It’s the time of year when people who are already very famous are given awards in big splashy ceremonies.
But while the Oscars, Grammys and the rest are a lot of fun, the really important people in our communities are the ones who quietly make contributions at the grassroots level.
There are, of course, more community-minded Albertans (most of them unsung) than there is space in this newspaper to list them. The following examples are just that, a sampling of individuals who quietly give back in a host of different ways.
Read Also
Farming Smarter receives financial boost from Alberta government for potato research
Farming Smarter near Lethbridge got a boost to its research equipment, thanks to the Alberta government’s increase in funding for research associations.
One of the honours handed out recently was the Stars of Alberta Volunteer Awards, which “recognize extraordinary Albertans whose volunteer efforts have contributed to the well-being of their community and fellow community members.” Ten individuals were recognized this year, including Bill Jackson of Turner Valley.
Jackson has volunteered in numerous ways for six decades but his Stars of Alberta award detailed his efforts for the Millarville Racing and Agricultural Society, which began when he was 16 and became a director of the beef cattle committee.
That was the start of a lifetime of volunteering, and Jackson’s award citation lists a host of projects that he has led or contributed to. They include 4-H, the annual Millarville Christmas Market, serving as the ag society’s president and on the maintenance and hall committees, and leading an extensive landscaping effort (and subsequent maintenance duties) for the Millarville Christ Church, a vertical log structure built in 1896.
“For all this and more contributed over a lifetime of service, much of it behind the scenes hidden from view, it is time for Bill Jackson to take centre stage,” the award announcement states.
Another Albertan who has demonstrated dedication — along with an infectious enthusiasm — was also honoured last month when she was named one of two athletes of the year by Special Olympics Canada.
Over the past 18 years, Red Deer’s Thomasina Payne has competed in curling, athletics and speed skating, and has represented the province at two national games as well as the world summer games in 2011. She is also a member of the training squad for Special Olympics Team Canada for the World Winter Games 2022, slated to be held in Kazan, Russia later this month.
In a Shaw Spotlight video from 2020, Payne talks about how a chance meeting led to her joining Red Deer’s speed skating club and joking “the rest is history” as she describes winning one gold and three silver medals in speed skating at the national championships.
“When I won the gold medal, it was actually a surprise because I was really nervous going into the nationals and I was actually the fourth member of the team and didn’t expect to be winning a lot,” she says in the video. “I actually didn’t know my potential until I won my first medal.”
Her award citation notes Payne “has enthusiastically taken on the role of training partner for athletes going to national and international games, even when she did not qualify herself,” and has been a frequent speaker at business events, schools, and fundraisers for Special Olympics.
“We can be functioning community members,” she says before adding with a laugh: “and we can win at really cool sports.”
The video can be found by Googling ‘Shaw spotlight Thomasina Payne.’
Another award recently handed out was the distinguished service award given to those who have served 20 or more years on the council of their village, town or city. This year Alberta Municipalities handed out 21 of the awards, which is more than the last three years combined. They were given to Al Campbell, Stettler; Bill Chapman, Coaldale; Bill Robertson, Okotoks; Bob Foley, Wainwright; Bob Regal, Grimshaw; Clem Fagnan, Westlock; Connie Butcher, Redwater; Dennis Cassie, Coalhurst; Dwight Kilpatrick, Redcliff; Edward Sands, Okotoks; Gordon Reynolds, Bow Island; Jim Steinke, Redcliff; Kim Plaquin, Breton; Lyle Tuchscherer, Bow Island; Mel Smith, Redwater; Richard Ireland, Jasper; Robert Blagen, Youngstown; Rodney Pepper, Valleyview; Stuart Houston, Spruce Grove; Tony Steidel, Duchess; and Will Taylor, Blackfalds.
If you’ve ever thought about running for a municipal office, Alberta Municipalities has a guide and FAQs (see the Governance section of abmunis.ca).
Finally, Alberta Beef Producers’ magazine recently had a story on a cattle producer who came up with a different take on charitable giving.
The story profiles Bob Hahn, “accountant by day, Angus producer by night” who sells beef direct to consumers (in addition to bull sales). While steaks and roasts are big sellers, round steaks and ground beef don’t sell as quickly, so Hahn has donated hundreds of meal portions to two service agencies in nearby Edmonton (Old Strathcona Youth Society and the Jellinek Society). An official with the youth society says food hampers have a lot of items “full of carbs and sugar” but “red meat is something that our youth often don’t get because they can’t afford it.”
“Rather than a monetary donation, I rethought my donations and now I am doing something very specific and giving to those who I think could use protein as a part of their program,” the owner of Hahn Cattle Co. told ABP Magazine (available at abpdaily.com).
