Submitted by RDEK
The RDEK has announced its 2024 Electoral Area Volunteers of the Year.
“We recognize the profound impact volunteers have. They are the heart of our communities and it is an honour for us to pay special tribute to them through the annual Electoral Area Volunteer of the Year Awards Program,” says RDEK board chair Rob Gay.
This year’s award recipients are: Terry Horton (Area A), Corlyn Haarstad (Area B), Allan Watson (Area C), Marilyn Bowen (Area E), Doug Sinclair (Area F), and Penny Powers (posthumously for Area G).
The volunteers will be recognized individually in conjunction with the Electoral Area Town Hall meetings, which will be happening in Electoral Areas A, B and C in the fall and in Electoral Areas E, F and G over the coming weeks.
The first Town Hall meeting will be held on June 18 in Wilmer and will begin with a special tribute to Area G Volunteer of the Year Penny Powers, who passed away during the nomination process. Area G Director Roberta Schnider will make a presentation to Powers’ family in her memory.
Immediately following the Volunteer of the Year ceremony, there will be presentations from RDEK staff on a range of topics including the budget, personal emergency preparedness, FireSmart and an upcoming Broadband Project in Edgewater.
The Electoral Area F Volunteer of the Year celebration and Town Hall will be held June 25 in Windermere.
Doug Sinclair (Area F)
For the last 28 years, Doug has devoted himself to his community, offering his services quietly and without seeking praise. As a founding member of the Windermere Fire Department, Doug was involved in every aspect of its creation, from purchasing the first engine, rallying the first Windermere firefighters in 1982, and building the original hall.
Doug remains active and takes a leadership role mentoring recruits and showing all members the tricks of the trade. His impact has been significant throughout his dedicated service as a firefighter, officer, trainer, and mentor. His legacy is evident in his leadership succession, with his son now serving as chief and his grandson as a dedicated firefighter.
As the fire department is tasked to respond to a greater spectrum of situations, of which fires make up only a small portion, this is no small feat for a volunteer. Whether it is an ice rescue with a hovercraft, a structure fire at -30 degrees (or +30 degrees), a car accident in a snowstorm or a sick person at 2 a.m., Doug is there with a wealth of knowledge and compassion that no book can teach, and no course can train.
One of the greatest gifts that Doug has given is his time. Endless time that he has spent going over, showing, and teaching anyone who wants to learn. Yes, currently the firefighter members are reimbursed, so that they can volunteer to leave their work and fight fires, but previous to 2005 there was no payment for helping your community. Doug was an integral part of this service long before that reimbursement came along. Doug is truly the heart of the Windermere Fire Department and the respect for his leadership is shared across the organization.
Penny Powers (Area G)
Penny was the spirit of many circles in the Columbia Valley and that couldn’t have been more evident than in her passing. She was a valued member of the Edgewater Fire Department where she devoted many hours, involved with local ski clubs coaching kids in community schools, and an active member of the FireSmart committee in Edgewater.
Penny always made time to give herself to the cause at hand and when she did, she did it with enthusiasm and brought energy and excellence every time. Penny was a citizen who modelled being fully engaged in her community, the spirit of volunteerism, and how to live a healthy, active lifestyle. She was instrumental in the initiation of the Lake Windermere Whiteway and was on the volunteer committee supporting this work for over a decade. She was a part of the project from its inception and was there to be one of the ribbon cutters when the trail earned its Guinness Book of World Records recognition. Her volunteer work extended to the board of the Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club for many years, the Banff Film Fest Volunteer Committee, and the ‘Babes on Blades’ Women’s Hockey League. She also volunteered for the Chamber of Commerce, and a variety of tourism committees, supporting the visitor experience in the Valley.
Penny truly made herself available to anyone who was looking for support to help improve health and wellness in the Columbia Valley. She was tireless in her support for our valley residents, culture, and spirit.
