4-H Canada Celebrates Outstanding Volunteer Leaders
Ottawa, ON – April 25, 2017 – Today, as part of National Volunteer Week, 4-H Canada is pleased to recognize and honour a number of exceptional 4-H volunteer leaders – including the recipient of the 2016 4-H Canada National Volunteer Leader of the Year Award.
For more than 100 years, 4-H has been an organization driven by the dedication of volunteers who provide opportunities where Canadian youth can develop their leadership skills and grow as responsible, caring and contributing young people.
Caroline Boddy of the Golden Prairie 4-H Club in Alberta was chosen as the 2016 National Volunteer Leader of the Year by a panel of judges, who made their selection from the pool of provincial winners. This award, which recognizes the significant and pivotal role volunteer leaders play in the 4-H program, is driven by nominations from 4-H members who want to share the positive impact their 4-H leaders have had on them and their communities.
“Winning this award is the highest compliment because I have been championing the 4-H program my whole life,” said Caroline Boddy, 4-H Canada’s 2016 National Volunteer Leader of the Year. “4-H Canada is the best youth program in the world. You may start out thinking you are giving a helping hand, but that sentiment will boomerang right back at you and you will find yourself benefitting far more than you give.”
2016 4-H Canada Volunteer Leaders of the Year
National Volunteer Leader of the Year - Caroline Boddy, Golden Prairie 4-H Club (Alberta)
British Columbia – Joy de Vos, Deep Creek Dairy 4-H Club
Saskatchewan – Paul Mitchell, Eagle Hills Multiple 4-H Club
Manitoba – Philip and Leanne Fenez, La Salle 4-H Club
Quebec – Pamela McOuat, Lachute 4-H Club
New Brunswick – Lori Anne Thorne, King’s Country 4-H Beef Club
Nova Scotia – Sharlene Carter-Earle, Double “D” 4-H Club
Newfoundland – Sheila Sullivan, I. Sullivan Memorial 4-H Club
“The positive impacts of our incredible volunteers are evident throughout 4-H—from the areas of knowledge and skills development they help youth develop through hands-on experiences, to the values of community engagement they instill in our youth members,” said Shannon Benner, CEO of 4-H Canada. “Our 2016 4-H Canada Volunteer Leader of the Year Award recipients exemplify the best of positive youth development though caring youth adult partnerships and I am thrilled to congratulate them all for their accomplishments.”
As 2016 4-H Canada National Volunteer Leader of the Year, Ms. Boddy receives a prize package which includes a cash prize and a roundtrip to Ottawa, Ontario in July 2017, where she will be honoured at the 4-H Canada Annual General Meeting on July 10 and attend the Global 4-H Network Summit from July 11-14.
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About 4-H Canada
For over 100 years, 4-H Canada has been one of the most highly respected positive youth development organizations in Canada. 4-H Canada has more than 24,000 members and nearly 7,400 volunteers. Our goal is to help young Canadians “Learn To Do By Doing” in a safe, inclusive and fun environment. We believe in nurturing responsible, caring and contributing leaders who are committed to positively impacting their communities across Canada and around the world. To learn more about 4-H Canada, please visit 4-h-canada.ca and follow our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
For more information, media may contact:
Elizabeth Jarvis, Director of Marketing and Communications
4-H Canada
ejarvis@4-h-canada.ca
613-759-1013 ext. 130
613-809-7141