Owen Plumb with 3-D printed face masks - Photo credit to Kevin Plumb

By Dori Modney

Alberta honours volunteers and encourages others to get involved

Apr 22, 2020 | 5:43 PM

EDMONTON, AB. — The provincial COVID-19 update ON Wednesday (Apr 22) afternoon offered some positive moments and accolades among the negative statistical numbers.

Those positives revolved around what Alberta has always done best – helping neighbors when times get tough!

Premier Jason Kenney noted that the province’s stockpile of emergency health equipment had reached a point where we could share the wealth – and a shipment of 25 respirators had been sent to Quebec, where the pandemic struggle was great that what we were experiencing. Kenney also encouraged those who could safely to so, to volunteer in their community.

“Volunteerism is the Alberta way. I continue to be inspired by many acts of Albertan generosity and compassion. From the Sikh community providing meals for truckers keeping our supply lines open, to a Calgary woman in her time of mourning sewing masks for her community, to kids leaving care packages on their elderly neighbours’ doorsteps – the examples of generosity and selflessness are endless.”

With that in mind, the province launched the Alberta Cares Connector to match Albertans with volunteer opportunities and the Northern Lights program to recognize Albertans who volunteer to support their community.

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Although physical distancing and gathering restrictions remain in place, there is still a need for healthy volunteers to help those in need with countless opportunities to offer assistance, skills and time to those in need.

The province boasts more than 26,400 non-profit organizations, with more than 1.6 million Albertans providing more than 262 million volunteer hours every year, to support the non-profit and volunteer sector, at a value of $5.6 billion.

The Northern Lights Volunteer Recognition Program is designed to honour everyday heroes as the province responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. Honourees will be nominated by fellow Albertans and selected for profiling on the program’s website and through social media.

The very first recipient of the award was announced on Wednesday. The recognition went to Owen Plumb, a grade nine student in Okotoks who has spent his time out of school, designing and printing protective face shields on his 3-D printer, for health-care workers. He was able to do this with the help of funds from a local Rotary club and Go-Fund-Me and working with a metal fabrication shop in Aldersyde, for extra components.

The Northern Lights program is now accepting nominations for future recipients of the award.