Stars of Alberta Recipients - 2005
YOUTH CATEGORY
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Riley Georgsen (Hanna)Nominated by Kali Taylor, Hanna Youth Council Riley Georgsen has made living in a small, rural community better for everyone. He is currently one of three members of the J.C. Charyk Student's Union, a dynamic member of the Youth Club board, part of the pool committee that is working to bring a new swimming pool to the town by June 2006, and president of the organization he formed almost two years ago, the Hanna Youth Council. The Hanna Youth Council works to strengthen the relationships between the adults and youth of the community, increase knowledge of the political system, and promote civic pride through youth driven activities and programs. He works for the swimming pool where he lifeguards and teaches youngsters swimming lessons, works for a summer children's program, Summer Fun, is a member of the football and basketball program at J.C. Charyk, and a grade 12 student on the grad committee who even with a very busy schedule manages to keep good grades. Bringing warmth, passion and a can-do attitude to each of these organizations, he has earned the reputation as a dependable, energetic youth with a bright future ahead of him. |
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Kristine Walls (Red Deer)Nominated by Darci Shave, Red Deer Regional Hospital and Dorothy Reso-Hickman, Red Deer Museum/Kerry Wood Nature Centre/Red Deer Library Kristine Walls is a volunteer with the Red Deer Regional Hospital and has contributed several hours to the Pediatrics, Maternity and Emergency Wards. Currently she is volunteering at two nursing homes where she visits two elderly residents. Kristine feels that the elderly are an important part of society and she feels truly blessed to have an opportunity to get involved. Kristine is also a volunteer with the Red Deer Public Library, Kerry Wood Nature Centre and Red Deer Museum where she helps out and assists with numerous special events. This year Kristine has also become a Big Sister where she serves as a mentor to a young girl. Children are the future and she feels privileged to be able to serve as a positive role model in a young individual's life. |
ADULT CATEGORY
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Jerrold Lemko (Vegreville)Nominated by Phil Rowe, Town of Vegreville Fire Department Jerrold Lemko is a person whose spirit of volunteerism has played a significant role throughout his lifetime. His love for sports and culture has taken him from coaching and officiating minor sports, to serving as President for Vegreville Minor Hockey, Sopilka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and Vice-President of the Vegreville Cultural Association. His focus during recent years has been with Hockey Alberta serving as Vice Chair of Hockey Development, and Hockey Canada as a delegate on their Development Council. Jerrold has provided leadership and guidance for many young athletes through the Team Alberta program. He sits on the Marketing, Sledge Hockey, Viking Cup and Policy committees. Jerrold attends numerous meetings and sessions for development of coaches, athletes, officials, trainers and volunteers. He has remained dedicated to all Vegreville citizens as Fire Chief of the Vegreville Volunteer Fire Department and has freely given his time to assist in many projects such as pancake breakfasts, short-cut for The Cure, Spirit of Christmas, just to name a few. He was instrumental in starting the Vegreville Junior Firefighting Program. Jerrold puts forth a persevering, selfless and caring commitment to making Vegreville a finer and safer place to live. |
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Martha Parker (Calgary)Nominated by Karen Lynch, Volunteer Alberta Martha Parker retired last fall from her sixteen-year position as the Executive Director of Volunteer Calgary. During those sixteen years, Volunteer Calgary developed more than twenty significant new partnership programs to benefit volunteers, volunteer centres, and the not-for-profit community. Martha has spent the last twenty years blending her paid work with her volunteer work. Her ongoing passion is volunteerism and strengthening the voluntary sector. Martha served on the Joint Coordinating Committee of the National Voluntary Sector Initiative from 2001 to 2003 and was one of the first members of the National Advisory Council of Volunteer Centres completing her four-year commitment in 2003. In addition, she was part of a seven-year community based steering group responsible for the establishment of the Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations in 2004 and a founding member of both Volunteer Alberta and the Canadian Federation of Voluntary Sector Networks. Martha currently sits on the board of directors of The Muttart Foundation, and is actively involved with a variety of local, provincial and national projects that continue to focus her volunteer work on cross cutting issues that impact the voluntary sector. Martha was chosen to receive one of the first five fellowships presented by the Muttart Foundation (Edmonton, Alberta) in 1997. The title of her research project – a key component of the fellowship – was Partnerships: For Profits and Not-For-Profits Together. |
SENIOR CATEGORY
