City of Burnaby
SAV DHALIWAL
Speech for Volunteer Recognition Night
National Volunteer Week May 2011
[Power Point Slide One]
Good evening It’s my pleasure to speak to you tonight on behalf of the team at Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services.
As you all know, it’s National Volunteer Week across Canada. For the 68th year, Canadians are celebrating volunteers like yourselves … dedicated individuals who so generously donate your time, energy and expertise in service to your communities.
It was the American poet Maya Angelou (MY-uh AN-juh-loo) who said: “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back ….”
Well, there’s no question that you in the audience tonight, your colleagues here in Burnaby and a remarkable twelve-point-five million volunteers nationwide are throwing immense amounts of heart and soul back to the world …
You don’t do it for the money. You don’t do it for recognition.
You do it because you get a tremendous amount of satisfaction from helping others…. which is the number one reason why volunteers step up and make a difference.
In the process, you’re making all our communities stronger, more engaged, resilient and giving.
Tonight I’d like to talk about some of the many forms volunteerism takes in Burnaby. I’ll also highlight a few of the major new projects undertaken by our division this year.
Slide 2
Let’s begin with Community Sports, since that’s a passion and prime focus for many of you in the audience tonight ….
It’s simple really: Without volunteers, amateur sports in Burnaby wouldn’t be possible at the sophisticated, multi-tiered level we now take for granted.
Well over a thousand volunteer coaches, officials, mentors and administrators are dedicated to running all kinds of leagues for kids and adults alike.
Name the amateur sport …. soccer, rugby, softball, gymnastics, volleyball, ice hockey … and you can bet volunteers are front and centre in getting the games scheduled, the doors and the kids to the rinks and playing fields on time.
I had the honour of handing out Community Sport Hero Awards to five VIP volunteers last fall.
This week we’re honouring everyone who contributes to amateur sports in this city.
In particular tonight, I’d like to focus on lacrosse, Canada’s national summer sport and soon to be a favorite here in Burnaby as well.
Over the past few months, a work crew has been busy constructing a maplewood lacrosse floor at the Bill Copeland Sport Centre.
It’s a portable surface that will allow the Copeland Centre to host lacrosse in the spring and summer while continuing with its busy ice hockey schedule each winter.
The good news is that this beautiful piece of hardwood is exactly what Burnaby needs to become a premier location for local, regional and national lacrosse tournaments.
It’s also going to inspire a new generation of young players to try what’s known as “the fastest game on two feet.”
None of this would be possible without the dedication of volunteers at Burnaby Minor Lacrosse. Their commitment ensures that young people have the chance to learn and play this historic sport. (2:44)
Slide 3
Volunteers play many behind-the-scenes roles at Burnaby’s public golf courses … including organizing the annual Mayor’s Golf Tournament at Riverway Golf Course.
One major project for Parks & Rec in recent years has been the construction of Riverway’s new clubhouse. I’ve seen it recently and can report that golfers like me are going to enjoy it immensely -- especially given its great restaurant, covered patio and outdoor decks offering prime views of the eighteenth fairway.
Bookings are already coming in for weddings, corporate events and community gatherings. And no question it will quickly become a popular everyday 19th hole with course regulars seeking a drink and a laugh.
And just like Horizons on Burnaby Mountain, I’m sure many people will be making Riverway a special destination for lunch or dinner. (3:28)
Slide 4
Elsewhere in the city, significant changes are underway in southeast Burnaby. Commercial and residential developments are springing up, and our team is responding with recreational services to match.
If you’ve driven down Edmonds Street lately, you’ll have noticed that the old community centre has been demolished and crews have begun constructing the new Eastburn Aquatic and Community Centre
It will open next year … and the blueprints I’ve seen tell me it’ll be a first-rate addition to Burnaby’s array of recreation facilities.
The aquatic centre will feature a six-lane swimming pool, a leisure pool, water slides and a theme-park innovation called a “lazy river” – which lets you drift downstream without any effort, apparently. Lots of people will be eager to find out when unwinding from long nine-to-five days.
The community centre, meanwhile, will house two gymnasiums, a multi-purpose studio, a good-sized weight and cardio room, and an indoor kids playground.
Also underway are upgrades to neighbouring Richmond Park. Together, the community centre and park will serve up a wonderful combination of indoor and outdoor recreational fun. (4:23)
Slide 5
Some of you here tonight volunteer with specific segments of Burnaby’s population … from the very young to the zoomers, boomers and seniors in our community.
Youth and seniors, in particular, need home-away-from-home gathering places where they can enjoy social time, games, activities and shared resources.
The new Edmonds Centre I’ve just mentioned will feature a pair of lounges – one for seniors, the other for teens.
We currently operate four youth centres across the city, and I’m happy to report that the South Central Youth Centre is open again following a major makeover.
