The results are in for the Town of LaSalle's 2018 Volunteer Recognition Awards and they caught at least one winner by surprise.
Citizen of the Year John Sobhi is one of four recipients at this year's awards that recognize hard work and dedication to the town and surrounding communities.
Sobhi coached 12 teams last season and holds an open gym Catholic Central High School for kids who want to keep active. He's donated countless hours coaching and mentoring youth that have become his second family over the past 13 years.
The 32-year-old educational assistant for the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board tells AM800 News the news caught him a little of guard.
"When I got the phone call it was pretty funny actually because I had no idea how I was nominated. They ended up explaining that through a lot of the volunteer work that I do that someone had nominated me," he says. "It's very humbling. I never do anything outside of what I think is normal, so to end up receiving something of this magnitude is honestly a feeling I really can't explain right now.
Sobhi tells AM800 News the occasion wouldn't be complete without his wife, his son, and the extended family he spends so much of his free time with.
"I do it for the love of the sport and for the passion of getting kids involved so to come here today and not have them around me supporting me the way I was supporting them, it wouldn't have been the same," says Sobhi.
Lina Chaker was named the Young Citizen of the year for her community outreach , Dr. Nick Krayacich Outstanding was named Service Club Volunteer for his work with the Rotary Club of LaSalle, and Ivan Petric was named Outstanding Board Volunteer for is work with the LaSalle Stompers Soccer Club.
The ceremony also recognized 15 and 25 year milestones for several volunteers.