[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/goodneighbours2012.jpg” caption=”Good Neighbour award winners with members of Hamilton Police Services, Dean of Students Phil Wood and AWWCA student liaison Shelli Eisenberg.”]For engineering student Sean Mercer, being a good neighbour is all about doing the
little things.

Collecting the recycling bins, chatting over the fence, keeping an eye on each other’s
property – all are meaningful actions, often taken for granted.

Not by Mercer’s Royal Avenue neighbours, however, who nominated him and
housemates Ben Riddell, Katie England, and Ted Wormald for a Good
Neighbour Award.

The award, presented by the Ainslie Wood-Westdale Community Association, Hamilton
Police Services, McMaster Students Union and the University, recognizes students who
have a positive influence in their neighbourhoods.

“It helps us feel like we’re a part of the community we live in,” said Mercer. “We just help
out when we can, and our neighbours do the same for us. It feels good.”

Other award winners came from Sterling, Bowman, King, Bond and Barclay streets,
Thorndale Crescent and Haddon Avenue.

“We’re very glad to be able to recognize so many of the wonderful McMaster students in
the community,” said Shelli Eisenberg, student liaison with the AWWCA. “These are the
kids who are respectful of their neighbours, have a friendly hello, smile, keep their noise
down, keep their properties litter-free, shovel their snow – basically live with us as
‘good neighbours’. This award is a way of thanking those Mac students. We are truly
grateful to them.”

“Our students are important citizens in Hamilton,” said Phil Wood, associate vice-
president student affairs and dean of students. “These awards recognize that and re-
enforce students’ value in the community.”

The students were given award certificates during a short presentation in the Student
Centre.