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Ella Mortemore (Beaumont)Nominated by Camille Berube, Town of Beaumont Ella Mortemore has an ability to recognize a need and has a commitment to getting things done which has led to a lifetime of volunteer activities. In her first year of teaching (1949) in an isolated community in Manitoba, her interest in improving conditions led to a new two room school with an attached teacherage within that year. Moving to Alberta, she served as president of the Guidance Council of the Alberta Teacher's Association and was awarded an honorary lifetime membership for her leadership and innovations. She helped organize the Strathcona Retired Teacher's Association and served as a first director. Her retirement from the County of Strathcona led to further opportunities at the University of Alberta – as a volunteer at the Hope House (fund raising, public relations, and scraping old paint) as well as being able to participate in research projects involving teachers on long term disability. Currently living in Beaumont, she has volunteered at the local RCMP for 10 years, where she helped initiate the DARE program in schools. She has served as the first president of her condominium board and also as a director of the Beaumont Seniors. As the growth in the town exploded, the need for housing for the 50+ population increased: she undertook the creation of a non-profit society to build Place Beausejour, a 4 phase life-lease building complex. She served several years as the first president and is still actively involved in the expansion of the next phases. Her leadership, integrity and teamwork approach are key to involving other community members and organizations. |
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M. Salim Sindhu (Calgary)Nominated by Jim Rennie, friend M. Salim Sindhu has been actively involved in volunteer work in the community since 1978. His diverse talents have put him into different areas of helping his fellow immigrants settle in this new country. He has volunteered as a translator and interpreter for the Calgary Immigrant Aid Society, Calgary Catholic Immigration Society, and Calgary Immigrant Women's Association to help in the Host Program, provided one-on-one assistance, as well as administrative work. He has assisted the newcomers by volunteering at the community radio stations to talk about the settlement and other services available for the new immigrants in Calgary. He was a delegate from Alberta Immigrant Sector of Volunteer Sector Initiative of Citizenship & Immigration Canada Consultation. He has knocked at every door and raised funds of more than $1.5 million for C.I.E.S. building construction. Mentor, counselor and innovator, Mr. Sindhu has been providing volunteer consultation and counseling to the newcomers of this country since the inception of Calgary Immigrant Educational Society, which he formed himself with the help of a few friends. Through the programs and services of C.I.E.S., he pioneered many programs such as E.S.L. Drop-in, Clerical Training, and Enhanced Language Training for Immigrant Professionals and has given his devotion and care to ease their transition periods. For recognition of his volunteer work in the community, Mr. Sindhu received the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award from Her Excellency the Honourable Adrienne Clarkson on March 23, 2003. |
DISTINCTIVE HONOURS
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Douglas Goss (Edmonton)Nominated by Honourable Ralph Klein, Premier of Alberta Douglas Goss, Q.C. was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta where he obtained his B.Comm. (Finance) from the University of Alberta in 1980, followed by his L.L.B. in 1984. A firm believer in community service, Mr. Goss serves on the Boards of various Alberta charities, including the Mazankowski Heart Institute, the Kid's Kottage Foundation, the Fort Edmonton Foundation, the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (which he Chairs), the TELUS Edmonton Community Board, the Support Network Foundation, the Kids with Cancer Society and the Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research. In addition, Mr. Goss is a Director of the Edmonton Eskimo Football Club and the Capital Health Authority, a member of the Board of Governors of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, a member of the Board of the Management of the Alberta Economic Development Authority, and serves as the Vice-Chairman of Alberta's Promise, a provincial initiative launched by the Province of Alberta to enhance and encourage corporate participation in children's charities in the Province of Alberta. Mr. Goss was the Chairman of the Molson Canadian Heritage Hockey Classic held in November, 2003. |
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Dr. Robert C.P. Westbury (Edmonton)Nominated by Honourable Ralph Klein, Premier of Alberta Dr. Robert C.P. Westbury was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia and received his training at St. Francis Xavier, University of Alberta, University of Oregon, and Florida State. Dr. Westbury has been the President, Seeds Foundation; Vice President, TransAlta; and Vice President, Grant MacEwan College. Currently he chairs the TELUS Edmonton Community Board, the Alberta Centre for Child Family and Community Research and the Enoch/Paragon Board. He is a volunteer director with the Canada West Foundation, Fringe Theatre Adventures, The United Way and Kids with Cancer. Dr. Westbury has been named Co-chair with Colleen Klein of the Alberta Task Force on Crystal Meth. He chaired the 2004 Juno Awards in Edmonton and served on the Board of Governors of the 2005 World Masters Games. Dr. Westbury chairs the Alberta Order of Excellence and is an Alberta Centennial Ambassador. |
