Stars of Alberta Recipients - 2000

YOUTH CATEGORY

Sarah Kish - Lethbridge

Nominated by the Chinook Health Region.
Through her services as a volunteer, Sarah provides comfort and encouragement to those around her. This sixteen year old student volunteers with the Chinook Health Region as an Office Assistant, Gift Shop Helper, Ped Pal and has assisted with ice water delivery, as well as special events and fundraisers. Sarah has also volunteered with the Canadian Cancer Society and the Terry Fox Run where she was involved with public speaking for media events and participated in presentations at schools in her community. Sarah assisted at the YWCA during the Family Fun Fest and as Santa's Helper during the Christmas season. She was the recipient of this year's Leaders of Tomorrow Award in Lethbridge. Sarah hopes to become a child and youth care worker or counselor - areas in which she will excel due to her compassionate nature and desire to help others.

Sultana Qureshi - Edmonton

Nominated by the Member of the Millwoods Legislative Assembly.
Sultana has done outstanding and innovative volunteer work in her community for many years. This young leader helped found an Islamic Girl Guide Group in Millwoods, she's the Founder and Managing Editor of "RAINBOW" a multicultural youth magazine. She tutors children in her community and has volunteered at the Grey Nuns Hospital in the giftshop and as a Customer Service Representative since 1996. With her love of science, Sultana also serves as a Science Demonstrator at the Education Space and Science Center. She's a Member of the Youth Coalition Against Poverty, and volunteers with the Millwoods Multicultural Council Foundation "Celebrate Canada" Festivities in Millwoods, the Children of Islamic Nations, Islamic Family Social Services, Pakistan-Canada Association and the Edmonton Heritage Days Festival. Sultana has accomplished all this while maintaining high academic standards, for which she has received a variety of scholarships and number of community awards. Sultana Qureshi has helped change her community for the better and her contributions will stand for many years to come.

ADULT CATEGORY

Cindy Boerdyk - Cold Lake

Nominated by Lakewood Family and Community Support Services.
A mother of three teenage children, Cindy was the first female volunteer firefighter of the Cold Lake Fire Rescue. In addition to responding to nearly every call received since 1997, Cindy volunteers in the school speaking to children and youth about how to prevent fires, and serves as a member of the Cold Lake Fire Rescue Competitive Auto Extrication Team. Cindy's active involvement with the organization includes fundraising and manpower support for various projects. In addition to her work with the Fire Services, Cindy also served as a Trustee with the Lakeland Roman Catholic Separate School District, as Chairman of the St. Dominic School Parent Advisory Committee, with the planning team for three Catholic Youth Conference/Rallies in Cold Lake and Bonnyville, as Bingo Chairperson of the Assumption School Parent Advisory Committee, and as Treasurer of the Society of the Cold Lake Friends of the Library. Cindy was responsible for the initial set up and operation of Welcome Wagon in the Cold Lake area and was a member of the Cold Lake Community Development Committee. Cindy has pride in her community and has contributed greatly in making Cold Lake a better place to live.

Erich Mende - Calgary

Nominated by Child Friendly Calgary.
Despite a full time career with Alberta Justice and a part time position as a Youth Worker for McMan Youth, Family and Community Services in Calgary, Erich finds time to devote his talents as a volunteer for a variety of organizations. He provides volunteer suicide prevention counseling for the Canadian Mental Health Association where he is also a Youth Volunteer Corps Team Leader and Facilitator for the Club's In Schools Program. He has organized a Pen Pal Program with the Calgary Young Offender Centre and arranged for thirty kids to create murals to decorate Princess Island Park for Calgary Winterfest. Erich provides snow removal for the elderly through the St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, is a Victim Advocate for the Bow Valley Victim Services Unit, and acts as a Chaperone for the Banff Community High School for aftergrad celebrations. He is a Group Facilitator at the Brenda Strafford Centre and volunteers for the annual Children's Festival for the Hull Child and Family Services. As well as his duties as Director for the Young Offender Mentor Society, Erich gives his time to the Toys for Tots program and is a facilitator for the Re-Entering Society Through Active Responsible Thinking, a program of the Calgary Young Offender Centre. Juggling two jobs does not deter Erich from his devotion and commitment to volunteerism. He believes in the causes that he supports and feels his work is important and necessary with these causes.

SENIOR CATEGORY

Jean Shaul - Stony Plain

Nominated by the Stony Plain and District Exhibition Society.
Jean Shaul began volunteering in the 1960's. Now a grandmother, Jean has volunteered with the Stony Plain and District Exhibition Society for the past 5 years. Throughout this time eriod she has been a Board Member, Gates Admission Coordinator at Farmers Days and Hospitality Room Coordinator at the Northern Alberta Cowboy Poetry and Western Art Festival. During any given week Jean will be out volunteering in the community. Her involvement includes working bingos for several organizations, including the Multicultural Heritage Centre. Jean canvasses for the Alberta Lung Association and the Cancer Society, caters meals for many open house events and meetings, and delivers meals for the Meals on Wheels program. She has also volunteered at the 1995 Summer Games, the Great White North Triathlon, the Allen Cup Playoffs, the City Slickers Program and the Stony Plain New Year's Eve Celebrations. She is an active participant in Taking Off Pounds Sensibly, the Women's Institute and the Garden Valley Pony Club. Jean also volunteers in the health field by registering participants for the flu clinics and early breast screening, and distributing evening snacks once a week at the hospitals. With her varied interests and her dedication of time, it's easy to see why in 1990 Jean received the Stony Plain Citizen of the Year Award in Stony Plain.

Les Stanford - Medicine Hat

Nominated by the City of Medicine Hat, Social Development Advisory Board.
Although retired, Les Stanford has been actively involved in volunteering since 1950. He quietly works for the betterment of the community and those in need of assistance. Over the years, Les has a long list of volunteer commitments including the Knights of Columbus, Alberta Council on Aging City of Medicine Hat Senior Citizens Advisory Committee, Needs of the Elderly Planning Committee, Committee for Maple Leaf Mills Closure, City of Medicine Hat Fire Prevention Planning Committee, Federal Superannuates Association, Federal Government Local Employment Advisory Committee, Medicine Hat Astronomy Club, Friends of Medalta Pottery Heritage Project, Medicine Hat Stampede Pioneer Village Committee and the City of Medicine Hat Family and Community Support Services Advisory Board. He's been a 50-year Member of the Royal Canadian Legion, and is involved with the Medicine Hat Rehabilitation Society as a Provincial Officer. Les has also chaired the Seniors Computer Club, and volunteered for the Seniors Information Officers Program, the Seniors Income Tax Program, the Alternative House Project, the Community Integration Support Program and recently, the Medicine Hat Police Service in their implementation of the Wise Owl Program. Les Stanford has received many certificates and awards, has a room named in his honor and has received countless letters of commendation. Les Stanford is valued and appreciated in the City of Medicine Hat by many organizations and individuals.

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