There is no end to the value that volunteers provide communities at large, even when those communities are larger than just one town or two. Sturgeon County is the area that surrounds St. Albert, Morinville and more than a dozen other towns and hamlets over an area of more than 2,000 square kilometres.
Keeping all of those people connected is especially tough when your neighbours aren’t always right next door. That’s something that Sheila Macaulay, senior communications officer with the county, hoped to emphasize with last week’s ceremony to recognize those people who worked extra hard with their volunteering efforts.
“Sturgeon County appreciates and values our volunteers and recognizes the contributions that they make to the community. These individuals go above and beyond, giving, helping all while building a sense of community,” she stated.
“The annual Volunteer Awards ceremony is Sturgeon County’s way of showing gratitude for their efforts.”
All in all, the county acknowledges the efforts of individuals who volunteer with any of the more than 60 community organizations including Association Canadienne-Francaise De L’Alberta Regionale Centralta, Edmonton Garrison Military Family Resource Centre, Gibbons Seniors Twilight Club, Legal Titans 4-H Club, Mearns St. Charles Angels Club, Morinville Seniors Rendezvous Club, Namao Senior Citizen Museum and Archive Society, Nechi Institute, Redwater and District Crime Watch Association, Riviere Qui Barre Agricultural Society, St. Albert Bereavement Fellowship, St. Albert Stop Abuse in Families (SAIF) Society, Sturgeon River Historical Society, Sturgeon Valley Parks and Recreation Society, Villeneuve Athletic Association, and the West Sturgeon Aging In Place Foundation.
The Building Blocks of the Community Award was presented to Jessica Gray, Vanessa King and Kyle Swenson.
The list of Outstanding Volunteers of the Year consisted of Daniel Antoniuk, Jeff and Irina Bauer, Evan Cameron, Gail Critchley, Luci Dowhaniuk, Lois Dutton, Carol Kaup, Theresa Kerckhof, Marge Kluthe, Kris Kropp, Joe Kryschuk, Daniel Low, Leona Petherbridge, Jeannine Robertson, Colleen Robinson, Vicky Rozak, Orville Sleen, Raymond Soetaert, Trish and Gary Soetaert, and Diane Vander Haak.
The annual ceremony was held at the Morinville Community Cultural Centre.
