Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 14/00) - Members of several local organizations and community leaders alike gathered at the Baker Center yesterday to honour the hundreds of devoted volunteers who keep this city alive and well.

Hosted by the Storefront for Volunteer Agencies and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon was the highlight of Yellowknife's celebration of National Volunteer Week.

"A lot of people do so many things for this community and I don't even think sometimes they know that they are doing it," said Mayor Dave Lovell during his address to those in attendance.

Lovell acknowledged those who might not even realize they provide benefits to the community, including the citizens who attend each and every council meeting and the volunteers who "basically run the school boards."

"You're all a very special group who make Yellowknife such a very special place," he said.

Pam Petten, the principal of N.J. MacPherson high school also addressed the group.

She thanked the many parent volunteers who assist the teachers of that school in every way, whether they provide advice and opinions at Parent Advisory meetings, act as playground supervisors, or just driving the children on the many school field trips.

"We're hoping that as (the children) learn how to volunteer at school, we hope they will grow up to contribute to the community as well," said Petten.

Other guest speakers who commended their volunteers included Dennis Cleaver of Stanton Hospital Foundation, Jim Bentley of the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Board and Arlene Hache of the Yellowknife Women's Center, and Mieke Cameron, principal of Sir John Franklin High School, just to name a few.

"Giving back to the community is a message that's really getting out to this community. It's not 'take, take, take' - it's 'give'," said Cameron.