Do you know people who spend their spare time voluntarily working to make their community a better place?

If so, and they volunteer within the RM of Macdonald, then consider nominating them before March 11 for one of this year’s Macdonald Volunteer Service Awards.

The annual awards were initiated by the Macdonald Public Recreation Commission in 2006 to recognize the municipality’s 125th anniversary and the vital role that volunteers play. Since then, 41 individuals and one organization have received awards.

Macdonald-Headingley Recreation Commission director Susanne Moore said much of the recreation programming offered within the RM of Macdonald couldn’t take place without volunteers stepping forward to give their time and energy for the benefit of others.

"The majority of the people nominated are involved in many activities," Moore said.

The awards are divided into youth (under age 25) and individual, with an award of merit presented to a person who has made an outstanding contribution within the municipality.
The candidates’ volunteer work must have been done within the municipality but they don’t have to live there.

Moore said that nominees don’t have to volunteer with an organization.

"They can be the people who pick up their neighbours’ mail and make sure that their snow is shovelled."

Judging criteria is based on the candidate’s activity, demonstrated leadership, other volunteer involvement and the impact made by their volunteer work.

La Salle resident Regina Parker received an award in 2012 for her years of volunteer work with the Macdonald Ringette Board.

"It was a really nice way to be recognized," she said.

A reproduction of Oak Bluff artist Lorraine Powell’s watercolour painting Summer Day will be given to the award winners. Powell’s piece was selected in a competition for artists living in the RM of Macdonald.

The winners will be announced in the spring.

For more information and nomination forms, contact the Macdonald-Headingley Recreation District office at 204-885-2444 or info@mhrd.ca.