Burnaby Volunteer Festival

May 3, 2006

Last week was National Volunteer Week. We recognized and celebrated the contributions of volunteers to their communities. It is estimated that in Canada, 6.5 million volunteers have joined more than 160,000 non-profit organizations to contribute their time and energy to help others.

In Burnaby the third annual Burnaby Festival of Volunteers was held in the Metropolis at Metrotown last Saturday to showcase the agencies and thank the volunteers who help enhance life in Burnaby.

Dozens of volunteer organizations participated in the one-day event, including Access Justice, Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion, Burnaby Fall Prevention Society, Burnaby Hospice Society, Burnaby Meals on Wheels, Burnaby Information and Community Services Society, Burnaby Mental Wealth Society, Burnaby Optimist Club, Burnaby Seniors Outreach Services Society, Girl Guides of Canada, Greystone Lochdale Community Association, Habitat for Humanity, Helping Spirit Lodge Society, South Burnaby Neighbourhood House, Special Olympics B.C., St. Michaels Centre, Sunshine Dream for Kids, Seniors Well Aware program, Tetra Society of North America, Immigrant Services Society of B.C., Salvation Army, Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter, Volunteers Now, YMCA, Burnaby Velodrome Club and Volunteer Burnaby.

Throughout the day participants enjoyed the very entertaining performances by groups like Indian bhangra hip-hop dance, Chinese kung fu, Kultura Filipino North Shore, the Moody Food Trio, the North Burnaby Retired Society dancers and the Griffins Anvil band.

I would like to thank the volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event successful. Contributions from Lee Faurot, Nora Criss, Amy Sundberg, Anne Waller, Patrick Ng, Judy Chu, Cynthia Hendrix, Oscar Cruz, Ken Ryan and Clare O'Kelly are very much appreciated.

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