by Stephen Dafoe
Morinville residents have until 4:30 p.m. Mar. 27 to nominate outstanding volunteers for recognition from the community and a variety of community groups.
This year’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Night takes place Apr. 9 at the Morinville Community Cultural Centre starting at 6 p.m. The event will offer the community a chance to offer thanks and pay tribute to those who keep the wheels turning.
“It’s a chance for all of us to acknowledge and celebrate the great volunteers in this community and the incredible difference that they make to any community,” said Allen Jacobson, Morinville’s Community Development Coordinator. “I’ve been here a couple years now and I’ve just seen some great deeds, some unsung heroes, business, groups and organizations that do wonderful work for the town. This is our opportunity to present and promote the volunteerism here in the Town of Morinville.”
This year’s awards ceremony will include eight awards, five presented by the Town of Morinville, and another three presented by groups and businesses in Town.
The Town’s six awards include Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer Family of the Year, Youth Volunteer of the Year, Coach or Mentor of the Year, and the Unsung Hero Award.
Volunteer of the Year recognizes an active volunteer who has demonstrated generosity of spirit, leadership and
enthusiasm in one or more community projects during 2014.
The Volunteer Family Award recognises the Morinville family that actively passes the volunteerism spirit on to the next generation.
Youth Volunteer of the Year is awarded to a Morinville resident under the age of 18 who has demonstrated generosity of spirit, leadership and enthusiasm in 2014.
The Coach or Mentor of the Year recognizes outstanding qualities of inspiration, commitment, attitude and leadership in the community.
A relatively recent award is the Unsung Hero Award, which recognizes a resident, club or business who demonstrates a true commitment to making a difference in the community.
Once again this year the Lions Club are sponsoring the Citizen of the Year Award, the Rendez-Vous are presenting the Heritage Award, and The Morinville News are presenting the Paul Krauskopf Community Spirit Award.
The Morinville Lions Club Citizen of the Year Award is presented annually to an individual or family that has made a significant contribution to the community.
The Morinville Seniors’ Rendez-Vous Club’s Heritage Award is presented to a nominee who has a track record of long-standing service with any Morinville volunteer organization. Nominees must not have been recognized in any fashion previously, and posthumous nominations are not accepted.
The Morinville News is once again sponsoring the Paul Krauskopf Community Spirit Award, which recognizes an individual who unites the community together through their participation, involvement and promotion of the community. The award seeks to recognize the member of the community who may otherwise escape the recognition they deserve.
Jacobson is hoping residents will take the time to nominate their friends and fellow residents for all that they do. “A lot of us volunteer and a lot of us know people who volunteer,” he said. “Most volunteers don’t necessarily want to be recognized. They just want to do what they do to help people and help the community. If you know someone who is a volunteer … the please submit that person’s name and why you think they are a good candidate to be nominated for a volunteer award.”
Those wishing to nominate Morinville residents for any of the awards except Citizen of the by clicking hereYear can do so through the nomination form available from the Town of Morinville front desk or online by clicking here.
Nomination forms can be mailed to P.O. Box 3031, Morinville, AB T8R 1R9 (Attention FCSS Coordinator), dropped off at Community Services at 9502-100 Ave. (located in the Morinville Community Cultural Centre), or emailed to mdziwenka@morinville.ca.
To nominate a resident for Citizen of the Year visit http://e-clubhouse.org/sites/morinville.
