Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 3/2/2010 (4274 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Cat Ross shows photos from her most recent humanitarian trip overseas. She has been honoured by the YMCA-YWCA.
A young Winnipeg woman who has devoted her free time and working life to helping others was awarded Wednesday the 2009 Peace Medal by the YMCA-YWCA.
Catherine 'Cat' Ross, 26, has volunteered with Nine Circles Community Health Centre, with the Global Volunteer Network in Kenya, with Children International, with Siloam Mission's Eat So They Can campaign and as a UNICEF Global Parent.
"I was shocked," Ross said of her reaction when she learned the Y had chosen her to receive its Peace Medal. "The work I do, I do on a regular basis. I never saw it as doing anything special."
Ross said her interest in the disadvantaged got its start with a Grade 8 project on HIV and AIDs. Following high school, she volunteered with Nine Circles Community Health Centre and became interested in overseas volunteer work, which took her to Kenya.
"An experience like that is life-altering," Ross said.
She finds herself in between jobs after she lost her job as the regional co-ordinator of the local office of UNICEF Canada, which was shut down last week.