Girl Guides is an organization that relies of female volunteers to help run their programs, organize meetings, and act as role models for their Guides. This year, Leila Brosseau, volunteer leader, Jayd Sherwood, 11-year-old Girl Guide, an Kassi Davidson, volunteer leader, represented the Bonnyville Girl Guides group.
There is a special place in the heart of a community for volunteers.
On Thursday, April 19, local volunteers were put in the spotlight with the Bonnyville and District FCSS and Bonnyville Community Learning Council’s second annual Volunteer Appreciation Day.
“A lot of organizations and agencies are run by volunteers. We need to tip our hats to them to say thank you for the tireless work they do and the hours they put in for their passion and desire for the organization they’re volunteering for,” said Diahann Polege-Aulotte, community programmer for the Bonnyville and District FCSS.
For agencies like the Dragonfly Counselling and Support Centre, volunteers are critical for their sustainability.
Cheryl Bujold, executive director of the Dragonfly Centre, said, “Volunteers are absolutely an essential part of our organization.”
The Dragonfly Centre relies on their board of directors, which is made-up of local volunteers.
“Without them, we wouldn’t be here,” Bujold expressed. “We appreciate the time and energy they put into our organization, so very much, because it’s essential... As a non-profit, we couldn’t be here without our volunteers.”
After a successful 2017 event, the two hosting organizations agreed to open it up to the community for a free barbecue and networking night.
Polege-Aulotte said it was a great opportunity for agencies and residents to see what organizations are looking for volunteers.
“It’s just making some of those quieter agencies that need volunteers, such as Girl Guides, Search and Rescue, and other supporting groups that may not necessarily be known as needing volunteers, an opportunity to showcase themselves.”
Leila Brosseau, volunteer leader for Girl Guides in Bonnyville, noted they’re always looking for women interested in becoming mentors for their girls.
Girl Guides is an organization that relies on female volunteers to help run their programs, organize meetings, and act as rolemodels for their Guides. This year, Brosseau, Jayd Sherwood, 11-year-old Girl Guide, and Kassi Davidson, volunteer leader, represented the Bonnyville Girl Guides group.
“We’re really looking for leaders next year,” Brosseau stressed. “These women are so important. They’re the ones who make the programs what they are for the girls.”
Girl Guide leaders are responsible for organizing and executing activities, camps, and meetings.
But more than that, Brosseau said, their leaders are mentors for the young women involved in Guides.
Town of Bonnyville Coun. Rene Van Brabant and MD Coun. Marc Jubinville thanked the volunteers for all that they do for their community.
Without them, Van Brabant said, Bonnyville wouldn’t be the same.
“There’s not much that would happen around Bonnyville if it wasn’t for volunteers,” he expressed.
Jubinville agreed, “It’s definitely a proven fact that volunteers are very important. Even putting on an event to acknowledge the volunteers requires volunteers. It just goes to show that they’re always needed and it’s very important to have a nice collection of volunteers so we can carry on with all of the successful events that we have in our community.”
