By Jennifer Pauly
President, Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce
Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Broderick and the Town Board have selected David Perreault as the 2018 Town of Lewiston Citizen of the Year.
Perreault has volunteered for the Recreation Department, providing opportunities for youth to be active in organized sports and learning about responsibility and teamwork. Broderick said he is appreciative of Perreault's involvement.
"It is citizens like Dave that make recreation programs such as the children's basketball program a huge success," he said. "The town can't do it alone; and with volunteers like Dave, our future looks bright."
One of Perreault's first jobs as a teenager was working for the Town of Lewiston. From ages 15-22, his every summer was spent working in different aspects of the town. The experience of working and maintaining the town grounds and recreation fields has helped Perreault serve as a volunteer coach for several Town of Lewiston teams over the past 11 years. It has also helped him in making decisions that affect the community as part of the Town Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. As a committee member, Perreault works to advise on the general improvement of the town parks and recreation programs.
The Town of Lewiston Saturday Recreation Basketball League, which runs from November through February, has been a program that Perreault helped develop over the past nine years. The program has become a great place for youth to learn about teamwork. Most of the coaches are teenagers who have grown up playing in the program.
The league now has three age groups and serves more than 100 youth participants from first grade through sixth grade. Teams are divided in three sections: first and second grade, third and fourth grade, and fifth and sixth grade.
The Lewiston-Porter School District graciously allows the program participants to practice on the school campus on Saturdays, providing gym time. With so much interest in the basketball program from girls, a girl's-only team was also formed. The participants are able to play against teams in the Catholic League. Registration for the basketball program is through the Town of Lewiston Recreation Department.
Perreault credits Recreation Director Michael Dashineau for making the registration process smooth, and taking care of all of the coordinating - which makes volunteering for the program easy. Future plans for the basketball program include adding additional practice time during the week, which will require dedicated gym time, something that is hard to find in Lewiston.
Perreault has also volunteered as a Town of Lewiston baseball coach for the travel league for eight years and the house league for seven years. He has also volunteered as a basketball coach for Stella Niagara's seventh/eighth grade team, as well as Niagara Pioneer Soccer Tournament for the past eight years.
David and his wife, Julie, live in Lewiston with their three children - Brendan, Andrew and Kendall - who have all participated in the basketball program. Perreault is the co-owner of Bison Logo, a full-service custom imprinted apparel company in Williamsville.
The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Lewiston Board and Supervisor Broderick are proud to honor Perreault, the 2018 Town of Lewiston Citizen of the Year.
The Town of Lewiston basketball program's first- and second-grade players.
Awards will be presented to those contributing to the success of the local area when the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce holds its annual awards gala on Thursday, April 19, at the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston.
The event begins with a cocktail hour and hors d'oeuvres, followed by a sit-down dinner and awards program. A silent auction will take place throughout the evening.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available through the chamber office by calling 716-754-9500.