Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to announce that nominations are being sought for the 2008 N.W.T. Outstanding Volunteer Awards. This program was developed in 1991 as a way to celebrate outstanding volunteers in the Northwest Territories and to highlight the importance of volunteers to Northwest Territories residents.
The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, in partnership with Volunteer NWT, is pleased to support this important initiative and jointly invite all residents to nominate that special volunteer in their community.
Volunteers are the key building blocks of healthy communities and have a strong tradition in the North. A recent survey showed that more than half of Northwest Territories residents aged 15 and over take part in volunteer activity.
We need to take action to ensure the volunteer sector stays strong. We know that volunteer organizations in the North have had a hard time recruiting and retaining volunteers. With an aging population, that number of active volunteers is declining.
One way to promote volunteerism is to recognize and honour the efforts of those who contribute to our communities. There are four categories of individuals or groups that can be nominated. The four categories are for individual, elder, youth or group nominations. A single nomination form can be used for all categories. The form is available at all community government offices or through the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Once the date for nominations is closed, a selection committee comprised of representatives from each region reviews them against a range of criteria. The winners will be announced at a special ceremony scheduled to be held during National Volunteer Week, which this year is the week of April 27 to May 3.
It’s amazing to see the quality of nominations the department historically receives for these awards. The individuals and groups nominated are from a wide range of backgrounds, and they all share a common trait: they are people who give their time and energy to communities to improve the quality of life for all residents.
People who volunteer are not looking for recognition. The nominees are pleasantly surprised when selected and usually say that there are many others who deserve to be recognized.
The N.W.T. Outstanding Volunteer Awards recognize these tireless community builders and encourage others to follow in their footsteps. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
