For the second consecutive year, longtime Airdrie and District Victims Assistance Society (ADVAS) volunteer Sue Ferguson has been recognized for her dedication to the organization.
Ferguson is once again the recipient of ADVAS’ Golden Heart Award, which was established in 2003 in memory of volunteer and staff member Marlene LeBlanc.
“This award is awarded to those who have shown outstanding, selfless efforts to reach out to victims and have extended above and beyond what is expected by their volunteer position,” said Kimberly Jarvis, ADVAS’ volunteer co-ordinator.
Each year, the Golden Heart Award recipient is nominated by their peers. Jarvis said Ferguson – who has worked with ADVAS for a decade – has now received the award four times.
Jarvis called Ferguson "inspiring," describing her as a dedicated and experienced volunteer, who is inclusive of everyone and goes out of her way to mentor her peers.
“She is absolutely amazing when in difficult situations,” Jarvis said. “She has such a positive, caring demeanor – not just for the victims, but for the other volunteers.”
Ferguson said it was an honour to once again receive the award, but more important to her was making sure residents of Airdrie are aware of ADVAS’ work in the community, and that they can find support if they are the victims of crime.
While the recognition is nice, she said it isn’t way she volunteers.
“Personally, I just do what I do because I want to give back to the community,” she said. “I want to help people.”
Ferguson noted the fact the recognition comes from her peers makes it extra special.
“Those are the people you work with,” she said. “Those are the people, sometimes, you cry with. Those are the people you laugh with and you’re kind of in the trenches with them. I think we really develop a special bond doing what we do.”
Volunteerism was instilled in her early by her father, she said, who was a firefighter.
“He always told us when we were young, that he wasn’t just a fireman – we were a fire family,” she said. “Right from an early age I had to help them with many different projects that they had in the community…. I was raised that way, to give back to the community because it takes a community to raise a child and it takes everybody in the community to make a community great.”
Volunteers are “the heart” of ADVAS’ work, Jarvis said, which is why its important to recognize their efforts.
“[They have] a very specific role, and it’s a very challenging role,” she said. “They’re very selfless. They give up a lot of time and are very dedicated to the position.”
Ben Sherick, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @BenSherick
