EAST HANTS/HRM: Volunteers generously give their time, encourage community achievement and act with kindness. It is important to continue recognizing these individuals who help build vibrant communities all year long.
That is why on Sept. 28, the annual Lieutenant Governor’s Community Spirit Award and the Provincial Volunteer Awards combined into one virtual ceremony, Celebrating Community Spirit and Volunteers Awards.
“Nova Scotians have experienced some difficult times and disruptions to their lives since March, but I have been immensely impressed at how resilient they have been in adapting to the significant changes in their lives,” said Lt.-Gov. Arthur J. LeBlanc.
“Our many communities have demonstrated their amazing spirit and resourcefulness in helping their residents cope and it proved to me that no matter the circumstances, you cannot dampen or stifle Nova Scotians’ wonderful generosity and their innate desire to volunteer and help those in need.”
The 13 Mi’kmaw communities, and all municipalities, towns and villages across the province received the Lieutenant Governor’s Community Spirit Recognition Plaque. Sixty-nine Provincial Volunteer Awards were given which included 67 Representative Awards, one Youth Volunteer Award and one Family Volunteer Award.
“These past few months have been some of the most challenging in our province’s history,” said Premier Stephen McNeil. “But they have also been some of the most inspiring, as we have seen individual Nova Scotians and communities come together to support and take care of each other. We celebrate that enduring spirit of kindness and strength here today.”
During the ceremony, a new Provincial Volunteer Award entitled the Nova Scotia Strong Award was announced and will be given each year to recognize the deep level of caring that Nova Scotians demonstrate towards each other. The award was presented to the six individuals who organized the Nova Scotia Remembers Online Tribute to commemorate the 22 Nova Scotians lost in the April 18 and 19 tragedy in the province.
The ceremony can be watched on the Communities, Culture and Heritage Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/NOVASCOTIACULTURE
Quotes:
“It is our communities who gathered together to support each other especially during times of doubt. It is encouraging to know that in this province, we are surrounded by people who act with compassion towards others.”
– Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister Leo Glavine.
“Nova Scotia Remembers was the product of what we Nova Scotians do best: in times of darkness, band together to look for the light.”
– Jonathan Torrens, Colchester County, Nova Scotia Strong Award recipient
“As I have been very fortunate in life, I believe I should give back to the community and particularly to those in need. Helping newcomers settle into our province encourages me and my team as we see their growth as new Canadians. These families also move on to help others to have better lives.
– Dianne West, Halifax Regional Municipality, Representative Volunteer Award recipient
“As part of our Africentric ways and cultural background, we believe volunteering is a collective responsibility – the Africentric principle of “Ujima”. Volunteering is our moral responsibility, a way to honour those that have paved the way and laid the foundation for us which leads to our overall development. It is about sharing and contributing to others, developing skills and forming relationships on a path to a common goal.
– The Hudson Family, Cherry Brook, Family Volunteer Award recipients
Quick Facts:
— recipients of the Lieutenant Governor’s Community Spirit Awards are chosen by a selection committee based on community applications that best fit the award’s criteria
— recipients of the Provincial Volunteer Awards are chosen by a community selection committee made of up volunteers from across Nova Scotia.
— Non-profits in Nova Scotia directly contribute $1 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) to the economy
Additional Resources:
Communities, Culture and Heritage Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NOVASCOTIACULTURE
List of the award recipients: https://novascotia.ca/NonProfitSector/ProvincialVolunteerAwards
The Lieutenant Governor’s Community Spirit Award: https://cch.novascotia.ca/investing-in-our-future/community-spirit-award
Provincial Volunteer Awards: https://novascotia.ca/NonProfitSector/ProvincialVolunteerAwards
Nova Scotia’s Culture Action Plan, Creativity and Community: https://novascotia.ca/culture/Culture-Action-Plan–English.pdf
