Volunteers honoured for building bridges

Volunteers: Building Bridges in Our Communities was the theme of Prairie North Health Region’s Volunteer Appreciation Evening held Thursday last week where approximately 300 volunteers were honoured for their contribution to the health and well-being of their community.

After remarks from Prairie North’s board chair Bonnie O’Grady, North Battleford mayor Ian Hamilon, MLA Herb Cox, guest speaker Rosalie Payne and vice-president of Primary Health Services Vikki Smart, the manager of volunteer and spiritual services, Darlene Kingwell, said, “We’ve had some wonderful words that inspire us and made us think about bridges and what we can do to be one, what we can do to help others cross.”

Kingwell said, “A bridge is there to assist, it’s there to support, it’s to close or connect over any kind of gap that you may see, it’s to carry forward, it’s to enhance.”

To the volunteers being honoured, she said, “It’s what you do. You enhance the service, so each time one of you reaches out, each time you reach out to another, a bridge is crossed. You are the builders, you are the bridge. Thank you.”

The evening featured entertainment by Kamala Choir, directed by Dianne Gryba and JoAnne Kasper, and by clarinetist Paul Hyunbai as well as door prizes and dessert.

The guest speaker, known for balancing volunteerism and a busy career and family, said she had excellent examples to follow.

 “I grew up on a small farm 10 miles outside of North Battleford,” said Payne.

Her parents were kept busy supporting 10 children.

“We raised most of our own food, and Dad always worked off the farm to make ends meet,” she said.

 “Now, most people would find that that was enough, but not my mom and dad.”

She said they felt so blessed to have a healthy family, great schools for their children to attend and the life in Saskatchewan that they needed to give back. And she has followed their example.

It wasn’t always easy as she and her husband both worked full time from the time their children were toddlers and Payne was also busy taking classes to advance her career.

“There were times my family thought maybe I wasn’t home enough, but, as grownups, they’ve thanked me on numerous occasions for the example that was set for them.”

Helping one another is the philosophy that built Saskatchewan, said Payne.

“I’d say as I look around this room and the number of people here this evening, this premise is still very alive and well in our city and in our province,” she said.

In his remarks, MLA Cox thanked volunteers manager Kingwell for her “great energy and great enthusiasm and a great attitude for what she does.”