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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Making life better for others
Volunteers recognized for their efforts
Elisabeth Kunkel: helps refugees
Laurel Hogan talks about the work of Artbeat Studio Volunteers Inc., which received a Mayor's Volunteer Service Award. (PHIL.HOSSACK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA )
Averill Whitfield: making a difference
Volunteer awards recipients 2011
Lieutenant-Governor's Make A Difference Award: Martin Brocker (Interlake), Leon Tetreault (Eastman), Louis Barrett (Parkland), Gary Gilmour (Central)
Duncan Christie (Winnipeg),* Marg MacDonnell (Winnipeg), Averill Whitfield (Westman)
* Also recipient of the 2011 Lieutenant-Governor's Vice-Regal Volunteer Award
Premier's Volunteer Service Awards
Youth: Melanie Edel (Morris), Francess Amara (Winnipeg)
Community: Dakota Collegiate Black & Gold Society (Winnipeg), Artbeat Studio Inc. (Winnipeg), Swan Lake First Nation Health Centre Staff (Swan Lake)
Individual: Cora Hew (Winnipeg),
Ian Cyr (Pine Falls), Donald (Don) Daymond (Pinawa), Irene McConachy (Winnipeg), Tiffany Mamakeesic (Winnipeg)
Mayor's Volunteer Service Award:
Grace Hospital Bereavement Volunteers (workplace); Rainbow Harmony Project Unison Festival Organizing Committee and Volunteers (arts); The North End Sponsorship Team (NEST) (human services); Artbeat Studio Inc. Volunteers (health); Grace Hospital Youth Volunteer Program (effective use of youth in a volunteer program)
RBC Royal Bank Local Hero Award:
Elaine Stevenson (Winnipeg); Judy Dunn and Brenda Belinski (Dugald)
HSBC Bank Canada Business Award: PWC Canada, Bayshore Home Health
Golden Hand Award (Media): CBC Manitoba
Investors Group Arts & Culture Award for Volunteer Excellence:
Ray Hope Manitoba Conservatory of Music & Arts; Averill Whitfield, Souris & District Heritage Club
Manitoba Lotteries Family Award:
Troy, Traci, Levi & Seth Gregorash (Minnedosa)
Volunteer Manitoba's Award for Outstanding Community Leadership: Sandra Morris (Winnipeg); Larry Moore (Winnipeg Beach)
Safeway Celebration of Ability Award:
Paul MacDonald (Winnipeg)
Twenty-five years ago, Elisabeth Kunkel saw images of war and famine in Ethiopia and felt inspired to help.
"Some people in the North End said, 'We should do something about this,' " she recalls.
Today, the small movement within Kunkel's church to sponsor refugees has snowballed into The North End Sponsorship Team.
To date, the group has sponsored 157 refugees from 18 different countries, many of whom have gone on to graduate from university and start their own businesses.
"It gives you a real sense of satisfaction," said Kunkel, a charter member of the team. "It gets to be an addiction."
On Wednesday, Kunkel was among dozens of individuals and organizations honoured for their volunteer efforts. Volunteer Manitoba handed out 33 awards to recognize charities, businesses and citizens who help their community by lending a hand to others in need.
Executive director Dennis Dyck said 60 per cent of Manitobans engage in some kind of volunteer work -- the highest rate in the country. He said the most recent sandbagging efforts show most Manitobans genuinely want to help those around them.
"Without them, we wouldn't have any community," he said of all volunteers. "We're Prairie people. We realize we want to help each other to get along."
In Adriana Leinberger's case, her interest in the connection between art and mental illness led her to Artbeat Studio.
The former fine arts student spent two years volunteering at the Exchange studio, which helps individuals living with a mental illness recover by expressing their creativity through art.
Leinberger went on to study art therapy and now works with the organization.
"It's more than tapping into that (volunteer) resource," said Artbeat founder Nigel Bart.
"You're developing relationships with people."
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 28, 2011 B1
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