Ted Schaffer took to the stage periodically throughout the evening to emcee the 91原创 City鈥檚 annual volunteer appreciation banquet tonight.
But he was obviously choked up when he was called up unexpectedly to receive recognition for himself, and given a standing ovation by the crowd of about 200 in attendance.
Councillor Gayle Martin said his length of commitment was almost unprecedented, noting Schaffer was elected 28 years ago, and has served a total of 25 years on council.
A few months back, the mayor confirmed he would not be seeking re-election in October鈥檚 municipal elections.
So while he vows to remain active as a community volunteer after finishing his time in office, Schaffer鈥檚 council colleagues felt the banquet was an ideal time to celebrate the mayor and his years of commitment and dedication to 91原创 City.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 happen very often in any city in British Columbia that anyone serves for 25 years. But Ted has done that鈥�,鈥� Martin said, calling it a milestone.
鈥淭ed, we want to thank you for your service鈥� We want to thank you for your years of service to this council, to this community, and to its citizens,鈥� she said.
While Schaffer was singled out for recognition during Thursday night鈥檚 dinner at the Coast Hotel & Convention Centre, he wasn鈥檛 the only one.
Special acknowledgment was also given to the late Rhys Griffith 鈥� another long-time community volunteer 鈥� who passed away on Feb. 3.
鈥淩hys was a significant contributor to this community for over 20 years,鈥� Schaffer said. 鈥淎nd he will be sorely missed in this community.鈥�
.
More than half century of giving back
One of the highlights at each year鈥檚 event is a speech from a distinguished community volunteer.
While Velma MacAllister has been in 91原创 less than two years (along with her husband of 55 years, Don) ,she鈥檚 has already established herself as a 鈥渧olunteer extraordinare,鈥� said Schaffer, who asked her to speak.
She鈥檚 been volunteering since the mid-1960s and said she can鈥檛 imagine her life without it.
She currently volunteers once a week with Sources Food Bank, has taken an active role in the 91原创 RCMP community policing programs, and co-chairs the 91原创 Christmas Bureau.
鈥淚 hope that in some way I have helped a small little bit in the community,鈥� MacAllister said, noting she gets back much more than she gives as a volunteer.
For instance, it keeps her brain young, it gives her a purpose for getting out of bed in the morning, and it feeds her love for working and sharing with others.
Stealing a line from MLA Mary Polak鈥檚 executive assistant Cathy Gibbs (and another community volunteer Jim McGregor), MacAllister concluded with a chuckle, 鈥淗ire me to do it, I鈥檓 good鈥� for nothing! We鈥檙e all鈥� good for nothing.鈥�
.
Council give thanks
Thursday was also about recognizing the army of volunteers 鈥� like MacAllister 鈥� who give of their time and energies to close to 60 various organizations, committees, task forces, and projects in the community.
鈥淭his evening is a special evening,鈥� Schaffer said. 鈥淭his is an evening where we honour the community volunteers 鈥� people who have given back to the community. We have this little dinner as a token of our appreciation.鈥�
Councillor divvied up the list of those to be recognized, and while taking their turn each shared a few comments about volunteers and what they have meant to the community.
鈥淭his is your evening to shine,鈥� said Coun. Paul Albrecht.
鈥淵our fellowship and sharing of common goals and interests with other folks like yourself weaves together to shape the fabric of our community, a community to be proud of 鈥� the place to be. And a sincere thank you for volunteering and giving our community the most precious thing you will ever own, your time, your talent, and your passion 鈥� all without seeking reward or recognition. All of you make life in our community better. Your hard work affects our community more than you will ever know. And for all you do, I thank you all so very much.鈥�
Coun. Jack Arnold shared a moment from his volunteer career some 30 years ago. He was running a volunteer drop-in program for teens. The kids had been playing ball hockey one night, and he was chauffeuring them back home when he overheard a conversation among the kids. One boy said he was supposed to go to a 鈥渒iller鈥� party that night, but was going to give it a miss because he was too tire.
For him, that was his moment of confirmation that he was doing something important.
鈥淎ll of you have things that have made it worthwhile鈥� Sure, the dinner is nice, but it鈥檚 not why you鈥檙e here and it鈥檚 not what makes it all worthwhile for you,鈥� Arnold said to the room filled primarily with volunteers.
鈥淲hat makes this community great is its volunteers,鈥� said Coun. Nathan Pachal.
鈥淚t鈥檚 everyone in this room, and those who are not in this room, that dedicate countless hours to make 91原创 City truly the place to be鈥� we thank you.鈥�
Martin also took a chance to give thanks, noting that every volunteer in 91原创 is deserving of a 鈥渂ig round of applause.鈥�
鈥淢artin Luther King Jr. once said 鈥榣ife鈥檚 most persistent question is 鈥榳hat are you doing for others?鈥� Tonight we have a room full of people doing for others.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 thank you enough. You鈥檙e all very, very special to us鈥� there鈥檚 many things that go on in this community that wouldn鈥檛 go on without [you].鈥�
Looking out over a sea of faces, Coun. Val van den Broek acknowledged that everyone has a different story, comes from a different background, has different life experiences, and has very different motivations for giving.
But, they all have at least one thing in common, van den Broek said. 鈥淵our willingness to give your time to help others.鈥�
She admitted to being 鈥渉umbled鈥� by all the volunteers in 91原创 for their 鈥済enerosity of spirit and compassion for your fellow human beings.鈥�
鈥淚t is all of you who so generously give your time, your warmth, your humour, and your caring. It is all of you, doing what you do, who take my breath away.鈥�
Coun. Rudy Storteboom thanked everyone for coming to the party, but he wasn鈥檛 referring to their presence at the evening鈥檚 soiree, but rather their participation in committees, service groups, and charities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great day in the City of 91原创. It鈥檚 kind of like being at the Oscars. Today, we celebrate our amazing volunteers,鈥� Storteboom said.
鈥淭oday, we say 鈥榯hank you鈥� for the time and the energy that you continue to give away in our community every day,鈥� he said.
鈥淓veryone needs a friend. Every community needs volunteers and every volunteer needs to be appreciated鈥� Volunteers know that you can find yourself when you give yourself away鈥� Volunteers know that we are stronger together. Volunteers are the glue that holds us together鈥� In the end, our people are our greatest asset. Together, we create the community that we want to live in. More than just a place to be, you bring life to this place that we call 鈥榟ome鈥�,鈥� Storteboom said, thanking all for 鈥渃oming to the party鈥� and making 91原创 so great.
鈥淭oday, 91原创 City is happy and proud to celebrate you.鈥�
Schaffer concluded with a thank you to each and every community volunteer, asking them to continue their tireless work. He also extended an invitation to others to get involved.
鈥� Video to come
_________________________________
Is there more to this story?
Like us on or follow us on
_________________________________
