By Jeff Labine

Volunteers honoured for time and effort

Apr 21, 2017 | 12:00 PM

Volunteering changed Owen Bird’s life.

For the past five years, the 17-year-old spent his free time folding sheets, visiting patients and assisting Prince Albert Parkland Health Region medical staff in any way he could. He said he never seriously considered volunteering before until the health region came to his school and did a presentation about their youth volunteering program.

“The presentation really spoke to me,” he said. “It sounded so amazing. Once you get right down into it, it’s great. It’s a fantastic program and being able to support people in a way that really makes a big difference, I think, in their lives and being able to put a smile on someone’s face who might not get that smile very often . . . it’s wonderful. It’s really changed my life.”

Bird’s time volunteering made such an impact he is now considering going into the medical profession and plans to enroll in a nursing program.

Lilly Koenig, who also volunteers with the health region, agreed. The 16-year-old also plans to go into the medical field because of her experiences with the program.

Lighting it up

P.A.'s Zablocki leads Regina to victory on Day 4 at Esso Cup

10h ago

WORLD SOFTBALL

Group stages officially set for Men's Softball World Cup in P.A.

17h ago

Safety first

Safety concerns and tips surrounding discarded needles in P.A.

Apr 23, 2024

Koenig started volunteering at a senior’s home when she was in Grade 6. She would visit with the residents and help with day-to-day activities like painting nails. She eventually made the move to volunteer at the health region.

“It’s just a great thing to do because why not? I really don’t have anything better to do so why should I not do something useful,” she said. “It’s not just the volunteering aspect of it but the giving back to the community as a whole and meeting new people.”

Both Koenig and Bird were recognized for their volunteering work by city officials and Sonya Jahn, the regional director of volunteer services for the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region. The two helped to plant a new tree at the park just off of Highway 2 North to mark the start of volunteer week.

Jahn said volunteers contribute a lot of their time and effort, which is why it’s important to recognize that.

“The work volunteers do within Prince Albert Parkland Health Region is very vital,” she said. “They add those extras and contribute to achieve the mission and vision of our health region. We have approximately 3,500 volunteers who work throughout the health region. This past fiscal year, they actually donated 54,145 volunteer hours.”

She added the week also provides an opportunity to highlight ways people can volunteer in the community.

Jeff.labine@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @labinereporter