The Grande Prairie Regional Association of Volunteer Organizations and the City of Grande Prairie held the annual International Volunteer Day Celebration Breakfast and award ceremony on December 5th.
Several awards were given out during the ceremony, including the city’s George Repka Outstanding Achievement Award and the Bill Bowes Volunteer Organization of the Year Award. GP-RAVO presented the Volunteer of the Year Award, the Corporate Volunteer of the Year Award, the Leaders of Tomorrow Award, and numerous Outstanding Citizen Awards.
Marianne Hartman was selected as the recipient of the 2024 George Repka Outstanding Achievement Award for her near decade of committed service as a board member for the Resource Centre for Suicide Prevention, and five years as a facilitator for Survivors Groups.
The Bill Bowes Volunteer Organization of the Year Award went to the Grande Prairie Army Cadets for their continued commitment to fostering the next generation of disciplined and engaged youth, along with their countless hours of community involvement.
Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton says both winners continue to be an example of what the community values most.
“Both the organization and the individual continue to be what we all hope our community is filled with- great, hard-working people who believe in our community and on a daily basis, take pride in what they’re doing,” she says.
Longtime community leader Erica Fisher was recognized with GP-RAVO’s Individual Volunteer of the Year Award for her work with numerous organizations including the Rotary Club of Grande Prairie After Five, the Grande Prairie Public Library Board, the Grande Prairie Pride Society, and the Friendship Centre. Officials describe her work as having a “lasting impact” on the community.
Liberty Energy grabbed the 2024 Corporate Volunteer of the Year Award for its commitment to community service in the swan city, including the implementation of paid time off for employees who volunteer, funding a children’s play area for the Grande Prairie Palliative Care Society, and support for military personnel through programs like Comeback Yoga.
Six individuals were recognized with Leaders of Tomorrow Awards including Allegra Pardy and Blake Parker for Leadership, Brooke Page and Madisyn Page for Volunteerism, Joshua Verhage for Advocacy, and Meilea Lafontaine for Perseverance.
A further six received Outstanding Citizen Awards including the Sexsmith and Area Food Bank, Bruce Tattrie, Walter Salter, Endurance Oseyi Okobia, Richard Nasedkin, and Paul Rovin Ngemital.
