It’s fitting that Habitat for Humanity’s greatest volunteer in the entire country is a St. Albert man. Wouldn’t you know, he’s on site right now for this city’s first project.
The charity that builds homes and facilitates dreams recently acknowledged Orest Myckan for his 17 years of dedicated service both here and abroad. The 66-year-old former employee of the petrochemical industry was honoured as Habitat for Humanity’s Volunteer of the Year for his dedication and leadership at a ceremony on May 22.
Myckan doesn’t just help with the blitz builds around Edmonton though. He also participates in Global Village trips to provide housing around the world, such as Central America, the Caribbean and the Philippines. It’s altruism, not travel, that spurs him to help.
“It’s the spirit of helping others,” he explained during a break on his current jobsite in the North Ridge neighbourhood. “You’re doing good plus you’re really getting to know people within the country, which is a big payoff.”
Myckan first became involved after being transferred to Alberta from Ontario.
“They were at a home and garden show in Edmonton,” he said of Habitat for Humanity. “My wife and I … were looking for something to do. The cause, the reason for them, their mission … attracted me.”
And that, as they say, is history. Myckan hasn’t stopped since, participating in build after build. The onsite volunteer supervisor said he would be working on the Sherwood Park project after this one, in between a stop to Iqaluit. The pace of his schedule doesn’t sour his demeanour though. People look forward to working with him.
That’s all part of the wonderment of volunteering, he said. Everybody benefits.
“You give some back but then you find you’re getting more out of it than you’re putting in. It’s self-reinforcing.”
He added that he was thrilled at being able to help provide a home for a family that needed it. The feeling that he gets from that service is what keeps him going.
“I was asked once to sit on the national board,” he remembered. “I said, ‘I would rather keep doing trips.’ The lady said, ‘Well, how long is that gonna go on?’ I said, ‘I hope forever.’”
At 66 he shows no signs of slowing down.
“I still have my health. So long as I do, I’ll keep on volunteering.”