Nominations open for Alberta volunteer awards

Adelle Ellis, Times Reporter
Volunteers from across Alberta have the opportunity to be recognized for the hard work and dedication they spend volunteering in their communities.
Wheatland County council received a letter from Alberta Culture and Tourism informing council the 2017 Stars of Alberta Volunteer Awards will be held in early December and deadlines for nominations is mid-September.
“(The letter is) asking the communities to put names forward for the 2017 Stars of Alberta Volunteer award,” said Councillor Ben Armstrong during the July 18 regular council meeting.
Council discussed several ways to get the information about the award into the communities so that dedicated volunteers may be recognized for their talents and time contributed within their communities.
“At different times when (people) are discussing doing things for the community, a lot of the time the volunteers feel that they are forgotten. How do we engage those volunteers … how do we get (this) out into the public so they know they are being recognized?” asked Councillor Alice Booth.
Council discussed possibilities of posting the application forms for the Stars of Alberta Volunteer Awards on their website and various social media sites, as well as forwarding the application forms and corresponding government webpage to the different municipalities and community groups.
The annual award focuses on recognizing Albertans whose volunteer efforts have contributed to the well-being of their community and fellow community members.
Six awards are handed out annually, two in each category of youth, adult and senior. Nominations close on Sept. 15 and the awards are presented annually on International Volunteer Day on Dec. 5 at Government House in Edmonton.
Nominations must include a letter of nominations submitted by the nominator, a completed nomination form signed by the nominee and nominator, completed critical information and a completed list of references.
Award criteria includes the nomination of a volunteer who exemplifies the spirit of community service, demonstrates exemplary initiative, leadership and creativity, serves as a role model for others, inspires others to engage in volunteer service, and improves the overall quality of life of fellow Albertans and the community as a whole.
“There are good volunteers out there who should be recognized and they’re not getting recognized,” said Booth.
Armstrong suggested that if any residents of Wheatland County receive the award or have gone through the nomination process, then council may want to consider recognizing those volunteers in some way within the county.
Councillor Brenda Knight mentioned the possible creation of a program which would more regularly recognize the work of volunteers in Wheatland County.
Knight suggested that community associations, who want to recognize their volunteers, could contact the county office with information on their own nominated dedicated volunteers. Privy to approval, those volunteers could then possibly be featured on the Wheatland County website.
More information and registration forms for the 2017 Stars of Alberta Volunteer Awards can be viewed and downloaded at culturetourism.alberta.ca.