This last Labour Day long weekend when the Freehold was gathered at the Althing, we continued an important tradition of the Freehold. By consensus of the community we made awards to recognise those who deserved them. There were four recipients of three awards that the Freehold has created.
Freydis Egilsdottir is this years recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. This is to acknowledge her numerous contributions to the Freehold ranging from being a founding member of the Freehold, to sewing the Freehold’s banner, to leading almost every guild that has existed at some point in the history of the Freehold, to many years of honoured service as Ombudsman of the Freehold, to editing and illuminating Kindertales Volumes 1 & 2, writing stories for Kindertales volumes 1 & 2, and many many more contributions. The Althing could think of no Heathen who deserved this acclaim more than Freydis.
We had an uncommon result in this year’s vote for who was most deserving of the Freeholder of the Year award, it was decided that both were deserving and that we would have co-recipients of this year’s award. The Freeholder of the Year award is given to the member of the Freehold who has made the most significant contribution to our community each year.
Garth Spencer is one of this years co-recipients of the Freeholder of the Year award. This was to acknowledge his valuable contributions to the administration of the Freehold. These contributions were even more astounding as he jumped straight into the role of Clerk when he became a Probationary Member of the Freehold.
Kristy Williams is one of this years co-recipients of the Freeholder of the Year award. This was to acknowledge their valuable contributions to creating, editing, and publishing content on behalf of the Freehold in the form of our Newsletter, Kindertales Volume III, and several other actions. These contributions were especially valuable as Kristy applied for the role of Editor as they applied to join the Freehold as a Probationary Member.
Venessa Vallese is this years recipient of Frigga’s Loom. Frigga’s Loom is an award granted by the Althing of the BCHF to recognise an individual who has rendered exceptional service to the creation or maintenance of Frithful environments. Venesa received unanimous support from the Althing to recognise her accomplishments in building a multi-tradition pagan community in Nanaimo BC.
It is my profound honour as the Freyr of the Freehold to announce our award winners this year. All are good and worthy individuals who have brought honour and prestige to the Freehold by their actions and accomplishments. It is not every year that such accomplishments are acknowledged by our community, these were truly exceptional people to receive these awards.
Hail the awards recipients!
Hail the Freehold!
Hail the gods and goddesses!
In Frith and Service,
Aaron Brookes
Freyr of the BCHF
British Columbia Heathen Freehold 