The City of Airdrie is encouraging residents to nominate their friends and neighbours who are making a difference in the community by volunteering.
The City has been recognizing locals with the Volunteer of the Year Awards since 2001. The awards acknowledge outstanding contributions of Airdrie’s residents.
“This is a really great way to recognize those who aren’t normally recognized for everything they do,” said Clay Aragon, Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) coordinator for the City.
“These are the people doing all of the work, the movers and the shakers who are making this community great.”
Since 2008, the awards have been broken up into four categories:
• The Leader of Tomorrow Award is for Airdrie youth who have shown leadership in the city of Airdrie though their volunteer involvement. The nominee must be between the ages of 11 and 18.
• The Ambassador Award is conferred to an Airdrie citizen or business that has made an outstanding contribution in promoting the City of Airdrie as a place for community and opportunity through volunteerism and philanthropy.
• The Soul of Airdrie Award is given to an Airdrie citizen who has made an outstanding contribution as a volunteer in any or all of the following fields: arts and culture, athletics, social and community services and governance. This individual demonstrates a passion for helping others to become resilient, contributing members of the community.
• The Volunteer Advocate Award is for a not-for-profit organization, a volunteer committee or a community group that has demonstrated leadership by engaging citizens through volunteerism.
This year, the award ceremony will take place on May 2.
The deadline to nominate volunteers for the awards is March 30.
“Airdrie residents are very proud of their volunteer work and some don’t even know they are volunteering when they give their time for their children’s schools or sports,” said Aragon.
“Our community is built on volunteerism and that is shown everyday.”
He said the City is hoping for a minimum of 20 nominees.
The 2011 Airdrie Community Needs Assessment showed that 31 per cent of Airdrie residents volunteer in some capacity. Forty-one per cent said they volunteered for a non-profit organization, 40 per cent volunteered at schools, 33 per cent gave their time to sports groups, 29 per cent volunteered at a church and 26 per cent donated their time to a service club. Five per cent said they volunteered for a political party or candidate.
The 2011 Volunteer of the Year Awards winners were:
• Airdrie Leader of Tomorrow Award - Connor Lengkeek nominated by Shannon Lengkeek
• Airdrie Ambassador Award - Dick Buchanan, Air-Alta Insurance nominated by Heather Zyerveld
• Soul of Airdrie Award - Donelda Johnson nominated by Jamie Tiessen
• Volunteer Advocate Award - Bethany Airdrie nominated by Lise Blanchette
Previous award recipients are exempt from future nominations, however, previously nominated individuals may be nominated again.
The Community Services Advisory Board, a group of local citizens and council members who ensure current and long-range planning activities are carried out for leisure services, social services, and parks services, chooses the winners.
For more information or to nominate someone for the 2012 Volunteer of the Year Awards, visit www.airdrie.ca
