National Volunteer Week will be recognized in Yorkton the week of April 12-18.
“National Volunteer Week is all about taking time to recognize the incredible contributions of our volunteers and letting them know how much their effort is appreciated. A volunteer action is like a stone thrown in a lake: its effect has a direct impact. At the same time, like ripples, volunteer efforts reach out far and wide to improve communities,” said Lisa Washington, Community Development Manager at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.
“Volunteering is part of our identity as Canadians – we value civic participation and embrace a spirit of community. The tremendous efforts of Canada’s 13.3 million volunteers help make our country a vibrant, safe place to call home. People are getting involved and leading positive change in various ways, all of them vital – from quick bursts of mobile volunteering on smart phones to front-line disaster relief efforts, as the work of volunteers is essential to maintaining healthy, vibrant communities.”
Washington said in Yorkton the efforts of volunteers accomplish many good things.
Volunteers in Yorkton do many good things for our community including, but not limited to: mentoring our children, feeding our hungry, comforting our lonely and fundraising for our charitable organizations.
“Yorkton’s volunteers are young and old; they are families, workers, retirees, men and women of all ages and backgrounds. There are over 140 organizations and groups registered in Yorkton’s Official Leisure Guide. In addition to the many other events, projects, and committees driven and governed by volunteers, they all add to Yorkton’s quality of life,” said Washington.
“All of these groups increase awareness of the benefits of volunteering, in addition to tackling a portion of the fundraising requirements to ensure their project implementation. In the last year alone, many volunteers also came forward to help people displaced or affected by high water or fire in Yorkton. The collective result of the work done by our city’s volunteers is that Yorkton is a more desirable place to live, work and play.”
Such efforts make a better city.
“Volunteers strengthen and make our community vibrant. National Volunteer Week is Canada’s largest celebration of volunteers, volunteerism, and civic participation. It is a time to recognize, celebrate and thank our volunteers,” said Washington.
The recommendation that the City formally mark the week was unanimously supported by Council.
