SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - St. John Ambulance will be holding a volunteer appreciation barbecue on Aug. 5 to mark two big milestones for the organization: 125 years in Canada and 45 in the North.

Catalyna Correa holds a recently published book on the history of St. John Ambulance, launched in time for the organization's 125th anniversary. - Jason Emiry/NNSL photo

St. John provides medical first response and therapy dog services as well as youth and emergency preparedness programs. The organization has 25,000 volunteers who provide 2,000,000 hours each year nationally.

"Our volunteers work at a lot of our community events. We often provide medical first response to different events. We did Folk on the Rocks. We also did Relay for Life, Caribou Carnival and Arctic Winter Games," said Catalyna Correa, chief executive officer for Yellowknife St. John Ambulance.

Ken Baker and Gail Cyr were invested in the Order of St. John of Jerusalem on June 21, recognized nationally for their volunteer work.

"We have a national investiture. Ken attended the ceremony on Parliament Hill," said Correa. "Ken helped us form some programs such as therapy dog services. He is an active board member helping us out in different programs. Gail has committed a lot of her time volunteering for us."

Commendation certificates will be presented to four Yellowknife residents recognizing their efforts at the territorial level.

"Sue McQuade and Lynn Carter were involved in leading and spearheading a lot of things for therapy dog services," said Correa. "Luke Pettet was part of our board. He helped us when we needed extra work by board members. Mayor Gordon Van Tighem helped us organize fund raising for our priority dinner last year."