Category Archives: Volunteers

Volunteers are an important part of our community. We recognize you and invite you to share your stories!

Oct 25 2011

Volunteer News | Alberta Volunteers are Priceless!

Posted in News, Volunteers

Volunteers could use a little help

Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 06:00 am
Published on the Carstairs Courier

An unknown author once wrote, “Volunteers are not paid – not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.”

While that sentiment continues to ring true today, with over 50 per cent of Albertans regularly volunteering their time, many municipal volunteer organizations are struggling to recruit and retain new members given today’s more mobile society. Faced with dwindling numbers some groups have folded, while others plod along with the same group volunteering for every event.

One possible solution exists in offering tax breaks to those residents who participate in volunteer activities with registered charities. While many volunteer groups suggest the idea is the answer to declining numbers, critics charge that the idea just doesn’t make sense.

Read the rest of the article here…

Jun 29 2011

Banff Community Greenhouse

Posted in Organizations, Recognition, Tales from the Field

The Banff Greenhouse Gardening Society [BGGS] has had an exciting last two months in May & June, as over a year of planning became reality when the Banff Community Greenhouse was built at the end of May! It’s been about a month and things are already growing! Drop by and check it out in the parking lot near the Banff Recreation Grounds.

The Ribbon Cutting + Grand Opening

On Monday, June 27th the BGGS was thrilled to host the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the greenhouse. On hand to cut the ribbon (or rather strand of flowers) were Town of Banff Mayor Karen Sorensen and MLA Janis Tarchuck . Many other key funders and volunteers of the project were on site, including the following title funders; The Banff Community Foundation, Bow Valley Credit Union, Leader Service & Renovations Ltd and the Alpine Medial Clinic. Pictured here is the group of funders present and also BGGS team and gardeners involved in the greenhouse this year.

The Greenhouse Build

Check out the photo story – be sure to read the captions!

Many local volunteers came out and worked hard through snow, rain, mud and sunshine to complete the greenhouse in only 3 days!
It took lots of ladders, balancing acts and about 30 hours to get the frame of the greenhouse completed!Energetic teams of local volunteers, some very talented carpenters, engineers and "hey-can-you-hold-this'ers" included!Chad Townsend and Bob Lutz were the 'site bosses' for the weekend's construction.Happy Volunteers moving cinder blocks which are used to prop up the gardening boxes.The gardening boxes waiting to move to their new home - thanks to Stuart Olson Dominion Construction Inc. for generously volunteering their skills and materials.The greenhouse structure nearing completion on Sunday after 3 full days of mud the sun came out to greet Banff's first Community Greenhouse!Salvaged wood from the Banff Centre rennovations provided the finishing touches on the exterior of the greenhouse.
Bob Lutz, president of the Banff Greenhouse Gardening Society sliding the final panel into the greenhouse wall.Bob Lutz, president of the Banff Greenhouse Gardening Society sliding the final panel into the greenhouse wall.General Electric Water & Process Technologies team from Calgary came and volunteer with Banff Community Greenhouse team on a sunny Tuesday afternoon!The GE team took on the task of mixing soil and filling all the garden boxes with soil!Arriving with wheelbarrow's, shovels and pickup trucks, the GE team was ready for the challenge!Some of the team shovelled....... while other's devised some pretty ingenious methods!
Got to love having a team of engineers to work with!A team of much muscle moved salvaged Rundle Rock from the Banff Centre that became, literally, the 'corner-stone' of the exterior's finishing touches!

Jun 06 2011

Volunteer Success Story | General Electric + Banff Community Greenhouse

Posted in Organizations, Recognition, Tales from the Field, Volunteers

Helping the Greenhouse get growing!

Back in the late winter the Banff Volunteer Centre received a phone call from General Electric who were interested to come to Banff and volunteer for an afternoon on a meaningful community project. The new Banff Community Greenhouse presented the perfect opportunity!

The Banff Gardening and Greenhouse Society (BGGS) has been hard at work for the past year setting the groundwork and fundraising for the first ever Banff Community Greenhouse, and the end of May saw the dream become reality thanks to the help of many dedicated volunteers. When the opportunity to host General Electric volunteers came up the BGGS jumped at the chance to host a group of 15 people.

Not only was GE willing to provide a team of fantastic volunteers, but the Banff Community Greenhouse also received funding support from General Electric. The funds GE provided went towards the cost of fertilizers and some of the materials used to build the gardening boxes.

They arrived in a fleet of matching blue pick-up trucks, ready to get to work with some of the finishing touches for the greenhouse. For the afternoon team shoveled and mixed soil, transported it into the greenhouse and filled the gardening plots. They had some ingenious methods and a lot of fun!

Here’s a group shot of all 15 GE Volunteers and a team of BGGS and local volunteers who came out for the afternoon.

Thank you to the GE Team for all of your hard work!

Employer Supported volunteerism is on the rise!
Banff is a fantastic destination to host corporate groups!

For more information on employer supported volunteering, please contact the Banff Volunteer Centre.

Apr 10 2011

National Volunteer Week | recognize & motivate

Posted in Volunteers

Happy Volunteer Week!

Come celebrate with us at these special events!

Wednesday April 13 @ the Coffee House
Saturday April 16th @ the Rocky Mountain Volunteer Fair

Still curious? want to know more? here’s a couple of snazzy videos to get you motivated to volunteer and to say thank you!

Everyone knows someone who volunteers — this is the week to turn to them and say “THANK YOU for ALL THAT YOU DO!”

Apr 07 2011

National Volunteer Week | Volunteers Count!

Posted in Recognition, Volunteer Opportunities, Volunteers

Count Yourself in with VolunteersCount!

 

Are you an Alberta Volunteer?

Everyone knows Alberta’s volunteers count… but how much? Find out by participating in VolunteersCount! Volunteer any time between April 10-16 (National Volunteer Week) and log your hours on the Volunteer Alberta website.

 

 

 

What’s in it for you? Well, quite a lot actually …

  • 1st draw prize: $500.00 to a non-profit organization of your choice
  • 2nd draw prize: $250.00 to a non-profit organization of your choice
  • 3rd draw prize: Registration to Vitalize 2011 in Edmonton June 14-15, 2011

Count yourself in! Participate at www.volunteeralberta.ab.ca by completing the online form for yourself or on behalf of your organization’s volunteers!

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