Salvation Army Captain Steve Manuel receives Summerside, N.S.'s George Key Sr. Memorial Award for Citizen of the Year.

He was chosen as citizen of the year by a selection committee.

Manuel was born and raised in Newfoundland and has been involved with Salvation Army programs all his life.

He attended the Salvation Army College for officer training in 1997 and was ordained as a pastor in 1999.

His first appointment was Timmins, Ont., where he lived for four years before being transferred to Summerside in July 2003.

Manuel's involvement in the community includes being an active member of the Rotary Club since 2003; the Y's Kids Equipped to Learn Committee; the P.E.I. Advisory Committee on Homelessness; and the Christian Council.

Manuel also serves the community as a board member of the East Prince Youth Development Centre and as a parent volunteer with the SIS Breakfast Buddies program along with co-ordinating food drives for the food bank.

With the Salvation Army, Manuel supervises its operations including the food bank, soup kitchen and thrift store as well as Christmas assistance programs, and the weekly worship services at the church on Pope Road.