Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter
Smoky River Family and Community Support Service is asking the region’s residents to nominate their favourite volunteers to be recognized at this year’s Volunteer Appreciation Night.
“We want our volunteers to know that their contributions to our communities are appreciated,” says FCSS community program coordinator Anita Portsmouth.
“By hosting a volunteer appreciation event we can show those members of our community and people from outside of our community that they do indeed make a difference,” she adds.
“We offer awards to show appreciation for those who go above and beyond.”
Portsmouth adds there are four awards presented.
They all require nominees for all of them including Lifetime Volunteer, Volunteer-of-the- Year, Volunteer Family-of-the-Year, and Youth Volunteer-of-the-Year.
“If someone has volunteered their time to contribute to the betterment of our communities, whether they have an hour to spare, can help once in a while, or the person who participates at just about everything from beginning to end, they all are appreciated,” she says.
“We will choose from these nomination names to be given to our award selection committee.”
Portsmouth says they are asking for a representative from each of the municipalities in the Smoky River Region to sit on their selection committee to choose award recipients.
“Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes, from the coach that helps children learn a new sport to the board members that build our parks and playgrounds,” Portsmouth explains.
“They are the people who get the golf courses ready, the youth that help set up for events, and everyone in-between. If you have attended a community event, gone to watch local sports, enjoyed an afternoon of local recreation, got a book at the library, you have to thank a volunteer for making that possible.”
The award presentation will be held on May 2 in McLennan as a street event in front of Town of McLennan office. Portsmouth says the specifics of the event are yet to be planned.
“Nominations are open all year long, we accept nominations for volunteers the day following our Volunteer Appreciation Evening for the next year,” she says.
“There is no voting, but people should nominate volunteers for their contributions to our community. All nominated volunteers are invited to attend our volunteer appreciation event.”
Portsmouth says nominated volunteers will be contacted closer to the date of the event.
Please contact Smoky River FCSS at (780) 837-2220 if you would like to nominate someone or have any questions.