The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) has announced its 2024 Electoral Area Volunteers of the Year.

“We recognize the profound impact volunteers have. They are the heart of our communities and it is an honour for us to pay special tribute to them through the annual Electoral Area Volunteer of the Year Awards Program,” said RDEK Board Chair Rob Gay.

This year’s award recipients are:

• Area A – Terry Horton
• Area B – Corlyn Haarstad
• Area C – Allan Watson
• Area E – Marilyn Bowen
• Area F – Doug Sinclair
• Area G – Penny Powers** (**posthumous award)

The volunteers will be recognized individually in conjunction with the Electoral Area Town Hall Meetings, which will be happening in Electoral Areas A, B and C in the fall and in Electoral Areas E, F and G over the coming weeks.

The first Town Hall Meeting will be held on June 18 in Wilmer and will begin with a special tribute to Area G Volunteer of the Year Penny Powers, who passed away during the nomination process. Area G Director Roberta Schnider will make a presentation to Powers’ family in her memory.

Immediately following the Volunteer of the Year ceremony, there will be presentations from RDEK staff on a range of topics including the budget, personal emergency preparedness, FireSmart and an upcoming Broadband Project in Edgewater.

The Electoral Area F Volunteer of the Year celebration and Town Hall will be held June 25 in Windermere, while the Electoral Area E Volunteer of the Year celebration and Town Hall will kick off June 26 in Wasa.

Additional details and agenda topics will be available on the RDEK’s website later this week.

Volunteer of the Year Award Recipients Backgrounders (summarized from submitted nominations)

Area A – Terry Horton

Terry began volunteering with seniors at Rocky Mountain Village in 2014. She assisted the recreation department with various programs and special events. Terry is an avid learner and has taken several courses in music. She shared her excitement from what she learned with the Recreation department and not long after, the Music and Memory program emerged. Terry is very dedicated and visits weekly for three to four hours, spending time with the residents and providing music.

During the development of the Music and Memory program, Terry spent time interviewing seniors and the families to come up with specific music tailored to each senior.

Terry spent time at home downloading the playlists onto I-Pod shuffles and sourcing out more I-Pod shuffles so more seniors could benefit from the program. She went as far as going to Calgary and going to individual homes to purchase the I-Pod’s for our seniors. The program continues to expand, so more seniors can benefit. Terry has also assisted in educating Nursing, Resident Care Aides, and students for more than four years about the Music and Memory program.

Terry has been an inspiration made the program what it is today. Seniors have seen their quality of life improved by this fabulous program. Terry has further impacted seniors in the community by volunteering for a music group called the Station Strings, playing the accordion along with other group members who play other musical instruments and sing. Terry has furthered volunteered by sitting on the RDEK Accessibility Advisory Committee and is on the board of the BC Choral Federation representing the Kootenays.

Terry has greatly impacted the Rocky Mountain Village organization and its residents, adding enjoyment and providing positive memories. She has used her knowledge to teach staff, families, students, and other volunteers of the importance of music and the impact it can have on all of us.

Area B – Corlyn Haarstad

Corlyn Haarstad has made numerous contributions to the spirit, culture, and people of the Elko, Jaffray, Baynes Lake, Wardner, and Grasmere communities. Her compassion and dedication are shown through her work with the “Lost Souls Society.” Corlyn works for Cherished Memories as support staff and over the past 20 plus years has dedicated her volunteer time to this society. Extensive research on all the rural cemeteries through the East Kootenay and her time spent with family members helping them find lost, buried family has been amazing. Corlyn has worked hard on building a data base on each area cemetery. Corlyn has volunteered for the Victims Assistance program and has spent numerous hours of research on the Morrisey Interment Camps history.

Much of Corlyn’s research was pre-internet, going through old newspaper articles, microfiche, making phone calls and working with others to clean up various graveyards. Her research and time dedicated to this will be there for generations to come. Corlyn has volunteered yearly for the Candlelight vigils held to remember those who have passed. Corlyn has also been involved with Elko Parks and Recreation for many years. At present she is the president, and continues to coordinate the community pancake monthly breakfasts, does the grant writing and submissions for the club and community hall.

She is an active member of the Elko Volunteer Fire Department and the Elko Cemetery Committee. Corlyn is an incredible example of a community volunteer.

Area C – Allan Watson

Allan Watson is honest, compassionate, principled, and quietly energetic. Allan has been the trainer for the East Kootenay Adaptive Snowsports Program out of Kimberley, for many years and worked alongside his mentor, legend Nip Bradford.

