(Photo/ Courtney Almeida)

By Courtney Almeida

Volunteer Awards

2019 Leaders of Tomorrow Awards handed out at annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

Apr 11, 2019 | 5:50 PM

In support of National Volunteer Week, the Grande Prairie Volunteer Services Bureau held its 35^th annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on Thursday. Youth were recognized at the event which took place at Revolution Place and featured the Leaders of Tomorrow Awards ceremony.

Seven leaders between the ages of 13 and 18 were honoured. For the first time, two students below the age range were also given a special recognition as upcoming leaders.

“We had an amazing turn out this year. One of the things we started a couple of years ago was inviting the leadership classes of the participating schools and neighboring schools, and this year they have all taken advantage of that offer,” says Carol-Anne Pasemko, Executive Director of the Grande Prairie Volunteer Services Bureau.

This year’s event was the biggest in attendance yet, with over 300 people and “each year the event tends to grow,” says Pasemko.

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Winners are chosen by a committee and recipients take home a Leaders of Tomorrow Awards trophy, a certificate, a cash prize and a matching donation to the charity of their choice.

Candidates are selected based on their volunteer efforts and contributions within the community.

Pasemko explains the importance of highlighting the achievements of volunteerism in youth while they are still young because, “If kids start volunteering when they’re younger, then they will continue to volunteer throughout their lives.”

Every year, the luncheon takes on a theme and this year’s chosen theme was environmental sustainability. Pasemko describes how it reflects on the event’s historical roots.

“They used to do it with a planting trees ceremony. It was an outside picnic, and everybody would go plant a tree. We’re going back to that a little bit with this particular event. We’re very fortunate, Canfor donated 300 trees for us, for this event, so everybody that leaves here today can go home with a tree to plant in their yard.”

This year’s Leaders of Tomorrow are:

• Anna Cuff – Age 17 – Resident of Grande Prairie – Attends St. Joseph Catholic High School
• Shubh Patel – Age 17- Resident of Grande Prairie- Attends Grande Prairie Composite High School
• Torann Mecham – Age 16- Resident of Beaverlodge- Attends Beaverlodge Regional High School
• Jenna Noullett – Age 15- Resident of Beaverlodge- Attends Beaverlodge Regional High School
• Larissa Okimaw-Keels – Age 14- Resident of Grande Prairie- Attends John Paul II Catholic School
• Mark Debre – Age 15- Resident of Sexsmith- Attends St. Mary’s Catholic School (Sexsmith)
• Nathaniel Kim – Age 15- Resident of Grande Prairie- Attends Charles Spencer High School
• Special recognition to Martin Moerike– Age 11 and Jadyn Anderson– Age 12

April 12 marks the 50^th anniversary of the Volunteer Services Bureau in the Grande Prairie community.