The deadline has been extended to nominate the best of the best that the city has to offer in terms of volunteers and neighbours. People now have until the end of day on Monday, April 10 to get their nominations in.
"Applications have been coming in," said Joe Becigneul, executive director of the Community Information and Volunteer Centre (CIVC), stressing that some people have reached out to ask for more time to put their papers together.
It was announced earlier this year that the Mayor's Annual Celebration of Volunteers would combine several city award programs along with the CIVC's volunteer awards programs.
People can be recognized in four categories: Good Neighbours, Unsung Heroes, Leaders of Tomorrow (in categories of ages 6 to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 18, and 19 to 21 years, plus the group category), and the Volunteer Citizen of the Year.
The name of each winner will also be added to the City of St. Albert's virtual Great Book of St. Albert Volunteers.
Becigneul said that nominators should pay attention to one small change on the nomination form.
"One thing we did do on the nomination form … there is a check box if you have nominated someone for an Unsung Hero award and you would like the adjudication panel to consider them for Volunteer Citizen of the Year. A lot of times, people don't realize how much work people do so we leave that to the professionals to decide. That is out there as well as part of the process."
Call 780-459-6666 or visit www.stalbertcivc.com to learn more. The celebration will take place on the evening of Tuesday, May 16 at the St. Albert Alliance Church.
A separate Volunteer Appreciation luncheon will be held earlier as usual. This year's event is set for Tuesday, April 25.
Captain Pasta to the rescue!
Never before has lasagna done so much for humankind.
Next Saturday's Hamper Hunger lasagna dinner event will surely boost spirits while boosting up the stocks of food staples on the shelves at the St. Albert Food Bank. She's talking real produce too.
"We're raising money to be able to purchase food and other operations within the food bank. We're still up around 200 families a month, which is incredibly high," explained executive director Suzan Krecsy, referring to the still peaking demand for assistance from the organization. "It seems to be that maybe there's a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel."
Demand has been on a two-year upswing with major factors including the economic downturn and last year's devastating wildfire through Fort McMurray and the Wood Buffalo region.
Part of the proceeds from this dinner will go towards the purchase of fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables.
"We're really starting to ramp up a healthier hamper."
Tickets are $30 each (with a $20 tax receipt). It takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 8 at the St. Albert Community Hall, 17 Perron St. Dean Kurpjuweit, managing director of the Mustard Seed Edmonton, will be the guest speaker with entertainment by magician and comedian Don King.
Krecsy made a note that he isn't the Don King who became famous as a boxing promoter but he is still an entertaining fellow. King will play emcee for the evening as well.
"It'll be a fun evening."
The organization hopes to sell out all 200 tickets.
Call the food bank at 780-459-0599 (ext. 1) or visit www.stalbertfb.com for more information.
Good Deeds back on
A glitch in the system that allowed voting irregularities had forced the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup competition to reboot. The glitch has since been fixed and the contest is now back on.
The St. Albert Minor Hockey Association Peewee Predators was chosen because of their recent community service with the Hope Mission and other charities throughout the season.
The team that gets the most votes will win the grand prize of $10,000, half of which will go to the charity of its choice and the other half going to its minor hockey association.
Visit www.chevrolet.ca/hockey/power-of-play.html to vote. People can vote once in every 24-hour period up until Thursday, April 20 at 10 p.m. (MST).
