Community salutes volunteers for their tireless efforts

Sheena Gatzke, the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games Director of Volunteers, noted that 2019 is a busy year for volunteers in Swift Current. The year started with a big volunteer effort for Hockey Day in Canada, and there are regular annual events including Windscape, Frontier Days, the CCA Rodeo and World Under 17 Hockey Challenge in the fall.

“We want to make sure that people know we see the effort they’re putting in and we appreciate it.”

Western Canada Summer Games organizers in the midst of recruiting the 2,000 volunteers necessary to successfully host the August 9 to 18 multi sport competition. They have reached the 600 volunteer mark and continue to build momentum behind their recruiting efforts.

“I’m happy with that (total). This is still April. It has just turned nice now. When it was freezing no one was thinking about summer at all. Now people are starting to make summer plans, so we are actually quite pleased with where we are at. But we haven’t rounded the corner yet. We’re not done recruiting.”

She added that people can be involved in the areas they are interested in by signing up early.

“The earlier people sign up the more likely they’re going to be able to get into the things that they’re really interested in. So that’s kind of the bonus for signing up early.”

Gatzke also noted that business organizations benefit from having their employees spend time as volunteers.

“Workers feel a better sense of pride and a better sense of inclusion in the community, which can translate to productivity and things in the workplace. So businesses can actually see a spinoff from supporting volunteerism in their organization. It can also be good for their company brand - promoting themselves in the community as being community partners.”

Swift Current and District Chamber of Commerce CEO Karla Wiens was pleased to see last week’s volunteer saluting initiative.

“Volunteers deserve to be saluted and recognized, and I think sometimes that is forgotten,” she said. “They do it to feel good about themselves. They do it because they’re needed. And I think having a national volunteer week is key with this next generation.”

Wiens highlighted that Swift Current’s business community takes the lead role in a series of volunteer initiatives, pointing to the Stark & Marsh Go Green initiative as just one example.

“I think the Swift Current business community as a whole, there are various different businesses that have teams, and you recognize them when they’re out and about.”

“I think for a business it promotes morale and camaraderie among employees. But it also shows that they are invested in our community through the various different efforts that go on.”

She said the entire business community is looking forward to seeing and volunteering at the Games this August.

“This is a pretty hefty event for our community to be hosting, so the sheer volume of volunteers needed is going to be huge, but I think it’ll be a great event.”

Individuals looking to volunteer for the major events this year can contact the following:

Windscape Kite Festival - windscapevolunteer@gmail.com.

Frontier Days - kineticpark@swiftcurrent.ca.

Western Canada Summer Games - volunteer@2019wcsg.ca.

CCA Finals Rodeo - www.swiftcurrent.ca/ccavolunteer.

World U17 Hockey Challenge - www.swiftcurrent.ca/wu17volunteer.