Government of Canada Celebrates National Volunteer Week
OTTAWA, April 25, 2001 -- Today and tomorrow, the Government of Canada will observe National Volunteer Week with special ceremonies to recognize Canadians for their volunteer work helping deliver government programs and services to fellow Canadians.Among those being honoured at ceremonies in Ottawa and Hull is a representative group of the more than 150 000 Canadians who volunteer each year in support of 26 federal departments and agencies. Today, the group of 60 volunteers from across Canada will participate in a ceremony with His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. They will be guests of honour at the Government of Canada Volunteer Recognition Ceremony on Parliament Hill tomorrow.
"These individuals represent the true spirit of volunteerism," said Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps. "During this International Year of Volunteers, it is fitting that the Government of Canada join with the private and voluntary sectors in thanking them for their exemplary contributions. Volunteerism has always been an essential aspect of Canadian society and remains one of our nation's greatest strengths to this day."
"Volunteerism brings people together, strengthens communities and contributes to our quality of life," added Minister of Human Resources Development Jane Stewart. "Canada's volunteers are one of the reasons our country is considered one of the best places in the world to live."
The United Nations has declared 2001 the International Year of Volunteers, giving cause for celebration to more than 7.5 million Canadians who volunteer. The contribution of volunteers across Canada has been estimated at $16 billion annually, or eight percent of Canada's gross domestic product. Collectively, volunteers give 1.1 billion hours of their time yearly.
Communities across Canada are marking National Volunteer Week, which ends with the National Youth Summit on Volunteerism in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, from April 26 to 29. This year, National Volunteer Week celebrates the spirit and energy of youth volunteers. The volunteer participation rate of young Canadians rose from 18 per cent in 1987 to 33 per cent in 1997, according to Statistics Canada's National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating. Canadian youth, between the ages of 15 and 24, are more likely to be volunteers than are individuals in any other age group.
In Canada, International Year of Volunteers celebrations are led by Canadian Heritage and Human Resources Development Canada on behalf of the Government of Canada, in partnership with Volunteer Canada on behalf of the voluntary sector. More information on the International Year of Volunteers 2001 is available at www.iyvcanada.org.
A backgrounder is available on the Internet or upon request.
Information:
Krista Pawley
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of
Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
Shannon Thrussell
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of
Human Resources Development
(819) 953-2353
BACKGROUNDER
1-- INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF VOLUNTEERS 2001
On November 20, 1997, in recognition of the work of volunteers, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2001 the International Year of Volunteers (IYV).
Volunteers around the world address social, economic, environmental, cultural and humanitarian needs. IYV 2001 acknowledges the important work of volunteers and also serves to encourage more people to become involved in voluntary service.
The Canadian campaign encourages Canadians to recognize and celebrate the rich diversity of volunteer experience. Volunteer Canada, Canadian Heritage and Human Resources Development Canada are leading the national delivery of IYV 2001 through a unique partnership focused on celebrating the contributions of Canada's approximately 7.5 million volunteers working in approximately 180,000 organizations in communities across the country.
The Canadian IYV 2001 web site at www.iyvcanada.org reports on IYV activities and includes a media page.
Canadian Statistics on Volunteering
Canadian statistics show that almost one in three (31.4 percent) Canadians aged 15 and over volunteered for a charitable or not-for-profit organization in 1997. These statistics will be updated this summer through The 2000 National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (Statistics Canada).
National Volunteer Week (April 22-28, 2001)
National Volunteer Week is an annual celebration dedicated to Canada's 7.5 million volunteers. It's a time to honour volunteers and to raise awareness of the contribution volunteers make in our communities. The Government of Canada is using the opportunity to honour federal volunteers, those who help the federal government deliver programs and services to Canadians in their communities.
Sixty of the more that 150 000 volunteers from across Canada will be part of the reception for His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on April 25 at the Museum of Civilization. These volunteers work in many areas, including safety and security, the environment, sport and recreation, arts and culture, health and social services.
On April 26, the government will honour these volunteers in a ceremony on Parliament Hill.
(Daina Nestick, who was named Hamilton's Volunteer of the Year in 1999, will make a presentation to His Royal Highness during this ceremony. Background information regarding Daina Nestick appears below.)
Youth and Volunteerism
The 1997 National Survey on National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating found that:
-- One in three Canadians over the age of 15 volunteer their time to charitable and not-for-profit organizations.
