Jasper is a can-do community. When something needs doing, someone will surely step up and do it. Whether it's coaching a hockey team, reffing a game, baking a cake, building a trail, chaperoning a field trip, sitting on a board or raising funds for an ailing roof, the people of Jasper are there.
And, more often than not, they are there silently, never asking for exposure or praise. In fact, they’re so modest, they don’t even realize just how valuable their time and effort is to the community.
Take for example the three volunteers highlighted on page 2. Each one—Anita Robinson, Hjalmar Tiesenhausen and Mildred Flanagan—initially brushed off the request for an interview, saying something along the lines of, “Oh. I don’t do that much” or “Volunteering is just a part of being a community member.”
They even tried to pass off the praise to others, quickly coming up with a handful of other volunteers that they feel are far more deserving of such recognition or praise.
With National Volunteer Week just around the corner, it’s important that—no matter how uncomfortable it makes them—we take the time to shine a spotlight on those selfless people who make our town vibrant.
Think about it, without those volunteers, there would be no Jasper Pride Weekend, the museum wouldn’t have a fighting chance at replacing it’s roof, Jasper wouldn’t have more than 200 km of multi-use trails or community dinners all winter long, and Jasper in January might only have a handful of events.
Of course, these are just some of the most apparent examples of how volunteers benefit our community. There are also a lot of less obvious ways. There are the people who shovel a neighbour’s driveway or rake their leaves. There are community members who bring food to their sick friend or pop in for a visit with an elderly neighbour.
Jasper has so many unsung heroes, who make those small, often unnoticed gestures that help community members who need a hand.
If you flip through this week’s newspaper you’ll hear from many of them.
There’s Fire Chief Greg Van Tighem who is about to embark on a 2,700 km bike ride to raise money for the MS Society of Canada. There are the seven Arts Jasper board members who are celebrating their 40-year anniversary. There are the volunteers at the United Church Thrift Shop who will be on the catwalk this week to raise money for the Jasper Yellowhead Museum and Archives’ roof fund. And, while we’re on the topic, there are the museum volunteers who have been working endlessly to ensure Jasper’s history is preserved.
These modest, giving folks are the reason Jasper is what it is and for that they deserve all the thanks and praise we can muster.
That’s why National Volunteer Week and the Municipality of Jasper’s annual Volunteer Banquet are so important. They give us the opportunity to drag hardworking volunteers away from their busy behind-the-scenes schedules and into the spotlight where they belong.
