Marleen MacNaughton was named the Bernard Kot Parent of the Year and Willie and Adelle Nimegeers were named Grandparents of the Year during the awards ceremony and the Chocolate Decadence event hosted by the Family Place Saturday at the Grace United Church.

Willie and Adelle Nimegeers were nominated by their granddaughter Katie Nimegeers for the Grandparents of the Year award. Willie and Adelle have six grandchildren, however, they took in Katie when she was six years old and she is now 18 years old and a Grade 12 student at the Weyburn Comprehensive School.

"We feel really blessed to be given such an award," said Adelle.

"I think it is great to recognize those who raise a family, or in this case raised a grandchild," Willie said.

Marleen MacNaughton, who was nominated by Cara and Kyle Corbett for Parents of the Year, received the award for raising three children and three granddaughters. She is always active in school community events and hosts many family gatherings as well as taking in neighbourhood children to take part in activities.

"It was very shocking (to receive the award), but it is wonderful that the Family Place has such an award," MacNaughton said. "It is nice to have an award to recognize parents, grandparents and family backing."

It was a tearful event as Family Place manager Linda Rudachyk read the nominations before announcing the winners. Also nominated for the Grandparent of the Year award was Ed and Doreen Franko, Samie Ballenas, Grant and Nancy Paulson, Lloyd Miller and Ron and Tory Metheral.

The Frankos were nominated by their daughter Jeannine Kater for always being there for their 10 grandchildren and six great grandchildren and always welcoming the grandchildren into their home.

Ballenas was nominated by her daughter Marie Ballenas-Wanner. She was nominated for babysitting on short notice and reading Bible stories to her two grandchildren. During a trip to the Philippines, she also taught her grandchildren about the traditions and culture so they could learn about the family background.

The Paulsons were nominated by grandchildren Alexander, Emily and Anika Dyck. They have five grandchildren and were recognized for taking notes of all events taking place in their grandchildren's lives and attending whenever they can.

Miller was nominated posthumously by his daughter Angie Neuberger. Miller died on Jan. 2, but held his position as a grandfather with great honour. According to Neuberger's nomination, days before he died, he wasn't very coherent but still cracked a smile at the voice of his grandchild.

The Metherals were nominated by their family of Tyler, Carey, MacKenzie and Jarrett Metheral. They have 10 grandchildren and were nominated for given their grandchildren a carefree safe place as well as teaching them how to do things the old-fashioned way, with a lot of hard work.

Nominated for the Parent of the Year award along with MacNaughton were Edna Bakaluk and Darren Schmidt.

Bakaluk was nominated by Alvina Moore taking in her step-children as if they were her own. She even took in her brother's daughter when his wife left.

Schmidt was nominated by The Family Place and the Mini-Go School staff for looking after two special needs children as a single parent and taking the reality of his children's limitations with a positive attitude.

"All of the nominees have to feel special," said Rudachyk.

The awards were chosen by an independent panel of judges not associated with the Family Place. Rudachyk said the judges consisted of one middle-aged woman, one middle-aged man and a Grade 12 student to get a wide spectrum of opinions.

To begin the evening, Rudachyk and emcee Glenn Rogers gave a brief history of the awards and called upon Ken Kot to talk about his father Bernard, whom the Parent of the Year award is named after.

Kot mentioned how, while driving through a recent snow storm, it got him to thinking about some of the stress it took his father to raise seven children by himself.

"I remember in 1967 when he got his first new car. It was such a relief in his eyes that he didn't have to drive seven kids in an old jalopy that was unreliable," said Kot. He added that his father held three strong beliefs: Honesty, prayer and work hard.

Jody Pfeiffer and her band supplied the musical entertainment for the evening as well as Chocolate Decadence all-you-can-eat buffet.