There are a lot of things that would not happen in Canmore and the Bow Valley if it weren’t for the hard work and dedication of volunteers.
Sporting events at the Nordic Centre, annual festivals like the Folk Music Festival and Highland Games, Canada Day, even daily and weekly programs like meals on wheels and the snow angel program in winter – they would fail to deliver in contributing to our community’s social fabric if it weren’t for those who take the time to volunteer.
With April 10-16 being National Volunteer Week, the province of Alberta, as well as the Town of Canmore, are marking the occasion and celebrating the hard work of our community’s volunteers.
The Mayor’s Awards for Volunteer Excellence were held Wednesday night (April 13) and honoured dedicated community members in a number of categories.
“Volunteers are an integral part of our community and it is important that we take a moment every now and then to reflect on that. We pause occasionally to acknowledge all that is done in Canmore by volunteers, and to thank them for their spirit and dedication to our community,” said Mayor John Borrowman.
“Although people do not volunteer in order to be recognized in this way, it is a simple thing that we can do as a community to honour those that contribute so much.”
They mayor said volunteers are critical to the success of all the amazing programs, events and activities that make Canmore what it is. With so much passion in the community, he said, volunteers are called on often to help and many great, passionate people answer that call each time.
“I would like to personally thank everyone in the community who volunteers for something,” he said, “without them, our community would not be what it is.”
Banff also recognized its community volunteers with a barbecue Friday (April 15) at Town Hall. Meanwhile, the province recognized volunteer week and local celebrations like Canmore’s that recognize how, through grassroots community service, volunteers are a core part of the social fabric in Alberta.
“The roots of volunteerism run deep in Alberta and from those roots strong families and communities have blossomed,” said Minister for Culture and Tourism Ricardo Miranda. “National Volunteer Week is a chance to reflect on how those caring and committed volunteers have made a difference in your life and how you can make a difference in the lives of others.”
Canmore is one of 90 communities that hosted activities this week to recognize volunteers, supported by $65,000 in funding from the province. Approximately 61 per cent of Albertans representing all age groups volunteered with an organization in their community in 2014-15 and contributed an average of 160 hours each year.
“Volunteers who contribute to their community have a sense of purpose and belonging and they are essential to nonprofit organizations and communities across our province,” said executive director of Volunteer Alberta Jann Beeston. “National Volunteer Week is our opportunity as nonprofit organizations to celebrate and thank Alberta’s amazing volunteers.”
The great neighbor award was given to Maureen Cormack and Jay Donnelly as the first presentation by Borrowman.
In the adult category, 18 individuals were nominated by friends and neighbours for their contributions – Chuck Patel, David Holder, Deb Juravleff-Boucher, Joyce Peart, Luc Arvisais, Marshall and Donna Kennedy, Sandy Last, Alicia Evans, Sandy and Dr. Buchko, Bridget Fearing, Rolf Foster Jorgensen, Debbie Morgan, Margaret Seto, Amanda Carrington, Emerson Sanford, Donna Trautman, Cheryl Fraser and Marion Whitworth. It was Whitworth who took home the award in the category.
Three young Canmore residents were nominated in the youth category as well – Sasa Vanc, Madison Buckley and Ethan Denton, who won the award.
The corporate for profit category saw five businesses nominated – Distinctive Homes, Panago, Starbucks, Wildflower and Hi Jinx, which was honoured with the award.
The corporate not for profit organizations recognized with nominations were Bow Valley Connections, Community Food and Friends, Bow Valley Mentors, Primary Care Network, CAUSE Canada, Canmore Eagles, Canmore Co-Ed Drop In Sports and Crossway Thrift. The dedicated volunteers from the Community Food and Friends group were
Wildlife Ambassadors, Student Bikers, Ethan Denton and Jim and Val Pissot were nominated for the environmental stewardship award and the Wildlife Ambassadors took home the award.
