In 1988, Wendy Stiver walked into a volunteer fair intending to find a worthy cause to which she could donate two hours of her time. She signed up to help with a Special Olympics bowling practice.
"I'm definitely not athletic," she said. "I just wanted to volunteer."
Little did she know that 23 years later she would still be spending her Saturdays at the bowling alley.
Stiver, 64, has been chair for Special Olympics St. Albert for 20 years, and has helped to grow the local chapter of the organization from the two sports and 40 athletes it comprised in 1988, to the eight sports and well over 100 athletes its board now manages.
"It just kind of took on a life of its own," she said humbly. "It wasn't deliberate."
Stiver was recognized for her contributions by the St. Albert Baha'i community in 2000 with a Women of Distinction award, was nominated for Volunteer of the Year in 2006, and received a Centennial medal from the Government of Alberta.
While she's always looking for a chance to help out in the community, Stiver admitted that recognition for doing so makes her uncomfortable.
"It's embarrassing," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "That's not why I do it.
"The people in this community are just so amazing that they always just step up to the plate. I'm so impressed with the community, so I want to give back."
Special Olympics gave her the opportunity to do just that, and in return gave her a lifetime of great experiences.
"Good memories, they keep you going," she said, remembering her late son's efforts to teach all the Special Olympics athletes the Macarena.
"He had an old sound system, so he would play two bars, come out and show them the moves, then go back and play some more. It took him six weeks. Oh my word, it was painful," she said, laughing. "But now they can all do the Macarena."
Stiver and her many volunteers keep up with Special Olympics training and events every week simply for the joy of spending time with the athletes, she said.
"I've always said I get a lot more back than I give out.
"I draw strength from them."
Stiver hopes by hosting the National Games, the St. Albert community will become more aware and supportive of year-round Special Olympics activities, making it easier for her athletes to do what they love.
All in the family
With her real family scattered across the country, Stiver adopted the very social Special Olympics crowd as her own extended family in St. Albert.
Despite never having had a family member with an intellectual disability, she had always been interested in the special needs community.
"When I see them try something for the first time and get such joy out of it, out of being involved, I think the public could take a leaf out of their books. They're so happy to just be."
Over the years, she's been a constant in the lives of the athletes as she watched them grow up.
Joyce Cameron, whose son Jackie has been heavily involved with Special Olympics in St. Albert for 13 years, is continually impressed by Stiver's dedication to the athletes.
"She knows everybody. She personally knows all their stories. This place is filled with athletes and she knows them all. I don't think she ever gets a name wrong," said Cameron.
Last year, when Stiver became ill and had to take several months away from her volunteer commitments, she still made sure to visit the athletes so they wouldn't worry.
"Just another little blip in the road and off we go," she said of the incident.
"This is not a one-woman operation. I have an amazing network of volunteers and friends."
Cameron, however, gives Stiver more credit.
"I don't know where we would be with Special Olympics if it wasn't for Wendy," she said. "She's just absolutely tireless and always there.
"Wendy should be person of the year. Hand her the key to the city."
Wendy Stiver, Q&A
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?
"Finding a balance in life between work and volunteering."
If you could go back and change one thing in your life, what would it be?
"Nothing, because everything happens for a reason. And when one door closes, another one opens. There's always an upside to everything."
If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be, and why?
"Are you kidding me? I'm going to come back as a dog because they're spoiled rotten."
When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?
"I wanted to be a ballerina, because they look so graceful and I'm still not graceful."
What song makes you sing every time you hear it?
"YMCA. It's so up-beat and it's one of (the athletes') favourites and we dance to it all the time."
What's your favourite book?
"Pride and Prejudice. I'm definitely a Jane Austen groupie."
What five adjectives would you use to describe yourself?
"Oh my goodness: friendly, compassionate, organized, cheerful, passionate."
What is your nickname?
"Warm and wonderful Wendy."
What is your biggest pet peeve?
"People who don't return phone calls."
