Council says thank you to appointed board and committee members within the community

 

Town Council relies on boards and committees to provide perspective and recommendations on different projects in relation to important civic issues in the community. These groups are made up of council-appointed volunteers who work together as a team to serve their fellow citizens and be part of shaping Whitecourt for the future.

On Wednesday, October 17, council invited members from all the boards to take part in a special evening of thanks. For the past 10 years, council has held the Council Committees Appreciation Reception to thank the volunteers who make all the difference by sitting on a board or committee. Appetizers were laid out at the Whitecourt Golf & Country Club and a special gift was presented to each guest upon arrival. This year’s gift was a fold out vehicle organizer with the Whitecourt logo on it.

One by one, each attendee stood up and introduced him or herself and shared the boards they sit on and how long they have been there. Some members listed off several boards with years of service while others were new to the position but expressed eagerness to one day have a list just as long. Mayor Chichak spoke highly of each group and said she and council are very proud to have such a great group of citizens working for the betterment of the community.

The different boards and committees that represent the community include the Youth Advisory Committee, Community Services Advisory Board, the Whitecourt Library Board, Communities in Bloom Committee, Economic Development Committee, Protective Services Committee, Municipal Planning Commission, Whitecourt Woodlands Tourism, Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, Building Steering Committee, and the Community Training Needs Analysis Committee.

“This is an opportunity, as council and administration, to say thank you for the countless hours these people put in to meeting with us to discuss community programming, new initiatives, ideas, and budget. That just covers a small list of the things they are responsible for sitting on those committees. Without them we wouldn’t have a lot of the ideas that come forth and the support,” said Mayor Chichak.

Over the years, each reception has included a motivational speaker to share the importance of volunteering and making a mark in your community. This year the speaker was former Olympian Georgette Reed. Currently residing in Edmonton, Reed is a mental health first aid instructor and is the health and wellness co-ordinator for Edmonton Fire Rescue Services. With 40 years of competitive sports to her name, she uses her own experiences in her unique presentations and helps people understand how important it is to help others and believe in yourself.

She shared with the audience how to overcome barriers and obstacles in life and showed that hard work and perseverance are the cornerstones of being successful in whatever it is you are aiming to do. To learn more about becoming a voice in your community, visit www.whitecourt.ca and click on the government link at the top followed by How to Get Involved.