Stars of Alberta Recipients - 2004
YOUTH CATEGORY
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Vanessa Mansell (Sherwood Park)Nominated by Honourable Iris Evans, MLA-Sherwood Park, Minister of Health and Wellness Vanessa Mansell is the founder and director of a volunteer organization called Arms of Compassion. Arms of Compassion was born out of the tragedy of 9/11 and focuses on bringing compassion to individuals in the community. To achieve this goal, Arms of Compassion has been creating quilts for the homeless, for children in the Stollery Children's Hospital and for the poorest regions of Nicaragua. It also set a goal of sending quilts to New York for every family that lost a Firefighter in 9/11. Vanessa has set up numerous quilting workshops with teens and adults alike, working together for a common purpose. Vanessa also has set up and taught workshops in her high school's religion class and has organized trips with the students to the Stollery Children's Hospital. Along with Arms of Compassion, Vanessa is the current Student Council President at her high school, and has spoken at numerous school assemblies. It is Vanessa's goal to encourage and inspire youth and adults alike, that you are never too young or too old to make a difference. |
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Shaqil Peermohamed (Calgary)Nominated by Renee Hopfner, Child and Youth Friendly Calgary Shaqil has proven himself to be a dedicated and passionate philanthropist in both his school and his community. During his role as Chair of the Mayor's Youth Council, he led a group of youth to create, perform and analyze a survey of youth to find out how broad their knowledge of homelessness and poverty. Responding to shocking results, Shaqil designed an innovative fundraiser, Teens 4 Teens, which aims to raise items for youth crisis shelters while also educating youth on homelessness and poverty within their community. This past summer, Shaqil was selected, through a national competition, to represent his nation as a Youth Ambassador during a Junior Team Canada Economic Trade Mission to China and Hong Kong. Shaqil strongly believes that as an individual he has the power to positively impact his global community. Shaqil will continue to carry lessons such as these with him into his future endeavors in order to pursue his dreams and aspirations. |
ADULT CATEGORY
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Dianne Erickson (Hinton)Nominated by the Town of Hinton Born and raised in Hinton, Dianne has always been active in her community: Student Council activities and yearbook projects during her youth, and minor sports organizations as her sons were growing up. Her annual commitments include the Canada Day Parade, Cruisin' for the Cure (a cancer fundraiser), the Snowflake Parade and the Christmas Light-up at Jessie Turgeon Park. Her focus during recent years has been special events and major fundraising projects such as the 1990 Alberta Senior's Games, Hinton Homecoming '93, the 1994 World Cup Biathalon, drives to furnish and equip the Pine Valley Senior's Lodge, and to secure a CT scanner for the Hinton Hospital. Never in the spotlight, Dianne has spent countless hours organizing volunteer events that have enriched the community she is proud to call her home. |
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Cheryl Ann Oberg (Calgary)Nominated by Colleen Lonseth, Volunteer Resource Manager, Highbanks Sharing, humour and laughter, through her clown character "Miss Loosie" is her favorite way to spend her day! As a Canadian pioneer in therapeutic clowning, Cheryl Ann Oberg has volunteered over 2000 hours in the past 12 months to organizations such as the Alberta Children's Hospital, Peter Lougheed Hospital, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Families Matter, Highbanks Society, Hospice Calgary, Agape Hospice, YWCA Sheriff King Home and The Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta plus so many others. Cheryl Ann also speaks at schools for the Canadian Red Cross on topics such as abuse and violence prevention (RespectED). The Calgary Health Region's Family & Community Resource Centre has recently hired Cheryl Ann two days a week as *SPARKLE* a therapeutic clown. She is the founder and President of the Canadian Association for Therapeutic Humour and is the founder and executive Director of Calgary's Caring Clown Association. Cheryl Ann Oberg is on the Faculty of the World Laughter Tour and is the Canadian Certified Laughter Leader Trainer. |
SENIOR CATEGORY
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Dr. Kenneth Sauer (Medicine Hat)Nominated by Vera Kowalchuk, Volunteer, Senior Services Advisory Committee From his early teaching days in Eatonia and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to Lethbridge and Medicine Hat in Alberta, Ken has made volunteering a way of life. He never hesitates to accept leadership roles, but also likes to work behind the scenes allowing his organizational skills to assist in the most positive way. Ken offers a dedicated, focused vision to various projects in order that they may succeed and leave a lasting legacy to the community. In his community work, he works to bring various diverse groups together to forge strong partnerships realizing values not easily accomplished by one organization or group alone. Most of Ken's volunteer work in the past years has focused on Alberta Summer and Winter Games that promote active living and result in many economic benefits and to community pride during and after they are done. Part of this commitment is the contribution of fundraising skills that enhance public education, health and general facilities in the community. All in all, Ken offers a tireless, unselfish and caring commitment to making Medicine Hat a better place in which to live! |
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Hank and Tillie Zyp (Spruce Grove)Nominated by Cecily Mills, Change for Children & Rainbow of Hope for Children Hank and Tillie Zyp's dedication to social change for over 30 years has touched and improved the lives of thousands of underprivileged children both here in Alberta and overseas. As a commercial art teacher at St. Joseph's High School, Hank inspired many refugee students to pursue a career in the arts and include messages of social justice in their creations. Hank and Tillie spent the 1960s and 70s working to support native children at risk, to settle and support refugees from Latin America and Vietnam, and to increase awareness about the world around us by making countless presentations in churches and schools. Hank and Tillie cite founding two important Alberta NGOs in the 70's: Change for Children and Rainbow of Hope for Children among their greatest achievements. Both organizations have contributed millions of dollars to overseas development projects and to global education in Canada over the past 28 years and continue to improve the lives of thousands of children year after year. |
HONOURABLE MENTION
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Krystyn Lozier (Calgary)Nominated by Joan Olanski, Valleyview RCMP Victims Assistance Krystyn is currently a volunteer at the Father Lacombe Nursing Home Care Centre in Calgary and the Soup Kitchen for the homeless. Although she is only the young age of eight, Krystyn has dedicated an incredible amount of time to the organizations she volunteers for. Described as a social butterfly who is cheerful, patient, caring and respectful, Krystyn is seen as a valuable member of the health care team at the seniors care centre that she volunteers at regularly, and is recognized for her maturity and compassion. |
