Organization Name: Volunteer Edmonton
Volunteer's Name: Jim Burke
About this volunteer:
Jim is a “senior” who has been a member of the Calder Seniors Drop-In Center for 18 years. Over the years, he has served as President, Trustee and Executive Member of the Society — holding all possible positions except “Secretary”.
Jim is also very active in his community, and holds a Life membership with the Calder and Lauderdale Community Leagues. He earned these for his tireless volunteer work in the campaign to build a new recreation centre for the community. As a result of the hard work put in by Jim and many other dedicated volunteers, the Grand Trunk Recreation Centre was built and opened in the 1980s.
Jim has been volunteering once a week at the Kensington Police Station since 1990, and has been an active member of the Neighbourhood Watch Program for the last 25 years.
For fun and entertainment, Jim serves as a Director for the Alberta Floor Curling Association. He also volunteers as a driver during all major sporting events in the city, and has donated his time and services to many large events, including the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Skate Canada, and Skate America.
Jim’s wife Esther volunteers with the Meals-on-Wheels program and Jim helps her out on a part-time basis. She also heads the Bridge program for the Calder Seniors Drop-In Center. Their daughter Shirley (who lives in Edmonton) volunteers for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Multiple Sclerosis Association. Their other daughter, Peggy (Calgary) does canvassing for a number of organizations; and son Gary (Edmonton) is very involved with his children’s school programs and with organizations that support the physically challenged.
It is clear that volunteering is an act the Burkes have valued throughout their lives. Jim and his family are invaluable members of their communities, but they retain a sense of humbleness about all the work that they do. When asked why he volunteers, Jim responds with a twinkle in his eyes, “To get away from my wife.”
Jim happily serves wherever he can and is one of the main key holders for our Centre which means he opens for many night programs. If he is not participating in the night program, he doesn’t mind staying at the centre and cheerfully reads the paper until the program is over so he can lock up. He is an integral part of the Calder Seniors Drop-In Center, the Neighbourhood Watch Program, and many other community programs.
Show Organization's Profile |
Organization Name: Volunteer Edmonton
Volunteer's Name: Joanne Howe
About this volunteer:
Joanne volunteers with Arts Start because of the wonderful feeling she gets when she teaches a child how to do something. Since art is Joanne's passion, this program has suited her perfectly. “I finally found something that I could use my knowledge of to give to others and in return see how happy and proud the children are when they produce a real fine piece of art.”
Show Organization's Profile |
Organization Name: Volunteer Edmonton
Volunteer's Name: June Ling
About this volunteer:
June Ling has been a volunteer at the Odyssium since July 2003. Her current role is as a Birthday Party Hostess and she has also volunteered as a Gallery Interpreter. As a Party Hostess, she is responsible for welcoming and providing a personalized hosting service for groups who have pre-booked a Birthday Party Pak. June assists party members and coordinates their movement to pre-booked activities/programs throughout the facility. June has been a fantastic Odyssium volunteer. She has an amazing amount of energy and enthusiasm that spreads to other volunteer staff and staff members. Not only is she committed to her volunteer work at the Odyssium, she is actively involved in writing for the NextGen newspaper column in the Edmonton Journal along with various activities at her school.
When asked why she volunteers, June says: “Volunteering has given me the opportunity to enrich the lives of others while being able to interact with people of different backgrounds, cultures, and values. Every time I volunteer, I learn something different, and overall, it's been rewarding emotionally and intellectually.”
Show Organization's Profile |
Organization Name: Volunteer Edmonton
Volunteer's Name: Lisa Leflar
About this volunteer:
Lisa devotes her time and skills to Bisset School, where she volunteers by performing the kinds of tasks that all teachers appreciate. She chaperones during field trips, organizes snacks for the children, and photocopies handouts – and this is just the tip of the iceberg! She also assists with typing out the class year-end book, a mammoth task that requires many hours of work. She devoted three weeks in order to coordinate the building of the school’s Ginger-Statue, which won First place in the Most Difficult category in a competition put on by The Legislature. Lisa has also assisted with many other school projects, including the Science Fair Olympics, The Kiwanis Music Festival (where she sewed the black skirts that the girls were required to wear), the planting of trees in the school nursery, the building of the new school playground, and campaigning towards the construction of an outdoor classroom.
Big or small, Lisa does it all. The list goes on and on — and so does Lisa. She has been a blessing to the students and teachers at Bisset School and to the community.
Show Organization's Profile |
Organization Name: Volunteer Edmonton
Volunteer's Name: Marg Kolotyluk
About this volunteer:
Marg has committed three to four full days per week at NorQuest College volunteering to help students who need additional support to achieve the academic and career goals.
Marg tutors students in Math, English and Communications. Most of her time is spent helping students catch up, practice and understand the academic material. Her volunteer activities are of great benefit to the class, and allow the teacher in the class to work with one group while Marg works with another group. “I love people. I love to work with people, especially the students. There’s so much they need and I’m happy to help,” explained Marg when asked why she spends so much of her time volunteering to help NorQuest students.
Marg has an excellent rapport with students for a variety of reasons. She was a teacher for 20 years, so she knows the material and how to present it. Students see her as another teacher in the class and not a volunteer, to the point that when she started taking Fridays off students demanded to know where she was. Many of the students call her “mom” and feel comfortable talking to her about their personal situations if it is affecting their schoolwork. Students respect her age, experience, wisdom and her ongoing support.
Former students come back to NorQuest regularly to tell Marg of their successes, and to ask for advice or references. Marg helps outside of the classroom as well, baking for fundraising events and attending literacy conferences. Most important of all, Marg truly enjoys dedicating her time to help others.
Show Organization's Profile |
Heritage Community Foundation Presents
