Red Deerian and Town of Innisfail lauded for commitment to seniors

The awards include the Alice Modin Award which recognizes a senior individual or couple for their exceptional commitment to their community and the province through long-term volunteer service.

This year’s recipient, as alluded to, is Red Deer’s Linda R.S. Shepherd, who has spent 26 years (as of April 22) volunteering at the Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre, and the last 12 with United Way Central Alberta.

Shepherd, now 75, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 11, began volunteering in 1977 with the Stettler Museum after arriving from England — a long story which involves a major hip injury while visiting this area temporarily, she explains.

“As long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to help people. I’ve lived a life in and out of hospital, had many extensive joint replacements, and I’m not in good health. So when I started volunteering, it filled a need for me,” she says, also noting she lives with what’s called Felty’s Syndrome.

“Now I’m in a wheelchair and have been since 2012, but prior to that, because of my own disability, I wanted to help others with disabilities.”

Shepherd estimates that until she turned 40, she didn’t really have a voice, having grown up very reserved. But she ultimately found it after taking up community service.

“I’ve had troubles with home care, and I’ve talked to others who have, and they’ve been too frightened to complain in case they got into trouble; so I found myself stepping in to help,” she continues. “Volunteering takes my mind off my own problems. I really enjoy serving my community because it’s a privilege and I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to serve in that way.”

Nominated by Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Devin Dreeshen, Shepherd has also served on the Central Alberta Council for Aging, and with Calgary-based Imagine Citizens Network (ICN) working on an Alberta Find a Doctor committee in conjunction with AHS.

Meanwhile, the Town of Innisfail has received the Age-Friendly Alberta Recognition Award, which acknowledges communities that have taken meaningful steps to become more age-friendly. These communities have prioritized making services more accessible and inclusive for seniors with varying needs and capacities.

Mayor Jean Barclay tells rdnewsNOW that the Town has benefitted from the hard work of the Age-Friendly Community Committee, led by Sandy Wacker.

“This is about ensuring our facilities are accessible for people of all ages, that there are places for people to sit, and outdoor spaces that are appropriate. A lot of the work done recently has been around intergenerational community connections, so Sandy teams up with the seniors centre here to do functions where the senior cohort is interacting with the younger one,” Barclay explains, touching on the importance of the volunteers.

“Volunteerism is very important and is something all communities need. At our seniors centre, there were over 2,000 volunteer hours in one year, and I think it’s much higher year after year. It’s because of volunteers that these things happen.”

Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon joined by recipients of the Minister’s Seniors Service Awards at Government House in Edmonton, including representatives from the Town of Innisfail. (Gov’t of Alberta)

Individual Award

Cathy Hume, Diamond Valley
Rosalie Gelderman, Edmonton
William (Bill) Steinburg, Spruce Grove

Organization Award

Alzheimer Society of Alberta and NWT, Edmonton
Green Acres Foundation, Lethbridge
Happy 50+ Association, Calgary

Business Award

United Active Living Inc., Calgary

Alice Modin Award

Linda R.S. Shepherd, Red Deer

Special Service Award – All-Star Award

Joyce Wicks, Sundre

Age-friendly Alberta Recognition Award

The Town of Innisfail
The Town of Okotoks
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

Details about each recipient are available at alberta.ca/MSSA.

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Subscribe to our FREE newsletter, and download the rdnewsNOW mobile app on Google Play and t, there were over 2,000 volunteer hours in one year, and I think it’s much higher year after year. It’s because of volunteers that these thigs happen.”

by Josh Hall | @Vancan19