Wow, what an unexpected honour it was to receive the Community Contributor Award from the Recreation and Tourism Management Department at Vancouver Island University.
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Dr. Garrett Stone presented the award recognizing my contributions to student learning at the university over the past many years and my contributions to workforce development in BC and across Canada. I was struck when he shared a story of one student who came to his office a few days after my recent guest lecture and shared the impact it had on her.
The award invitation came with a dress code to arrive in your favourite ‘leisure attire’ was great as it took me back to my days as a recreation student years ago. It also caused me to reflect on the many organizations I’ve volunteered since I was in my teens. From student learning to picking fruit for our local food charity, sitting on various tourism boards, bottle drives as a soccer mom, or being an advisor to five tourism ministers - giving back to your community matters.
In the few moments I had to thank the faculty and staff, I shared why volunteering matters to me:
It opens doors to meeting people and supporting organizations that value your contribution;
You get to work with individuals with a shared commitment and passion that you may otherwise never meet;
The diversity of skills and talents on boards helps shape your thinking and broadens your appreciation for perspectives ;
You can aspire to a leadership position as a committee or board chair and gain different experiences than your work environment may offer;
It can lead to job opportunities and references; and
You always get back more than you give.
Thank you so much for this honour!
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