Volunteer week recognizes generosity
Andrea Giesbrecht is one of many residents making a difference in the city
Meagan Leonard
Northern News Services
Friday, April 17, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
It's Wednesday afternoon and Andrea Giesbrecht is all business - cheerfully chatting with coworkers and rushing to complete some last-minute tasks before her next meeting.
Andrea Giesbrecht says when she moved to Yellowknife a few years ago, volunteering in the community helped her meet people and make the city feel more like home. - Meagan Leonard / NNSL photo |
Right now, she's on the clock as an education co-ordinator at the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, but her days rarely end when the clock strikes five.
As communities across the country celebrate National Volunteer Week April 12 to 18, Giesbrecht will be one of the many faces recognized.
Although she's only lived in Yellowknife a few short years, Giesbrecht wasted no time getting involved in the community. A former high school drama teacher, she was immediately drawn to the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, which relies heavily on volunteers for its survival.
"There are performers and artists that come from other parts of Canada to Yellowknife who wouldn't typically go to a community this size," she said. "People from all ages can go and enjoy that and it's powerful and inspiring."
In any other province a city the size of Yellowknife likely would also not have the programming NACC offers, Giesbrecht emphasized, it typically is something reserved for larger centres. This would not be possible without the organization's dedicated volunteers she said.
"People ... have the opportunity to showcase themselves through the mentor program, through high school and community theatre - we have this amazing outlet for people who want to explore their talents," she said.
"That can't happen without volunteers, it would be way too expensive if everyone was a paid employee."
As a lover and promoter of the arts, Giesbrecht says volunteering has given her the opportunity to meet some incredible people and see what a varied artistic community the city has to offer - something she might not have experienced otherwise.
"I find the reward very great - to see a thriving community where people come and appreciate the shows so much and you see people have the chance to be on stage who maybe wouldn't have had the chance to perform in a theatre like that," she says. "For not (giving) very much time, there's a big inner reward."
NACC manager of communications Summer Meyer says Giesbrecht always makes herself available for events - often offering to help out before she is asked.
"It is really wonderful and unusual to have someone who goes out of their way to let you know they want to volunteer even before you ask the question," Meyer told Yellowknifer in an e-mail. "She has a very pleasant and friendly personality, learns quickly and is inquisitive, always going the extra step."
More recently, Giesbrecht has been seeking more opportunities to get involved in the community and just started doing delivery for Meals on Wheels - a program providing hot evening meals to residents who cannot cook for themselves due to a medical condition. Meals are prepared at Stanton Territorial Hospital and delivered by volunteers like Giesbrecht.
She said it was only going to be a one-time-thing to help her friend out, but now she's on the volunteer rotation, adding you never know when you might be in a similar situation yourself.
"So many of these people don't have an easy life, in some cases if they're immobile at home and it's just seeing a smiling face of someone coming to bring them dinner," she explained. "It's a reminder of how fortunate we are and to appreciate what we have - I think any of us could be in that situation at any time with injury or illness."
When asked how she would convince someone to get involved in their community, Giesbrecht pauses - at first unable to condense all the rewards she has experienced as a volunteer.
"It helps you see things from a different perspective. I think it creates empathy and you work with people you wouldn't have crossed paths with if you weren't doing that volunteer position," she said thoughtfully.
"So many things in our lives are money-based and people expect a reward or compensation for everything, so it's nice to work with a group of people ... who don't expect something back."