-- Canadian youth between the age of 15 and 24 are the most likely age group to volunteer.
-- The participation rate among Canadian youth has almost doubled, going from 18 percent in 1987 to 33 percent in 1997.
The Voluntary Sector Initiative
The Government of Canada and the voluntary sector are working to forge a new partnership for the 21st century. Together they are examining new trends in volunteering, the link to a civil society, the economic impact of volunteering, and the ethics and values associated with voluntary giving. These and other areas of interest are being explored through a joint working partnership known as the Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI).
International Conference in August
In August, Canada will host the CIVICUS 2001 World Assembly (Vancouver, B.C., August 19-23, 2001). Hosted in Canada by the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy, this special IYV 2001-themed conference will bring people from around the world to participate in seminars, workshops and plenaries exploring concepts of civil society and the importance of volunteerism in building a global society.
2 -- MORE THAN 150 000 VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT GOVERNMENT OF CANADA PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
During this, the International Year of Volunteers 2001 (IYV), the Government of Canada is paying tribute to the more than 150 000 men and women who volunteer to help provide federal government programs and services. Because these men and women work with federal departments and agencies they are known as "federal volunteers."
Their contributions to quality of life in Canadian communities are significant. These federal volunteers work in such areas as safety and security, the environment, sport and recreation, arts and culture, health and social services, as well as in the international arena.
Twenty-six federal departments and agencies benefit from the services of these dedicated volunteers. For the RCMP alone, 75 000 volunteers help deliver more than 30 RCMP programs and services across Canada. These include Crime Stoppers, Neighbourhood Watch, auxiliary constables and community justice forums as well as drug awareness programs and search and rescue and victims' services.
Volunteers also work in museums, veteran's hospitals and in our national parks. They collect weather information, refurbish computers for our schools, interpret history at historic sites, protect and document Canada's flora and fauna, teach prison inmates, help Canadians complete tax forms and access and use the Internet and coach others in literacy skills.
Departments/Agencies served by Federal Volunteers:
Canada Agriculture Museum
Canada Aviation Museum
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Canada Science and Technology Museum
Canadian International Development Agency
Canadian Museum of Nature
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Correctional Service of Canada
Environment Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Health Canada
Human Resources Development Canada
National Arts Centre
National Capital Commission
National Gallery of Canada
National Search and Rescue Secretariat
Natural Resources Canada
Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness
Parks Canada
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Standards Council of Canada
Sport Canada
Western Economic Diversification
Veterans Affairs Canada
3 -- FEDERAL VOLUNTEERS AT CANADIAN MUSEUM OF CIVILIZATIONS RECEPTION
The International Year of Volunteers 2001 is a time for Canadians to celebrate the many volunteers involved in giving to their society and their neighbours, as well as supporting one another and building communities. More than 7.5 million Canadians Ñ almost one in three Ñ give of their time to an official voluntary organization each year.
At the Canadian Museum of Civilization Reception, the Prince of Wales will meet with Canadians from across the country who volunteer in support of federal government programs and services. Together, they represent many of the main areas to which Canadian volunteers contribute, including arts and culture, the environment, faith, health, international development, safety and security, social services, and sport and recreation.
Additional information on many of the volunteers is available by contacting Anne-Sophie Lawless, Media Relations, Canadian Heritage at : (819) 997-9314.
