George Markow was already a hero and now he’s a Citizen of Character as well.
The 100-year-old veteran has been honoured with the 2021 award from Character Community York Region.
“It’s a great honour. I was happy,” Markow said of the recognition.
As a prisoner of war for three years in the Second World War, Markow displayed incredible character in the face of hardship, Character Community said.
“It was his courage and perseverance that sustained his will to survive and give him the strength and fortitude to live his life with selfless determination,” they said.
His daughter, Sylvia Perkins, couldn't agree more.
“When I think about his life and what he had been through, all the adversity, prisoner of war during the Second World War, his survival, that’s what I think the remarkable thing is. His life has come full circle from the hardships in his earlier life,” she said. “And now the final chapter of his life is remarkable in the other extreme. It’s joy, it’s happiness, I’m in awe of what he has accomplished and what he has done at this age.”
The Newmarket senior received the accolade outside at the Roxborough Retirement Residence where he lives.
It was there that he first captured the community’s and then the nation’s attention in 2020 by vowing to walk 100 kilometres around the home's courtyard while raising money for Southlake Regional Health Centre and Sunnybrook Hospital for medical research.
They calculated that 15 laps of the courtyard was one kilometre, so that’s how he kept track.
“The scenery is beautiful,” said Markow, who’s always been a nature lover and a proponent of physical activity to stay healthy.
He crossed the 100 km mark in September and the successful campaign went on to raise over $160,000.
Markow has also kept walking since then, going more than 150 km in total.
He celebrated his 100th birthday on April 14 and credits walking as one of his secrets to a long life.
Although he did not announce to his fellow residents that he would be receiving the award, many came outside to watch Markow receive the Character Award and celebrate his accomplishments.
“All that walking paid off,” he said.
For Perkins, the message she takes away from it is “it doesn’t matter what age you are, you can do something positive and make a difference.”
Across the region, other residents are being recognized with Character Awards.
Jenova Lin of Markham also received the Citizen of Character award.
The Sir Wilfred Laurier Public School student was diagnosed with Tourettes in 2018 and has since been inspired to raise awareness and funds for Tourettes Canada and promote anti-bullying initiatives.
Other recipients of the Character Awards for 2021 include Newmarket musician Glenn Marais, who received the Donald Cousens Community Impact Award, and the Newmarket Food Pantry, which was recognized alongside all the other food banks in York Region with the Community Hero Award.
