by John Dowd
The Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce recently announced their annual Chamber awards, one of which is the Spark Plug Award. This award is given to someone who is active in the community and acts as a “spark” to other volunteers and businesses in the valley. This year, Dyana Canavan was recognized for the Spark Plug Award.
Canavan is the business development manager of Partners in Home Care, and does numerous things in the valley. She said that one of the highlights over the last couple years, and where she believes the ball got rolling for her nomination, was her participation in the Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce program, “Leadership Bitterroot.”
Dyana Canavan, Spark Plug Award winner, was recognized by the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce for acting as a “spark” to other volunteers and businesses in the community. Photo by John Dowd.
This nine-month program gets participants together once a month for an entire day, where they converse with leaders in the community and learn about a variety of factors unique to the Bitterroot. The event is organized solely by the Chamber, and each meeting includes a daily topic. According to Canavan, this was a fantastic networking opportunity which strives to “get leaders in the community involved,” and to “grow appreciation of the ground we walk on, the water we use and the people around us.”
She said she has always tried to put herself out there in the community, and being selected for the Spark Plug Award was a great way to see that work noticed. Canavan was especially proud, after learning other award recipients before her included people like Hamilton Mayor Dominic Farrenkopf, and Melisa Greenwood of the Ravalli Electric Co-op. “I’m honored and it just inspired me to do more,” said Canavan. “I am proud of this town, so I want this town to be proud of me.”
A lot of what Canavan does in the area is about igniting businesses and programs. One program that walks hand-in-hand with her work with Partners in Home Care and community ignition is the Ravalli Senior Networking Group. Canavan and Partners in Home Care are one of over 50 businesses and organizations that do work for seniors in the valley, offering a multitude of services.
To be part of the group, members need to provide services for community members 60 and older. The group meets once a month and each meeting is hosted by a different group member. The meetings are generally presentations given by that month’s leading member, and they cover a range of topics. These are often educational and help members keep up to date with various services and opportunities that are available, both for community members and for those working in the industry.The group has an upcoming event Canavan wanted to highlight.
On Saturday, September 20, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Sapphire Lutheran Homes will be hosting the group on their lawn for a large expo-type event called “Bridging Generations, Building Community.” Each organization will have a booth and there will be food trucks, music and more. The goal of the event will be to help the community to see the variety of services available, and allow seniors and their families to network with and learn about these opportunities, all in one place. For more information about the Ravalli Senior Networking Group, interested parties can email canavand@partnersinhomecare.org, or call (406) 880-6923.
Canavan is also an ambassador with the Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce. The ambassadors are there to support ribbon cutting ceremonies and other chamber events, both as volunteers as well as spokespeople for the community. They also meet and network with new members of the Chamber, making them feel welcome and showing them other opportunities.
Another project in the works that Canavan is overseeing is the sponsoring of the Sun Porch at the Daly Mansion. Partners in Home Care will be sponsoring the space this year, which itself is a new program for the Daly Mansion, and the business hopes to continue to do this indefinitely.
Partners in Home Care wants to use the space to recreate an event they host every year in Missoula, called the “Tree of Life.” This event happens in the winter, and involves community members hanging ornaments for loved ones. According to Canavan, the goal of adding this event in Ravalli County is to have something like it here in the valley, so those that enjoy it do not need to drive all the way to Missoula around Christmas time. The event will be unique from the Missoula version, putting a twist on the event. Sticking with the Victorian motif present at the Mansion, they want to incorporate this theme into the decoration of their Tree of Life event.
Canavan wanted to thank the community, and the Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce, for recognizing her and what she does in the community. She said it comes back to family and living in a community; it seems to be just what someone does.
“I plan to always be a spark plug for this community,” said Canavan.
Camilla Gottwig says
Well it is perfectly clear why this remarkable and talented woman won this award!! She is a gift to this community!