#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. The Northern City’s Hero project was created to talk about people who live in Norilsk, raise children, work and make their northern city better. Thanks to it, the Norilsk and Taimyr residents know the names of their fellow townmen and can be proud of them. The partners of the Severny Gorod media company project were the Nornickel company and the NordStar airline.
This year, there was also a special award for the winner in the nine categories. It was made from epoxy resin by a special order by a master from Korolev. The award symbolizes the icy beauty and grandeur of the North. Everyone saw something of their own in it: flashes of the northern lights, shades of polar snow, gusts of a blizzard, and so on. Those who did not have enough votes to win received a winner’s plaque and a sweet prize – a copy of the main award. And of course, the winners got an important, necessary and useful special prize from NordStar Airlines – a certificate for a free flight during a year.
To create a warm and friendly atmosphere, a festive buffet was organized for the guests and a photo zone was installed so that they could take a photo.
“The Northern City’s Hero Award is needed first and foremost by people. The city is people, and they should see their heroes, know them, and follow them. And those city residents who are included in the list of heroes feel their importance, the strength not to retreat from their goals. The award shows residents how important their work is”, said Natalya Dunayeva, head of the Charitable Activities and Corporate Community Development Department of the Nornickel Polar Division.
Nine main categories characterize our northern city: industrial, young, healthy, athletic, educated, caring, cultured, kind and successful. The special one – For the Contribution to the Northern City – is awarded to Norilsk residents selected by the media company employees. This year, the award went to Mikhail Demyanov, director of the Nornickel’s Public Relations Department.
“We will convey our gratitude in the form of an award to Mikhail Aleksandrovich. It is very important for us to spread the philosophy that centers on a person, his work, self-worth and gratitude. Thank you all for your activity, for the ability to thank each other. The results this year are very high, we’ve broken records. And the fact that the number of voters has increased by 2.5 times compared to last year indicates that we are moving in the right direction. Thanks to all the heroes, and the Severny Gorod media company will continue to write and talk about them, about their dedication and passion”, said Elena Sergeyeva, the Severny Gorod media company’s director.
The hall where the ceremonial part was held was full. The nominees came with their support groups.
“The city unites everyone by living in difficult conditions beyond the Arctic Circle. Every year Norilsk becomes better and more modern. Back in 1983, when I came here as part of a construction team, one of the banners said: “Norilsk loves the courageous and strong”. It would be great to return this slogan to some street in the city. Each of us contributes his part to the development of the northern city”, said Talgat Mushtekenov, deputy director of Nornickel’s Polar Division for Industrial Safety and Labor Protection.
He awarded the winner in the Industrial Northern City category Denis Tatarkov, chief technologist of the Norilskshakhtservis Trust of Norilsknickelremont enterprise.
“It was a big surprise for me that I’ve become a nominee and a winner. Many thanks to the creators of the project and to those who voted for me”, said Denis Tatarkov.
The award did not pass by the northern city’s athletes. In this category, the competition was between a volleyball player, sports photographer, a fire communications dispatcher in the fire safety department of the Nornickel PD Elena Funkner, a snowboarder and kitesurfer Alexander Solovyov from Norilskshakhtservis and a mountain climber Artur Valiev, whose place of work is also Norilskshakhtservis. The victory was won by Artur Valiev, who, among other things, became famous for having climbed mount Elbrus this summer and reached the highest point of 5,642 meters in five days.
The nominees for the Educated Northern City were Lyudmila Savchuk, a special education teacher at the Norilsk boarding school, Anna Malova, an English teacher at the grammar school No.4, and Alexey Shikan, a teacher at the IT-Kub.Norilsk center, a fourth-year student at the N.M. Fedorovsky Polar State University.
The winner in this nomination is Lyudmila Savchuk. “Together, we, parents and teachers, can make our children happy”, added Lyudmila Savchuk.
Pavel Semenov became the winner in the Cultural Northern City category. He shared his emotions:
“I am proud of my small, but very modern and cultural northern city. I am proud of the people who prove to the world every day that it is possible to develop in the conditions of the Far North”, he explained.
Pavel sang a heartfelt song about white snow, which enhanced the mood in the hall.
The chairman of the Norilsk City Council of Deputies, Alexander Pestryakov, spoke about the Northern City’s Hero award importance.
“The symbiosis of the Severny Gorod portal and the TV channel give the city residents a very significant and humane story. The established categories evoke many pleasant emotions, because they are associated with our territory, and the people who become winners in them are an example for the city residents. I would like to wish this competition to continue and our northern city’s new heroes to appear”, the deputy corps head noted.
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Text: Maria Sanina, Photo: Nikolay Shchipko
