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Local recognized for community volunteer efforts

Nov 13, 2017 | 2:37 PM

 If you have ever been to somewhere within the health region, at the exhibition grounds or the EA Rawlinson Centre, chances are you have seen Marj Bodnarchuk helping out in some way.

The longtime Prince Albert resident was recently recognized for her excellence in volunteerism at a Nation Builders and Community Recognition Awards luncheon hosted by the Ukranian Canadian Congress earlier this month. Some 225 guests including dignitaries and the Lt. Gov. of Saskatchewan Vaughn Solomon Schofield were in attendance for the debut of the event in the city.

“It is wonderful. I don’t feel I am the most worthy individual but I am very honoured to receive recognition,” Bodnarchuk humbly told paNOW. “The community of Prince Albert has endless opportunities to volunteer and participate.”

Bodnarchuk explains how she makes time to help out around town by not “spending a lot of time sitting at home with the television.”

“I am out and about doing wonderful and enjoyable things,” she added. “There are endless possibilities. I was so fortunate to be involved for a number of years in a number of organizations.”

Music plays a large part in Bodnarchuk’s volunteerism, and to keep this aspect of her life alive, she often times plays music at nursing homes and with old-time groups as she finds it “very enjoyable.”

The retired nurse is also an active member of the Veselka Prince Albert and District Ukrainian Cultural & Heritage Association, having served many roles. 

Bodnarchuk’s Ukrainian heritage is very important to her, so much so, she strived to ensure her two daughters were routinely immersed in tradition to “make sure they knew their roots.”

“That they would be able to understand and appreciate their Ukrainian cultural heritage and know what the traditions were all about and that we could embrace them and celebrate them in traditional fashion,” she said. “Just to be able to have family gatherings and everybody could participate in those, that has been a wonderful thing.”

 

 

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr