The bird's wings are arched high and spread wide and are open to the pale blue sky painted around it. The bird appears to be accepting of opportunity, and welcomes its surroundings- and though Percy may not realize it, he is this bird.

The Brampton senior is sitting in the back corner of the hobby shop at the Flower City Seniors Centre, quietly focussed on his work when The Guardian arrives to interview him.

The other participants let out a big whoop when they learn their friend is the subject of a newspaper article. Like any close family, teasing and ribbing ensues, and it's obvious that Percy is revered by his peers.

"It's those people," Percy said, motioning to the participants, "that give you the energy and drive to do the things you want to do."

Percy is the recipient of the 2008 Ontario Senior of the Year award. He has dedicated the last 42 years to efforts in volunteerism- the Boy Scouts and the Legion, for example- and he's been president of "half a dozen groups" over the years.

Roughly three years ago, Percy was approached by the city to help launch a wood carving group at the Flower City Senior Centre. The initiative has evolved to become an extremely successful endeavour that helps seniors find a fulfilling hobby, as well as genuine camaraderie.

Since then, the group has grown in leaps and bounds- not just in numbers but in its successes. Moving from a one-day-a-week program to a program that runs three and a half days a week speaks to its popularity, and the number of awards received by participants validates the capabilities of its members. Percy spends three days a week in the hobby shop mentoring participants, along with staff instructor Ilana Miller.

Percy, however, remains humble about his involvement- and his award.

"The story isn't about me," he said. "It's about the people I've had the privilege to work with."

Despite many struggles throughout his life, Percy has maintained a positive attitude that is both admirable and infectious- "life's not easy, but you make it what it is," he said.

"I look at it like, every day that you are blessed enough to get up, you gotta get up off your duff and do something."

And, he's speaking from experience- he is anything but an idle man, and balks at those who say there is "nothing to do in Brampton."

Percy arrived in Brampton in 1951 with his mother and step-father. In 1954, he joined the Canadian army where he served until 1966. Upon returning home, he took jobs in construction, personnel and eventually wound up working for the city in 1974 as a building inspector. He climbed the ladder quickly there, moving up to chief building official, which is the title he retired from.

Aside from his professional career, Percy has taken up many hobbies and interests. For the past 42 years, he's been a mentor, as well as a consultant, entrepreneur and student and teacher of geology.

All of this, he says, ties in to his passion for serving the community.

"To me, these things are just stepping stones to help people develop themselves," he said. "I'm just a catalyst. When you meet these people, and share these hobbies, and give them encouragement- it's that interaction with people that makes it all worthwhile."

Also a family man- with a wife, two sons, a daughter and eight grandchildren- Percy says he's always being reminded to slow down by his loved ones. To that, he says he's not ready to put the brakes on any of his interests just yet.

"I'd like to do seven more years to give myself 50 volunteerism years," he told The Guardian. "And then I might consider slowing down a little.

"There's so much I want to do, and as long as I can do it, I will."

As for being named the 2008 Ontario Senior of the Year, Percy says he was in complete shock and "totally blind sided" by the announcement. And though he's very proud to have received the recognition, he maintains that "the story behind it is not about me."