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Leanne Van Wagner (R) is presented with the 2019 Volunteer of the Year award
By Liam Verster
Volunteer awards

President of the Beaverlodge Rural Crime Association receives 2019 Volunteer of the Year award

Dec 6, 2019 | 1:38 PM

The president of the Beaverlodge Rural Crime Association has been named the 2019 Volunteer of the Year by the Grande Prairie Volunteer Services Bureau (GPVSB). The award was presented at the annual International Volunteer Day Celebration Breakfast, which marked the United Nations’ International Volunteer Day on December 5.

During the event, the GPVSB presented several awards to it’ members, including individuals, groups, and companies, who have all gone above and beyond to give back to the community.

Leanne Van Wagner, who’s been involved in the Beaverlodge and Area Rural Crime Association for many years, and has been president for nearly a year-and-a-half, was recognized for her work with the organization. She says one of her proudest achievements as president is bolstering the membership numbers of her group.

“We’ve taken the membership from about 15, and that wasn’t active either, there was probably about 3 or 4 active, and we have over 100 now. We hold regular monthly meetings, and anywhere between 20 and 40 people [attend], which is amazing, because they’re in Beaverlodge.”

Van Wagner was also instrumental in revising the bylaws regarding the Rural Crime Association, along with changing that name, which hasn’t been done since 1983.

Van Wagner says she’s honoured, and a little surprised, to be presented with the award, but is also quick to share the credit.

“I have a fantastic treasurer, secretary treasurer, and some of the directors on there. I come in with not a lot of experience chairing meetings properly, and the conduct and protocol and things like that. I have some but it was quiet limited.”

“And it’s about a team effort here, because we banded together and oh my gosh, we’ve just made such changes. I certainly didn’t do it by myself. Hats off to the team, because an individual doesn’t get this kind of recognition by themselves.”

She says the plan for the group is to continue expanding, and growing it’s membership. She says it’s easy for people to get involved in Crime Watch programs, no matter what community.

“Depends where you are, like in Grande Prairie, they have their own Block Parent thing like that. But out in Beaverlodge and Hythe and those communities, you can put up Rural Crime Watch signs in town, that’s allowed.”

However, she has had some trouble recruiting young people, and is working with the current members to brainstorm ways of attracting them to the group.

Van Wagner says they are also trying to incorporate more technology in the group, and have just recently started an e-banking system that allows members to pay their dues online.

Van Wagner was not the only one recognized by the GPVSB on Thursday.

Executive Driving Services was awarded the 2019 Corporate Volunteer of the Year, for the behind the scenes work the company has done for many charities, non-profit organizations, and community groups in the area.

Several others were also honoured with the 2019 Outstanding Members of the Community award. Jamie Rigler, Cheryl Weaver, Gail Lamoureux , Mario Paradis, Steve Madden, and iSee Optical were all recipients of that award.

by Liam Verster