In Pictures: The 2015 Volunteer Fair and Community Dinner
By David F. Rooney The annual Volunteer Fair and Community Dinner was a great success this year with scores of long-time residents mingling with newcomers and even seasonal visitors at the Community Centre last Thursday, November 26. Local non-profit groups and societies set up tables in the multi-purpose room and engaged everyone who wanted to make a contribution to community life. The high point of the event, which always takes place midway through the annual Welcome Week campaign, was the awarding of Spirit of Revelstoke Awards to the individuals recognized as being the city’s top volunteers. This year the awards were presented to Carol Palladino, Claudette Kendel, Wally Mohn, Georgia Sumner, Susan Black, Jan Morehouse, Courtney Atkinson, Cindy Pearce, George Hopkins, Bill Shuttleworth, Jack Carten, Marly McAstocker, Roma Threatful and Vivian Mitchell: Here are some photos from the event along with website and/or Facebook page addresses: Cathy Burke of Workplace BC explains Welcome Week to a newcomer to town during the Volunteer Fair and Community Dinner. David F. Rooney photo
Stacie Byrne (left) and Lindsay Roltis are two of the generous residents who are stepping up to organize the Community Christmas Dinner at the Frontier this year. They are taking over from Ginger Shoji (right) who organized this heart-warming Christmas Day event every year for moe than 20 years. David F. Rooney photo This year’s Volunteer Fair and Community Dinner, held on Thursday, November 26 at the Community Centre, was very well attended with a nice mix of locals and newcomers. Attendees had a chance to explore the opportunities local societies and groups offer to keep Revelstoke a vibrant community and then tuck into Glen Cherlet’s pulled pork with macaroni and creamy coleslaw. David F. Rooney photo BBQ Master Glen Cherlet served up succulent pulled pork, macaroni, coleslaw and buns for the Community Dinner last Thursday. Just about everything Glen does is fantastic and his pulled port was no exception. David F. Rooney photo
Community Foundation director Sophie Humphreys (right) describes the many ways that the organization’s work supports community life, from funding the work of other non-profits to managing scholarships and bursaries for high school graduates pursuing their dreams through post-secondary education. Founded in 1999, the Foundation manages an endowment of more than $2 million. David F. Rooney photo
Robyn Hooper of the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society (left) and Melissa Hemphill of the Local Food Initiative share a light-hearted moment at the beginning of the Volunteer Fair. David F. Rooney photo
Stephanie Melnyk (left) is always enthusiastic about the local Community Response Network and its work helping seniors and others in Revelstoke. David F. Rooney photo
Jean Pedersen and Ruth Boettger were chatting with Marlene Pelttari when I happened by. Jean is the Revelstoke Seniors’ Association’s volunteer coordinator and Ruth is the society’s president. The association is on the hunt for volunteers willing to help with its Computer Literacy program (yes, a surprising number of seniors do use computers or are interested in learning how to get online), its Volunteer Medical Transportation program that helps seniors get to and from medical appointments out of town and its Helping Hands program that sees volunteers remove snow from seniors’ or disabled individuals’ homes., sidewalks, entryways and driveways. No roofs. David F. Rooney photo
The Revelstoke and District Humane Society does terrific work with animals in distress. Here are three of the society’s dedicated volunteers: Marika Koncek, Shannon Van Goor and Gail Piattelli. This is a good time to remind everyone that the RDH’s traditional — and very cute and amusing — Pictures with Santa event is being held on Sunday, December 6, at the Curling Club next to the Forum rom 10 am to 4 pm. Bring your kids and your pets fr a photo with the holy old elf. Professional photographer John Morrison will be handling the camera work. Click on the link below to see the poster for this event. David F. Rooney photo
Okasnagan College’s Jill Pratt was looking for men and women to help out on a number of the programs offered at the college, including tutoring and immigrant services. David F. Rooney photo
George Hopkins and Jack Carten of Revelstoke Elks Lodge No. 453 crowd down on the pulled pork and macaroni at the fair. These guys understand the power of volunteering. The local Elks lodge has been very active over the years helping kids and works closely with the library, too. David F. Rooney photo
Jack has for decades been an active volunteer with a number of clubs and service organizations. He even won a ribbon in Calgary’s first rodeo back in the 1980s. David F. Rooney photo Brian Sumner of the BC Interior Forestry Museum and Discovery Centre whips up a quick sign for the museum’s table at the fair. He looked surprisingly relaxed for someone who had just driven here from Vancouver. David F. Rooney photo
Kevin Dorrius (right), manager of the Community Futures Corporation, listens as he talks with two of the attendees at the Volunteer fair. CFDC offers support to businesses of all kinds in Revelstoke. David F. Rooney photo
John Netzel shares a chuckle with Basin Business Advisor Roberta Ciollii. The Basin Business Advisor program was created by the Columbia Basin Trust to build economic capacity in Basin communities by strengthening and supporting existing businesses. David F. Rooney photo
James Eger (left) Sarah Jarman-Pay and Ron Glave of the Revelstoke Adaptive Sports Society. The Revelstoke Adaptive Sports Program was officially opened for business on January 4, 2014, with the goal of making adventure sports accessible to individuals who experience limitations from physical and cognitive learning disabilities. David F. Rooney photo
Tracy Spannier of the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy and the Forestry Museum’s Brian Sumner chat during the Volunteer Fair. David F. Rooney photo
City Councillor Aaron stood in for Mayor Mark McKee and spoke about the importance of volunteering. He also introduced each of this year’s Spirit Award winners. David F. Rooney photo This year’s Spirit of Revelstoke award winners were all smiles as they posed for a photo. the awards were presented to Carol Palladino, Claudette Kendel, Wally Mohn, Georgia Sumner, Susan Black, Jan Morehouse, Courtney Atkinson, Cindy Pearce, George Hopkins, Bill Shuttleworth, Jack Carten, Marly McAstocker, Roma Threatful and Vivian Mitchell. Carol Palladino was not present for the awards ceremony. David F. Rooney photo
