**CITY OF TIMMINS MEDIA RELEASE**

Her passion for local history, dedication to the community and participation in volunteer work has earned Diane Armstrong the honour of Senior of the Year.

During the June 5 Council meeting, Mayor Steve Black presented Armstrong with the award, stating “Mrs. Armstrong deserves a pause from her dedicated work for all of us in the community to show our appreciation for all that she has accomplished and continues to do, which is why we are honouring her with this award tonight.”

Armstrong is well-known for her literary works “Over the Hill,” which has been a regular feature in the Timmins Times for over 20 years, and has also been published in paperback. She has been successful in publishing several other titles, all aimed at keeping local history alive through research and the written word. Her passion for writing also helped preserve a monumental piece of local history in the community, as proceeds from her sales of Mud, Muskeg and Mosquitoes were donated toward the preservation and upkeep of the Hollinger House located at the Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre.

“She is a great advocate and participant of volunteer work, sharing her knowledge with the public, and her inquisitiveness has shown the value of community resources, such as public libraries, museums, newspapers, and history books,” said Mayor Black. “Her work in helping bring the origin story of Mrs. Eva Connor’s Porcupine Tartan and the fabric itself back to life have demonstrated what can be done by being persistent. She has dedicated considerable time and effort into keeping the memories of past personalities alive.”