Allan is the lead instructor for the students in the program, in addition to mentoring and certifying other adaptive instructor to pursue their next level of certification. In 2019, Allan attained his well-deserved Canadian Adaptive Snowsports (CADS) Level 4. He now works with upcoming CADS instructors in the Course Conductor training program and is committed to the development and succession of CADS certified instructors.

Allan has risen to the challenges of various level 4 projects requested by the CADS Technical Committee. One of these was the summertime project of developing the Level 4 booklet and evaluation criteria. While many others were out playing on their bikes or boats, Allan was leading the small sub-committee through this project until it was complete. In addition to training at his home program in Kimberley and working with CADS at Pre-Courses, Allan has also been assisting with the development of another adaptive club in the East Kootenay at Fernie. This takes further time away from his family with lots of email, phone, and zoom communications as well as all of the on-snow requirements. Allan joined the CADS Technical Committee in 2022 to further give of his time and expertise. Once again, he

has risen to the challenge and has been instrumental in updating the CADS methodology and certification documents. Allan was the lead in coordinating and delivering the CADS 2023 Pre-Courses, with countless hours of emails, phone calls and zoom meetings to ensure a consistent and quality product was delivered at both Western and Eastern Pre-Courses. Allan is a true gentle soul who believes in others and is always willing to take the time to teach and develop students to the best of their abilities and independence, and work with CADS instructors to become their best, and reach their next goal.

Area E – Marilyn Bowen

Currently President, Marilyn has been an exemplary member of the Wasa Lions Club since before 2003. She has been a tireless dedicated volunteer serving as President and Vice President since 2003. When the covid pandemic happened, Marilyn struggled extremely hard to keep the club going despite the rapidly dwindling numbers of members.

Marilyn has headed many functions in the area as a Lion. She is involved in every pancake breakfast and garage sale the club has put on, applies for grants, and is a vital to the organization of Winterfest, and the Christmas dinner and dance.

Area F – Doug Sinclair

For the last 28 years, Doug has devoted himself to his community, offering his services quietly and without seeking praise. As a founding member of the Windermere Fire Department, Doug was involved in every aspect of its creation, from purchasing the first engine, rallying the first Windermere Firefighters in 1982, and building the original hall.

Doug remains active and takes a leadership role mentoring recruits and showing all members the tricks of the trade. His impact has been significant throughout his dedicated service as a firefighter, officer, trainer, and mentor. His legacy is evident in his leadership succession, with his son now serving as chief and his grandson as a dedicated firefighter.

As the Fire Department is tasked to respond to a greater spectrum of situations, of which fires make up only a small portion, this is no small feat for a volunteer. Whether it is an ice rescue with a hovercraft, a structure fire at -30 degrees (or +30 degrees), a car accident in a snowstorm or a sick person at 2 a.m. Doug is there with a wealth of knowledge and compassion that no book can teach, and no course can train.

One of the greatest gifts that Doug has given is his time. Endless time that he has spent going over, showing, and teaching anyone who wants to learn. Yes, currently the firefighter members are reimbursed, so that they can volunteer to leave their work and fight fires, but previous to 2005 there was no payment for helping your community. Doug was an integral part of this service long before that reimbursement came along.

Doug Sinclair is the heart of the Windermere Fire Department and the respect for his leadership is shared across the organization.

Area G – Penny Powers (awarded posthumously)

Penny was the spirit of many circles in the Columbia Valley and that couldn’t have been more evident than in her passing. She was a valued member of the Edgewater Fire Department where she devoted many hours, involved with local ski clubs coaching kids in community schools, and an active member of the Firesmart committee in Edgewater.

Penny always made time to give herself to the cause at hand and when she did, she did it with enthusiasm and brought energy and excellence every time.

Penny was a citizen who modelled being fully engaged in her community, the spirit of volunteerism, and how to live healthy, active lifestyle. She was instrumental in the initiation of the Lake Windermere Whiteway and was on the volunteer committee supporting this work for over a decade. She was a part of the project from its inception and was there to be one of the ribbon cutters when the trail earned its Guinness Book of World Records recognition.

Her volunteer work extended to the board of the Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club for many years, the Banff Film Fest Volunteer Committee, and the ‘Babes on Blades’ Women’s Hockey League.

She also volunteered for the Chamber of Commerce, and a variety of tourism committees, supporting the visitor experience in the valley.

Penny truly made herself available to anyone who was looking for support to help improve health and wellness in the Columbia Valley. She was tireless in her support for our valley residents, culture, and spirit.

Lead image: Penny Powers tribute following her passing. Edgewater Fire Department  image

RDEK

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