Four NWT residents received their 2019 NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards at a ceremony held in Yellowknife on May 30th.
The NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards are presented annually to individuals and groups who have helped improve the quality of life in the NWT through volunteerism and is a great way to say thank you to the selfless individuals who give their time to NWT communities.
The four recipients of the 2019 NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards are:
- Outstanding Elder Award – Patrick Clancy, Yellowknife
- Outstanding Youth Award – Davonna Kasook, Inuvik
- Outstanding Individual Award – Margo Nightingale, Yellowknife
- Outstanding Group Award – Yellowknife Community Foundation, Yellowknife
Alfred Moses, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs stated that celebrating volunteers who build sustainable, vibrant, safe communities is an important part of the priorities set out by the 18th Legislative Assembly for community wellness and safety.
“These annual awards provide an opportunity to show our appreciation to volunteers and volunteer organizations for their outstanding contributions in communities across the territory.”
He added that recognizing volunteers across the NWT is an important part of maintaining a sustainable volunteer presence in our communities.
“On behalf of our government, Municipal and Community Affairs is always happy to recognize those who selflessly devote their time and effort to the betterment of their communities through volunteerism.”
Every January, MACA issues an annual notice of the nomination deadline for the NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards Program in order to recognize the voluntary achievements and contributions made by volunteers in NWT communities.
The judging criteria for the awards included the following factors:
- The duration (minimum of 100 hours) and the impact of the volunteerism.
- The number of years, months and an approximate number of volunteer hours the nominee committed to the activity.
- The uniqueness and inclusiveness (involving others) of the nominee’s contributions and commitments.
- Their leadership role in the community or organization.
- The challenges and/or barriers the nominee had to overcome in order to achieve their goal.
The recipients receive $500 to give to a volunteer organization of their choice as well as a framed porcupine quill picture for their efforts in building NWT communities through volunteering.
