Residents encouraged to nominate others for annual Volunteer of the Year Award

Nominations are now open for an Airdrie Volunteer of the Year award.

“We really make a point to recognize outstanding volunteers in our community,” explained Clay Aragon, of Airdrie’s social planning unit.

He said people are encouraged to nominate their friends and neighbours who are making a difference in the community.

“Research shows that a person who volunteers in their community tends to be happier, healthier and more satisfied with life,” Aragon said in a prepared statement.

The deadline for nomination is March 29. Applications forms can be found at the City’s website, www.airdrie.ca

In May, nominees are invited to attend a gala with those who nominated them, council and the Community Services Board. Winners will be announced at the event.

This is the 11th year for the award, though the format has changed over time. In 2002, council “really wanted to make a point” to recognize volunteers and came up with the idea of awarding a volunteer of the year, explained Aragon.

In 2008, council expanded the award ceremony to include more than one recipient.

Categories include:

Leader of Tomorrow Award which recognizes Airdrie youth ages 11 to 18 who have shown leadership in the City through his or her volunteering;

Ambassador Award recognizes a person or business that has made an outstanding contribution in promoting the City as a place for community and opportunity through volunteerism and philanthropy;

Soul of Airdrie Award recognizes an Airdrie citizen who has made an outstanding contribution as a volunteer;

Volunteer Advocate Award recognizes a not-for-profit organization, a volunteer-comprised grassroots committee and/or a community group that has demonstrated community leadership by engaging citizens though volunteerism

Any individual, organization, association or business in Airdrie may be nominated. Previous award recipients are exempt from future nominations. Aragon said for the past four years, the City has typically received about 19 nominations a year.

Last year’s recipients include David Lindsay, who won the Leader of Tomorrow Award; Laurence and Linda Ray, who won the Airdrie Ambassador Award; Rob Van Biezen, who won the Soul of Airdrie Award; and the Airdrie Food Bank, who received the Volunteer Advocate Award.

For more information or to nominate a friend or neighbour, visit www.airdrie.ca