On your marks, get set … go find the city's best and brightest volunteers.
That was the announcement from the Community Information and Volunteer Centre (CIVC) Monday morning. Nominations are now open for the agency's annual awards program to recognize the Volunteer Citizen of the Year as well as up and coming young citizens who qualify as Leaders of Tomorrow in several age categories: 6 to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 18, and 19 to 21 years.
Pat Phelan, the CIVC's director of volunteer centre services, said that the city has been putting its volunteers on a pedestal since 1965 for a very good reason.
"St. Albert is an amazing community for volunteer participation," she began, saying that she needs the public's help to point out all of them. "You know winners and stars and passionate people. You just need to think about it for a minute or two and nominate them. Recognize people for their contribution."
She added that while there were many names submitted for the Volunteer Citizen of the Year Award, it was a bit of a struggle to come up with nominees for the four age categories of the Leaders of Tomorrow Awards.
"I'd like to encourage more people to nominate Leaders. There's so many great kids in this community."
She suggested that parents and teachers who know these children best are the most appropriate people to fill out the application forms.
"You know what your children are involved in, nominate them," she prompted. "Quite often, parents think, 'I can't nominate my child.' Yeah, you can!"
The deadline for nominations is Friday, March 23. Phelan encourages nominators to start the process immediately and not wait until the last minute to submit their applications.
Nominations can be filled out and submitted electronically via the centre's website at www.stalbertcivc.com or by filling out a paper copy that can be either downloaded from the site or obtained from CIVC at 215 Carnegie Drive in the Campbell Business Centre.
The awards ceremony takes place on Saturday, May 5. All nominees must be able to attend the event.
Call 780-459-6666 for more information.
SAGE tries to track down St. Albert's greatest senior volunteers
"There are many opportunities to nominate and many organizations getting involved in and calling for nominations," Phelan continued, "but there just are never enough ways to recognize a volunteer."
She may be reassured to know that there are indeed many opportunities to recognize volunteers. While the Community Information and Volunteer Centre has its own way of recognizing St. Albert's sterling volunteers of all ages, the Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton has its eyes set on just one age group.
For 40 years, the Edmonton-based not-for-profit seniors' organization has offered programs and services that extend and enhance the quality of life for many people 65 years and older all throughout the metropolitan Edmonton region. This includes a safe house for seniors experiencing abuse and a home service program to help area seniors continue to live in their own homes.
While the group has been hosting these awards for several years now, SAGE has never had a winner from St. Albert.
"We would just really love to have some nominees from St. Albert," stated David Loper, communication co-ordinator for the organization. "That would be great."
There are nine award categories for the SAGE Awards: community building; science and technology; education; health and wellness; public and non-profit; social justice and peace; environment; arts and culture; and sport and leisure.
Loper added that it's also a struggle to get nominees in the environment category.
Nominations can be made through SAGE or at any Servus Credit Union branch. Deadline for nominations is Tuesday, Jan. 31. The awards will be presented on Tuesday, May 1.
SAGE is located at 15 Sir Winston Churchill Square in downtown Edmonton. Visit www.mysage.ca or call 780-701-9017 for more information.
AWNA/Direct Energy say show us your leaders
Much like the SAGE Awards, there has never been a St. Albert recipient of the Volunteer Citizen of the Year Award sponsored by Direct Energy and the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association (AWNA). This program awards cash prizes and grants to the winner's cause of choice.
This is the eighth year for the award and organizers say that one in every three Albertans volunteers in some capacity. It's important to recognize those whose outstanding contributions make their communities a better place to live.
"We're looking forward to once again recognizing individuals who work hard to make our communities great places to live," said AWNA President Ossie Sheddy.
The nomination deadline is Friday, March 16 but the date of the award ceremony is not yet set.
The award itself consists of $1,000 for the winner plus a $5,000 grant to the winner's organization or cause of choice. Four semifinalists will also get a $1,000 grant each to their causes.
The award is open to residents of communities served by AWNA member newspapers, like St. Albert.
Applicants can either self-nominate or be nominated by another individual or group. Rules and details can be found at www.awna.com. Forms can also be picked up at AWNA member newspaper offices including the St. Albert Gazette.
