There is slightly less than three weeks left to get your nomination in for this year’s Stars of Alberta Volunteer Awards. Despite the fact that St. Albert has been recognizing volunteers since the 1960s, there has yet to be a local resident given this provincial honour since its inception in 2000.
“We’ve had a few entries in the past but perhaps they were close enough but just not chosen to receive an award,” proffered Alla Honcharuk, the awards co-ordinator with the ministry of culture and community spirit.
“This year, we’ve already received a couple from St. Albert. Keep your fingers crossed,” she mused. “We’ve been having a pretty good volume of nominations.”
She added that a typical year sees about 120 to 130 names be put forward, although she encourages people to help boost the numbers of nominees for the youth category.
The awards program began with Krishan Joshe, the former chair of the now-defunct Wild Rose Foundation.
“He always believed that, although nobody does volunteering for recognition or praise, it is very important that this act of free will is not taken for granted,” Honcharuk explained.
The program recognizes extraordinary Albertans whose volunteer efforts have contributed to the well being of both their community and its citizens. There are six awards given out annually, two for each of three categories including youth, adult and senior.
The following eligibility criteria must be met for a successful application:
• exemplifies the spirit of community service;
• demonstrates exemplary initiative, leadership, and creativity in his/her service to others;
• serves as a role model for others in his/her community;
• inspires others to engage in volunteer service; and
• improves the overall quality of life of fellow Albertans and community as a whole.
The awards consist of a piece of white marble with a silver star that sits on top. They will be handed out at a special ceremony on or around Dec. 5, also known as International Volunteer Day.
The deadline for nominations is Friday, Sept. 30. To learn more or to make an application, call Honcharuk at 780-415-8139 or visit www.culture.alberta.ca/voluntarysector/stars.
