A St. Albert mentor who has helped thousands of kids find supportive role models has received a provincial award for volunteerism.
St. Albert resident Elizabeth “Liz” O’Neill received a Stars of Alberta Volunteer Award from Alberta Arts, Culture, and Status of Women Minister Tanya Fir Dec. 6 in a ceremony at the McDougall Centre in Calgary. The award recognizes Albertans whose formal volunteer efforts contribute to the well-being of their community. O’Neill was one this year’s nine recipients.
O’Neill was recognized for her decades of effort promoting mentorship in Alberta, both as a volunteer and during her 45-year stint as executive director of the Boys and Girls Club/Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton and Area (BGCBigs). Her work has helped thousands of Alberta youths find supportive role models.
O’Neill said she accepted this award with humility, as Alberta, and especially St. Albert, was full of fantastic volunteers.
“You ask yourself, ‘Why me?’ because I could name 100 people who deserved that award.”
O’Neill was nominated by Danisha Bhaloo-Shivji, who first met her at age nine as a client of what is now BGCBigs.
“She was the first one I saw when I walked in and she was the first one who asked if she could give me a hug,” Bhaloo-Shivji said of O’Neill.
Bhaloo-Shivji said O’Neill is an open, friendly person who always has your back and always put kids first. She has also been a lifelong mentor, having helped her obtain scholarships and jobs as she grew up.
“I feel like she’s a big sister for everyone.”
Everyone’s big sister
O’Neill said she came to St. Albert from Toronto 45 years ago and signed on as executive director of Big Sisters Edmonton. Back then, she was the group’s only full-time employee, and had to make meals and run programs for about 25 at-risk youths on a $36,000 budget.
O’Neill said she took on the job because she wanted to improve the lives of kids.
“If anything is going to happen in society, it’s going to happen because good people come together to make it happen.”
O’Neill said she soon realized that many youths in Edmonton’s Big Brothers and Big Sisters groups were often siblings, and proposed a merger to save money and improve services. She later oversaw a second merger with Edmonton’s Boys and Girls Clubs for similar reasons.
Kerry Woodland, co-executive director of BGCBigs, praised O’Neill as a visionary in the social services sector who has dedicated her life to helping youth.
“She has an internal passion for helping,” Woodland said, and always puts kids first in anything she does.
Woodland said O’Neill has left a huge mark on BGCBigs, which has established a scholarship in her name. Under O’Neill’s leadership, BCGBigs has grown to have a $10 million budget, 5,000 clients, and 140 staff.
As co-chair of the Alberta Mentorship Partnership, O’Neill developed resources and research to help non-profits and government agencies across Alberta create mentorship programs to help youths and build communities, her citation reads.
“We all do better in life when we have champions in our corner,” O’Neill said.
O’Neill serves on many volunteer boards and has served as vice-chair of the Premier’s Council on Charities and Civil Society since 2019, where she works to address social issues across Alberta.
In an email, Rob Yager, president of United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, praised O’Neill for her tireless dedication to mentoring, leadership, and strengthening the charitable sector.
“Liz embodies the very spirit of volunteerism and community building. Through her leadership with BGCBigs and her pivotal role in creating the Alberta Mentoring Partnership, she has ensured that vulnerable children and youth have the connection and support they need to thrive.”
O’Neill received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Mentor Canada in 2020 in recognition for her work to support youths.
Since she retired from BGCBigs last August, O’Neill said she has spent her time tidying up the house, writing hundreds of thank-you letters, and getting ready to visit her son in Vancouver. She plans to sign up for some volunteer gigs in the near future.
O’Neill encouraged all Albertans to volunteer in support of kids.
“It’s only by us stepping up that kids will have what they need when they need it.”
Visit www.alberta.ca/stars-of-alberta-volunteer-awards-recipients for a list of this year’s Stars of Alberta recipients.
