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Carol Huisman finalist for
’08 volunteer award |
FRANK MCTIGHE
MACLEOD GAZETTE EDITOR |
A Fort Macleod woman
was one of five finalists for a provincial volunteerism award.
Carol Huisman was nominated for her work with Fort Macleod Kids
First Family Centre, her church and the local women’s shelter.
“When I told Carol that I was nominating her for this award,
Carol’s response was, ‘I’m not worthy’,” Kids First Family
Centre director Sharon Brown said. “Truthfully, I cannot imagine
anyone who is more worthy.”
The 2008 Alberta Volunteer Citizen of the Year is Vic Sadlowski of
Bonnyville.
Sadlowski receives $1,000 and a plaque, and a $5,000 donation will
be made to the Bonnyville Health Foundation.
“Vic Sadlowski’s remarkable commitment to helping others made him
an obvious choice for this year’s award,” Direct Energy
vice-president and general manager Tanis Kozak said. “Vic’s
unwavering dedication to his community is a true inspiration.”
Sadlowski volunteers with a long list of community groups,
including the Bonnyville Health Foundation, the 2010 Alberta
Winter Games Committee and the Junior A hockey Bonnyville
Pontiacs.
“I call him Mr. Volunteer,” nominator Dave Hutton said. “Whenever I
ask for help with anything, he’s always the first to stand up
and raise his hand. And when parents or students insist on
paying Vic for his assistance with tutoring, he asks them
instead to make a donation to a local charity.”
Sadlowski, who works full-time at an agricultural research farm,
tutors students and is on-call 24 hours a day for the Victim
Services unit.
“What’s great about this award is that we get to recognize people
like Vic for their selfless contributions, ut also give
financial support to a cause that’s important to him,” AWNA
president Scott Fitzpatrick said.
Carol Huisman was nominated in recognition of the 10 years she has
volunteered with Kids First, which runs breakfast and lunch
programs as Fort Macleod schools.
Huisman also volunteers with other Kids First programs such as
Secret Santa, the Community Kitchen and the good Food Box.
In addition, Huisman is librarian for her church, has volunteered
with the Salvation Army and the Pincher Creek Women’s Shelter.
“In addition to everything else she does, Carol in her quiet and
modest way finds out who in the community needs help, and goes
into homes to help with housework or meal preparation or to help
people who are ill and need a hand,” Brown wrote in her
nomination.
“Generally only the people who receive the help know of it,” Brown
added. “When thanked for her efforts, Carol always responds
with, ‘Oh, it was nothing.’ Nothing to her perhaps, but she has
come to the rescue of Kids First and others many times, by
stepping in when something needed to be done.”
Other finalists for the award sponsored by Direct Energy and the
Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association were Vivian Tanasichuk of
Lamont, Donna Grainger of Calgary, and Raymond High School Show
Choir directors Susan Williams, Pat Leavitt and Jolene Paxman.
Carol Huisman helps fill Good Food Boxes for Fort Macleod Kids
First Family Centre. |
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W.A. Day school and principal Ian Stewardson
recently recognized Carol Huisman for her
volunteer efforts at the school. |
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