By BOB Awards

Best Volunteer: Carol Soles

Oct 2, 2014 | 10:27 AM

Carol Soles takes pride in her community; she believes in giving back and has dedicated her efforts to a variety of organizations and causes over the years. She is a devoted woman with a big heart.

Some of her volunteer efforts include the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame and the Prince Albert Sports Council. She has helped with the Saskatchewan Games, the Western Canada Games, and the Winter Games. She was also a Big Sister for many years.

Soles is the executive director of the Prince Albert Safe Shelter for Women and until 2012 she was also the executive director at The Children’s Haven.

“I really believe that if you give back to your community your community gives back to you,” said Soles.

Soles said her volunteer efforts began years back. She said she used to enjoy participating in a variety of walkathons that were held in Prince Albert during her youth.

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However it was in 1988 when Soles’ desire to give back really began. She said she will never forget the kindness that the Prince Albert community wrapped around her family that year when they were in need. Soles’ youngest daughter Kama was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia, a rare hereditary neuromuscular disease and it was thanks to community efforts and fundraising that the family was able to take Kama to visit specialists in Toronto.

“I have never forgotten that and now I give back,” she said.

 “This community has been very good to my family and myself and whenever there is a need in Prince Albert people step forward.”

This past January Soles and the Prince Albert community helped to raise money again for Kama and another Prince Albert girl that has the same disorder so they could attend a conference in Las Vegas that focused on Friedreich’s ataxia.

Next year is also a big year for the Prince Albert Safe Shelter for Women, Soles said they will be celebrating the organizations 35 anniversary and will hold an event to celebrate the occasion hopefully on June 16. She said they are also hoping to hold the first ever Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser next year in Prince Albert as well.

Soles said she was really surprised when she saw she was a nominee for the BOBS Best Volunteer. She added that her years of volunteering have allowed her to meet so many wonderful people.

“It has enriched my life,” she said.

“It’s just something that is in my heart to do.”