It has been retrofitted with pool and ping-pong tables along with a set of comfy leather chairs in the conversation pit. The video monitor is hooked up to a Nintendo Wii (WE) system … and there’s a kitchen area for quick and easy meal preparation.
We’ll be having an official ribbon-cutting in early May at South Central to wrap up another B.C. Youth Week – which, incidentally and hardly surprising, happens annually thanks to immense volunteer input from Burnaby's young people.
I’d like to take this opportunity to extend special thanks to this new generation of proactive and enthusiastic individuals – torchbearers for volunteerism now and onward into the future as they make a life-long habit of giving generously of their time for causes that matter. (5:26)
Slide 6
Let me repeat myself once more: All of us who spend time outdoors in Burnaby’s park system are indebted to volunteers.
They build and maintain wilderness trails ….
lead interpretive hikes …
get their hands dirty digging community gardens …
help restore natural wildlife habitats …
and take leading roles in fundraising and door-to-door campaigns.
Some even help with the care and pruning of the city’s delightful leafy green ecosculptures, of which there are now more than thirty across Burnaby. Last year contribution at Cameron Park was a dragon, and I'm told it's rare not to find kids and family groups posing for photos in front of it. Volunteer Edward Scissorhands are doing a great job in trimming back the foliage and sharpening its floral claws.
Volunteers are also pivotal in our invasive plant management and habitat restoration strategy. Our staff is working with neighbourhood groups to track down and uproot himalayan blackberry, Scotch broom and the giant hogweed …. all of them aggressive intruders suffocating native species.
On a rather alarming subject and as you may be aware, bees are dying off in large numbers. If the predictions are right, and nobody doubts them, the loss of these pollinators will have a significant impact on the entire ecosystem.
One bit of hopeful news that we can offer is that 2011 marks the first year the parks team has begun setting up “bee condos” – simple wooden beehives that help bees survive and thrive - at strategic spots in our green spaces. Let's pray that actions like this can help stem the tide. (6:40)
Slide 7
What’s on the horizon? Well, looming large is the BC Senior Games in August 2012. We expect more than 3,000 participants aged 55-plus to take part in the 25th anniversary of the games.
By now, this city has earned a glowing reputation for hosting large-scale events of this kind. The latest example is the World Police and Fire Games in 2009, and again volunteers deserve their share of the credit for making it another in a line of events well done. Burnaby is blessed with many seasoned volunteer leaders whose spirit and enthusiasm light the way towards successful special events.
Now the call has gone out for leadership volunteers for the BC Senior Games.
They’ll be assuming responsibility for volunteer operations in all kinds of areas: registration, communications, transportation, promotions, security, administration and medical services.
So again, I’ll repeat myself and make it clear: We’re indebted to volunteers – experienced and new alike. And we extend our heartfelt appreciation for their work in pulling rabbits from hats and making the impossible possible. (7:36)
Slide 8
Volunteerism has had an impact in many corners of Burnaby. But nowhere is it more of a living tradition than at the Burnaby Village Museum.
Community interest groups are responsible for two of the museum’s finest assets.
In 1989, the World War One-era CW Parker Carousel was to be auctioned off, one horse at a time, to the highest bidders through a New York auction house.
Instead, Burnaby’s Friends of the Carousel took action, raised funds to buy the entire thing and then restored it to museum-quality splendour. Today thousands of people annually enjoy this wonderful carnival ride.
Then there’s the museum’s beautiful tram car. It’s one of just seven such trams remaining from an era when electric railway cars moved people and goods around the Lower Mainland. It’s been returned to its original beauty by a passionate group of train buffs known as the Friends of Interurban Tram 1223 (twelve twenty three). Without them, we’d have lost a piece of our community history.
This year is the museum’s 40th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the mayor, city council and our Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission have decided to throw the gates open and waive admission fees throughout the 2011 season.
The museum opens in early May and a special 40th anniversary celebration is set for June 11. By all means, take advantage of the no-cost admission and visit again … and again … and again!
And when you go, say hello to the colorful characters who walk the museum’s grounds in period costume. All are volunteers, teenagers and adults alike, ranging in age from 13 to 70. Their love of history – combined with strong interpersonal skills – make them ideal ambassadors for Burnaby’s civic museum.
Slide 9
In closing, I’d like to cite the three-word theme that is being used by the organizers of National Volunteer Week this year ….
Passion … Action … and Impact.
Passion … because volunteers care deeply and want to make a difference.
Action … because volunteers are making significant and tangible contributions to the community
and Impact … because these contributions make a huge difference to untold numbers of people – improving their quality of life, providing essential services and creating opportunities for increased health, fitness and social engagement.
That’s the winning trifecta that delivers so much to our community.
Thanks and good night. (9:44).
