Local volunteers recognized at county luncheon

Lac La Biche County honoured dozens of local volunteers at an invitational luncheon at McArthur Place last Monday afternoon.

Mayor Omer Moghrabi said volunteers are the foundation of strong communities, so it’ s a good thing the Lac La Biche area has so many that they can’ t all be recognized in one go.

“We know every volunteer, recognized or not, makes the county a better place,” he said.

Local MLA David Hanson was not in attendance but he sent his regards and congratulations to the volunteers. Fort McMurray-Cold Lake MP David Yurdiga was not there, either, but spokesperson Angela Betts was and she said it’ s impossible to fully repay the volunteers of a community.

“Without volunteers...the things we enjoy most about communities would not be possible,” she said. “Without them, there would not be a sense of community.”

The luncheon was the first of several events in the area to mark National Volunteer Week.

Here's a full list of volunteers nominated for recognition at the luncheon:
Stella Scott, Lac La Biche Disability Services
Mel Kuprowsky, Lac La Biche Lions Club
Maureen Smith, Lac La Biche Mission Historical Society
Fern Plamondon, Lac La Biche Mission Historical Society
Martin Desjarlais, Lac La Biche Pow Wow and Fish Derby Association
Pat Desjarlais, Lac La Biche Pow Wow and Fish Derby Association
Kathy Brezinski, Lac La Biche Safety Awareness Society
Doris Burdek, Lac La Biche Safety Awareness Society
Lakeland Scouts, Lucie Theroux
Lakeland Scouts, Christine Guinand
Lakeland Interpretive Society, Nadia Abougoush
Métis Nation of Alberta Region One, Brenda Bourque-Stratichuk
Métis Nation of Alberta Region One, Rose Aastveit
Mini Parc Heritage Park, Darrell Plamondon
Mini Parc Heritage Park, Rachelle Plamondon
Normandeau Community Centre, Jocelyn Williams
Normandeau Community Centre, Velina Turgeon
Plamondon Catholic Women's League, Rena Hrynyk
Plamondon Catholic Women's League, Carla Payne
Plamondon Senior Rendez-vous Centre, Ben Plamondon
Plamondon Senior Rendez-vous Centre, Isadore Gauthier
Kayla Buffalo, Portage College
Brittany Wilson, Portage College
Virginia Hodgins, Program for Adult Learning
Bryan Kumpula, Program for Adult Learning
Mark Froehler, Road To Hope Community Support Foundation
St. Isidore Parish, Denis St. Jean
St. Isidore Parish, Vernon Plamondon
T.O.P.S. #4339 Plamondon, Millie Gauthier
T.O.P.S. #4339 Plamondon, Sharon Coutney
William J. Cadzow Hospital Auxiliary Association, Marlene Meyer
William J. Cadzow Hospital Auxiliary Association, Annette Plamondon
Mark Froehler, Community Volunteer / Driving Angel