SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Alannis Mckee has had a passion for volunteering ever since moving to the North with her family.
Alannis Mckee accepts an Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award from Robert C. McLeod, minister responsible for Youth, at the Outstanding Volunteer Awards ceremony on May 10 in Hay River. - photo courtesy of Dawn Moses |
She was born in Hamilton, Ont., but her father, a school teacher, took a job in Aklavik where Mckee soon got involved with the community. She began advocating for elders' rights in Aklavik until her family moved to Yellowknife once she got into high school to give her the courses she needs to get into university.
Mckee was honoured with the Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award on May 10 in Hay River for her many efforts to work with Yellowknife residents with disabilities. She said she had no idea the award was coming. Her sister had nominated her without telling anyone.
"I was really honoured but I didn't really think that I deserved it," said Mckee. "Just because I want everyone who's helped me to also get it."
Mckee started the Irish Inclusion Group at St. Patrick High School, which promotes acceptance of people from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender or disability.
She also started the first Best Buddies chapter in Northern Canada. The program pairs a student with a disability with someone without a disability to foster friendships and promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in schools.
Mckee's passion to volunteer for people with disabilities stretches to sports as well. She has been a bowling coach in Special Olympics and promotes cultural sports such as stick pole with Get Active NWT.
Mckee works on the NWT Disabilities Council with various projects, volunteering opportunities and fundraising events and is also the youth ambassador for the council.
When asked how a 16-year-old high school student juggles a half-dozen different ways of volunteering and her school work, Mckee said it isn't a struggle for her.
"If you are really passionate about something you can always find time to do it," Mckee said. "It doesn't really feel like you're volunteering if it's something that you like to do. Especially working with people with disabilities, it's sort of my passion, so it's not a problem to find time to do it."
Mckee plans to volunteer as much as possible while in high school and plans to continue when she goes to university, where she plans to study medicine.
For youth in Yellowknife wanting to volunteer, Mckee said it's important to try and start up a program if there is a need for one.
"People are always more than willing to help you out. Just think about what would be most rewarding for you. There's always people that need help and things that need doing, so just try and see where it takes you."
The winner of the Outstanding Volunteer Elder Award was Yellowknife resident Ron Ogilvie.
His biography from the volunteer awards describes him as "a selfless and modest person who always puts others before himself."
Oglivie declined to comment when reached by Yellowknifer but his biography states that he has been an active volunteer with the Yellowknife Seniors' Society, the Yellowknife to Hay River bike ride (YK2HR) and the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation.
Much of his volunteer work involves driving seniors wherever they need to go, transporting event supplies from the Stanton Foundation and as driving support for the YK2HR. Ogilvie is said in the biography to continuously encourage others to be healthy in mind, body and spirit.
