National Volunteer Week was marked across Canada this week (April 19 to 25).
In Canada volunteering is deeply ingrained to the point it is a part of our identity as Canadians. As a nation we value civic participation and embrace a spirit of community, and that is important because the efforts of volunteers greatly enhances our communities across a wide range of areas from supporting youth, to offering sports and arts opportunities, to providing a broad cultural base.
Volunteer Canada, a national non-profit organization, is the national voice for volunteerism in Canada. According to the national organization nearly 13 million Canadian volunteers give their time to help others, contributing close to 2 billion volunteer hours per year.
It would be difficult to imagine community life in a city such as ours without the efforts of volunteers.
So it is important that we take the time to recognize those efforts, and that is happening with a few garnering some special praise.
Locally, Barry Bradshaw got Volunteer of the Year from the Easter Seals National Volunteer Awards.
And, Merle Sherwin has received the OSAC Volunteer Recognition Award.
Recently, during National Volunteers Week, Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty announced the 2019 recipients of the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal. A ceremony to honour the recipients will take place when public gatherings resume, as this provincial honour celebrates its 25th anniversary.
“The Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal recognizes the extraordinary citizens that support our communities and our province,” Mirasty said. “This year’s recipients are leaders and mentors in their communities and are truly making a difference. I congratulate the 2019 recipients, who are most worthy, to be counted among those who have received this prestigious provincial honour over the past 25 years.”
Among the 12 recipients announced by Mirasty was Yorkton’s Gene Krepakevich.
The three recipients are worthy of the recognitions they are receiving.
But, the thing with awards is that there are always more people deserving of recognition than there are medals and trophies and certificates to hand out.
There are dozens of worthy volunteers in Yorkton alone; the people giving of their time to create events and provide opportunities for others to enjoy.
There would be no hockey, or soccer, or arts council, or film festival, or Boy Scouts or Girl Guides or dance groups without volunteers.
Yorkton would still exist, but it would be a husk of a city, a place without identity or soul. Those are things volunteers infuse into what would otherwise be a collection of buildings we live in.
So thank you volunteers, every single one of you, for your efforts to make our community a better place.
