Evelyn Hall was surprised to hear that someone from Fillmore had been chosen as one of three recipients of the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award.

She was overwhelmed to hear that the person was herself.

Hall was recognized for her dedication to her community as a health care professional and volunteer. Her volunteer efforts are credited with helping the Fillmore Health Care Centre succeed. She spent much of her own time preparing nurses for training, ensuring that local ambulance equipment and emergency personnel were up to date, and even volunteering as a nurse with the volunteer ambulance.

As the former nurse got ready Tuesday morning, prior to accepting the award that afternoon from Governor General Adrienne Clarkson at Regina City Hall, she said wasn't thinking of herself - she was thinking of the entire team she feels is responsible for her selection.

"I feel this award belongs to all the staff at Fillmore (Health Centre)," said Hall. "I've felt we provided a good service and that we have the best staff anywhere because we worked as a team. One person cannot do it alone. So I'm accepting the award on behalf of the entire crew."

Hall looked forward to meeting Clarkson, whose work she has long admired, and admitted she was a bit nervous.

Hall, who was born and raised in Fillmore as the daughter of John and Mary Fahlman, graduated from nursing school at the Regina General Hospital in 1963. She quickly embarked on a variety of nursing jobs that took her to Ontario, Seattle, Honolulu and Europe. Through it all, she occasionally returned to work at Fillmore, and moved home for good when she and her husband Winston decided to farm there in 1974.

Hall was employed as a general duty nurse at the Fillmore Hospital, where she stayed until her retirement last year.

"I worked there when it was a hospital, then an integrated facility in 1987, and then we faced the challenge of reform like everybody did," said Hall. "I had the opportunity to see a lot of changes occurring, as did all the staff here. The staff took the challenge to upgrade themselves by taking extra training.

"Looking back at my career, I do think some of the most difficult nursing is done in rural facilities. There is no one to back them and they do a tremendous job. In my whole 36 years, I think there was only one year, 1970, when there was an abundance of nurses. This shortage of nurses now is not new, but it hasn't been vocalized quite so dramatically before."

Hall says with the opportunities for work and travel, nursing is a great profession to get into, and she is pleased that her niece is doing just that, while another one also considers it as a career choice.

The Governor General Caring Canadian Award was created in 1996 and consists of the presentation of a plaque and lapel pin to each recipient, with a reception to follow. The lapel pin is adorned with a maple leaf signifying Canadian spirit, and a heart showing the care giving of volunteers.