Ray Durand has owned the Esso gas station in Rimbey since 1966 and he has dedicated his time and energy as a volunteer for decades.
Durand has volunteered with the Rimbey Lions Club since 1971, just a few short years after moving to town.
“It’s a good town and I like to give a little back,” he said of volunteering. “We raised our family here and I figured a little input from me would maybe make things better.”
Durand said he spends a lot of his time at The Nesting Place, the campground operated by the Lions Club.
“I was flabbergasted,” he said of being nominated as a Community Hero. “I didn’t think what I did was that important. I mean, it is important, but I’m not the only one that volunteers in town.”
Durand said that at 88 years old, he’s still going strong.
“I’m blessed with good health and a fair amount of energy, so I can’t just sit around,” he said. “I enjoy what I’m doing. I open the service station at 5:30 and I leave there at 10, and that’s when I go to the campground.”
When it comes to his time with the Rimbey Lions Club, Durand said, “I’ve enjoyed it tremendously. They’re good people and we do a lot of work, but we also have quite a bit of fun as well.”