YOUNG CALGARIAN IS EMBLEMATIC OF OUR VOLUNTEERING NATURE
She’s the gal who takes care of the smaller things — keeping the vinyl records clean, helping out in the office and making sure people find their seat in the theatre before showtime.
When you consider the number of volunteer hours Susan Patterson has put in over the past decade, though, it adds up to a big contribution to the city she calls home. “She’s been volunteering since her teens,” her mom, Janice Hum-Patterson, says when we meet up on a recent morning. “It’s been a great way for her to be a part of the community, to be around people and get different perspectives.”
Suzie, as she’s known to all, has Down syndrome, a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement. The extra genetic material results in a developmental disability, although many of the estimated 45,000 Canadians with Down syndrome lead fulfilling lives that include going to postsecondary school, getting married and having careers.
Along with volunteering for CJSW Radio — the University of Calgary’s student radio station — and Storybook Theatre, the soft-spoken 27-year-old has been a regular fixture for many years at Trico Centre for Family Wellness, a community-owned, non-profit health and fitness facility in Calgary’s south. “This place was founded by a group of local volunteers in the 1970s,” says Christopher Berry, Trico Centre’s guest services director. “Those people put in countless volunteer hours to get this facility up and running for everyone in the community to enjoy.”
As Trico Centre celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, he says that spirit of volunteerism is still alive and well. “We have people of all ages who volunteer here and help out our staff,” he says.
While everyone at Trico Centre appreciates all the help they get from volunteers ranging from teens to retired seniors, Suzie, says Berry, is a staff favourite. “I surveyed several staff and got nothing but the most glowing reviews,” he says. “She is hardworking and very good with people.”
As National Volunteer Week (April 23 to 29) approaches, the folks at Trico Centre thought Suzie deserved a little bit of the spotlight for her countless hours of volunteer work over the years. While she may be exceptional to those who know her, she’s in good company: According to Volunteer Canada, 44 per cent of Canadians volunteer at some point in their lives. They do work that is equivalent to one million fulltime jobs, helping out everything from social agencies and charities to sports and the arts. Calgary has long held the distinction of having more volunteers per capita than any other major Canadian city.
According to Suzie’s mom, volunteering runs in her family. “I’ve always been active as a volunteer,” says the mom of three who, like her husband, Michael, is an engineer. “I never changed those expectations for Suzie because she has a disability.”
For her part, Suzie says it’s given her a chance, she says, “to make friends, get my exercise, take Zumba classes,” in between her volunteer hours at Trico Centre.
It’s also provided her with some real work experience in a low-pressure setting. “It has been a bit of an uphill battle to get people to give her a chance,” says Janice, “but in the volunteer world they open up their doors faster than others.”
Despite the struggle, Suzie recently scored a victory with a paid part-time position at Kerby Centre, a not-for-profit organization that helps seniors. “Everyone we asked was happy to give her a reference,” says Janice of her new job doing light housekeeping and office work at the centre.
While Suzie’s volunteering has helped her to develop skills for both her work and personal life, Christopher Berry says that what she gives to organizations such as Trico Centre for Health and Wellness is immeasurable: “It’s volunteers like Suzie who are vital to our success.”