the role of a volunteer.

“Alan has been and continues to be an incredible example of volunteerism and community spirit, donating endless time, boundless energy and incredible gifts to make Kingsville a more beautiful place,” she says.

As for Alan, he’ll keep working those gardens for as long as he can, award or no award.

“I accept this (award) and I’d like to share it with the rest of the volunteers in the Horticultural Society and town,” he says. “A lot of people give selflessly to the community.”

“But I do appreciate the honour,” he added.

Alan Batke works the gardens in front of the Kingsville OPP station on Thursday, September 15. Sun photo

Alan Batke works the gardens in front of the Kingsville OPP station on Thursday, September 15. Sun photo