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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
All eyes were on Warren Whitford this month as the optometric technician won a prestigious award in the eye care business.

Whitford, son of former NWT commissioner Tony Whitford, became the first Canadian ever to win the Virginia S. Boyce Humanitarian Award for his voluntary public service contributions to eye care. The award is given out annually by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology, a group of close to 25,000 ophthalmic professionals worldwide.

"It is an honour to be chosen among all the people they could have chosen," he said.

Whitford, 44, now living in Surrey, B.C., grew up in Yellowknife and graduated from the 24-month Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) training program at Stanton Territorial Hospital in 1993.

Whitford was given the award at the annual American Academy of Ophthalmology conference at McCormick Place in Chicago on Nov. 9.

He was recognized by an audience of more than 100 people for his 20 years of volunteer work, which included giving out free glasses to the poor and needy. His volunteer work has also included providing eye screening for eye diseases such as glaucoma, trachoma and cataracts.

Whitford said he has done work in Swaziland in Africa and has made annual travels to Vietnam for these types of services.

Here in Canada, he travels to Vancouver's Downtown Eastside during the year to provide an outreach clinic to the poor and needy who can't afford the services.

"I just love the profession that I have chosen because you are always able to help somebody," he said. "Most of the time, it makes the other person feel really good."

Any of the trips he takes, which can sometimes be twice a year, are paid out of his own pocket, he said.

Whitford said among the aspects of ophthalmology he most enjoys is "refracting," which is finding the measurements for prescribing eyeglasses.

"Being able to do that and share it with people who need glasses is a wonderful field to be able to work in," he said.

"Volunteering is something where you can really help people. There are a lot of people who don't volunteer, but I feel I have a calling to help. It is something I want to do and I enjoy it."

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