Volunteers to be Honoured
Canada Agriculture Museum
Rob More, Greely, ON
Canada Aviation Museum
Bruce Kettles, Ottawa, ON
Arthur Wahlroth, Ottawa, ON
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
Jean-Réal Brouillard, Cantley, QC
Trudy Muller, Kanata, ON
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Raymond Breton, Marbelton, QC
Pearl Dugas, La Baie, QC
Canada Science and Technology Museum
Duncan du Fresne, Ottawa, ON
Canadian International Development Agency
Jennifer Brammer, Corner Brook, NF
Roland Breton, Ottawa, ON
Kevin Thomson, Fredericton, NB
Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation
James Bond, Ottawa, ON
Jacqueline Gagnon, Ottawa, ON
Dominique Veillette, Hull, QC
Canadian Museum of Nature
Mireille Deussing, Gloucester, ON
Kay Liver, Ottawa, ON
Philip Martin, Ottawa, ON
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Susan Rambow, Courtenay, BC
Uma Shanker Srivastava, Brossard, QC
Correctional Service of Canada
Marie Beemans, Deux Montagnes, QC
Darlene M. Rempel, Winnipeg, MB
Marjorie White, New Westminster, BC
Environment Canada
Ann Coffey, Ottawa, ON
Lloyd King, Hagersville, ON
Joseph Lin, Vancouver, BC
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Thomas Humphrey, Corner Brook, NF
Zo Ann Morten, Vancouver, BC
Harry Strong, Trinity Bay, NF
Health Canada
Mary Catharine McDonnell, Lunenburg, NS
Thomas R. Nobles, Belleville, ON
Human Resources Development Canada
Joan Dawkins, Winnipeg, MB
Gordon Michael, Halifax, NS
Simon McNichol, Toronto, ON
National Arts Centre
June Jordan, Ottawa, ON
National Capital Commission
Rosanna Esposito, Ottawa, ON
Alice McGill, Ottawa, ON
Nadia Séguin, Gatineau, QC
National Gallery of Canada
Audrey Jessup, Hull, QC
Ghislaine Pineau Turcotte, Ottawa, ON
Natural Resources Canada
Michael Bone, Victoria, BC
Harvey J. Negrich, Calgary, AB
National Search and Rescue Secretariat and the Province of Alberta
Richard Smith, Nordegg, AB
National Search and Rescue Secretariat and the Province of Quebec
Yves Duguay-Gagné, Boischatel, QC
Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness
Yves Dupuis, Casselman, ON
Edward David Hodgins, London, ON
Jack Tennant, Richmond, ON
Parks Canada
Jim Flynn, Wheatly, ON
Janice Jarvis, Revelstoke, BC
Dorothy Turbide, Chambly, QC
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Claudia Blakeney, Cole Harbour, NS
Linda Buckshot-Zaluska, North Gower, ON
Rana Kaval Chohan, Winnipeg, MB
Sport Canada
Eddie Berrouard, Victoria, BC
Standards Council of Canada
Graham C. Bagnell, Bedford, NS
W.A. Sherry, Woodlawn, ON
Veterans Affairs Canada
Jeannine & Gaston Giamprini, Ville Saint-Laurent, QC
Archie Steacy, Vancouver, BC
Gerry Vowles, Vancouver, BC
on behalf of the Veterans' Commemoration Committee of British Columbia
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Roland Dandeneau, Stonewall, MB
Anita Ratchinsky, St. Albert, AB
4 -- DAINA NESTICK
1999 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR (HAMILTON, ONTARIO)
Nineteen-year-old Daina Nestick from Hamilton, Ontario says she has her most memorable moments are spent volunteering. "Volunteering gives me a personal sense of worth, a completeness, a happiness that's hard to explain," says Daina. "It makes you feel better about yourself."
Named Hamilton's Volunteer of the Year in 1999 when she was just 17 years old, Daina estimates that she has over 2,000 hours of volunteer experience.
Daina started her volunteering when she was in grade nine. For three summers, she volunteered at the Barton Library twice a week, helping children aged 5 to 12 to read.
As a grade 10 student, Daina spent the summer volunteering full-time at a day care centre. She also tutored other students at her high school for five years and volunteers at her church as a confirmation leader.
A natural leader as well as a volunteer, Daina created the Have a Heart Committee' while still in high school. The Committee was a group of students that collected food and clothes to distribute to needy students, neighbourhood organizations such as the Good Shepherds, and Martha's House, a local women's shelter. The Committee also collected donations for Kosovo refugees.
Even when she became a student in McMaster University's Bachelor of Health Science Program, Daina still found time to volunteer. For two years, Daina volunteered in the Burn Trauma Unit at the General Hospital.
Today, she volunteers in the hospital's Post-Anesthetic Unit, communicating between healthcare professionals and families about patients' progress and generally making family members feel comfortable in the hospital. In fact, Daina has so much volunteer experience that she now trains other prospective volunteers for the hospital.
Asked what motivates her, Daina says that volunteering is a family affair, noting that her Mom does a lot of volunteering and that even her younger brother is encouraged to volunteer.
She says volunteering has taught her that the little things you do for people mean a lot to them. "Patients really appreciate the small things little tiny things can make a big difference."
Daina says she sees a lot of youth volunteering, pointing out she does most of her volunteer work with other young people. Despite her busy school and volunteer life, Daina even finds time to hold down a part-time job as a sales person in a retail store.
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