SAV DHALIWAL
Speech for Volunteer Recognition Night
National Volunteer Week May 2011
[Power Point Slide One]
Good evening It’s my pleasure to speak to you tonight on behalf of the team at Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services.
As you all know, it’s National Volunteer Week across Canada. For the 68th year, Canadians are celebrating volunteers like yourselves … dedicated individuals who so generously donate your time, energy and expertise in service to your communities.
It was the American poet Maya Angelou (MY-uh AN-juh-loo) who said: “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back ….”
Well, there’s no question that you in the audience tonight, your colleagues here in Burnaby and a remarkable twelve-point-five million volunteers nationwide are throwing immense amounts of heart and soul back to the world …
You don’t do it for the money. You don’t do it for recognition.
You do it because you get a tremendous amount of satisfaction from helping others…. which is the number one reason why volunteers step up and make a difference.
In the process, you’re making all our communities stronger, more engaged, resilient and giving.
Tonight I’d like to talk about some of the many forms volunteerism takes in Burnaby. I’ll also highlight a few of the major new projects undertaken by our division this year.
Slide 2
Let’s begin with Community Sports, since that’s a passion and prime focus for many of you in the audience tonight ….
It’s simple really: Without volunteers, amateur sports in Burnaby wouldn’t be possible at the sophisticated, multi-tiered level we now take for granted.
Well over a thousand volunteer coaches, officials, mentors and administrators are dedicated to running all kinds of leagues for kids and adults alike.
Name the amateur sport …. soccer, rugby, softball, gymnastics, volleyball, ice hockey … and you can bet volunteers are front and centre in getting the games scheduled, the doors and the kids to the rinks and playing fields on time.
I had the honour of handing out Community Sport Hero Awards to five VIP volunteers last fall.
This week we’re honouring everyone who contributes to amateur sports in this city.
In particular tonight, I’d like to focus on lacrosse, Canada’s national summer sport and soon to be a favorite here in Burnaby as well.
Over the past few months, a work crew has been busy constructing a maplewood lacrosse floor at the Bill Copeland Sport Centre.
It’s a portable surface that will allow the Copeland Centre to host lacrosse in the spring and summer while continuing with its busy ice hockey schedule each winter.
The good news is that this beautiful piece of hardwood is exactly what Burnaby needs to become a premier location for local, regional and national lacrosse tournaments.
It’s also going to inspire a new generation of young players to try what’s known as “the fastest game on two feet.”
None of this would be possible without the dedication of volunteers at Burnaby Minor Lacrosse. Their commitment ensures that young people have the chance to learn and play this historic sport. (2:44)
Slide 3
Volunteers play many behind-the-scenes roles at Burnaby’s public golf courses … including organizing the annual Mayor’s Golf Tournament at Riverway Golf Course.
One major project for Parks & Rec in recent years has been the construction of Riverway’s new clubhouse. I’ve seen it recently and can report that golfers like me are going to enjoy it immensely -- especially given its great restaurant, covered patio and outdoor decks offering prime views of the eighteenth fairway.
Bookings are already coming in for weddings, corporate events and community gatherings. And no question it will quickly become a popular everyday 19th hole with course regulars seeking a drink and a laugh.
And just like Horizons on Burnaby Mountain, I’m sure many people will be making Riverway a special destination for lunch or dinner. (3:28)
Slide 4
Elsewhere in the city, significant changes are underway in southeast Burnaby. Commercial and residential developments are springing up, and our team is responding with recreational services to match.
If you’ve driven down Edmonds Street lately, you’ll have noticed that the old community centre has been demolished and crews have begun constructing the new Eastburn Aquatic and Community Centre
It will open next year … and the blueprints I’ve seen tell me it’ll be a first-rate addition to Burnaby’s array of recreation facilities.
The aquatic centre will feature a six-lane swimming pool, a leisure pool, water slides and a theme-park innovation called a “lazy river” – which lets you drift downstream without any effort, apparently. Lots of people will be eager to find out when unwinding from long nine-to-five days.
The community centre, meanwhile, will house two gymnasiums, a multi-purpose studio, a good-sized weight and cardio room, and an indoor kids playground.
Also underway are upgrades to neighbouring Richmond Park. Together, the community centre and park will serve up a wonderful combination of indoor and outdoor recreational fun. (4:23)
Slide 5
Some of you here tonight volunteer with specific segments of Burnaby’s population … from the very young to the zoomers, boomers and seniors in our community.
Youth and seniors, in particular, need home-away-from-home gathering places where they can enjoy social time, games, activities and shared resources.
The new Edmonds Centre I’ve just mentioned will feature a pair of lounges – one for seniors, the other for teens.
We currently operate four youth centres across the city, and I’m happy to report that the South Central Youth Centre is open again following a major makeover.
It has been retrofitted with pool and ping-pong tables along with a set of comfy leather chairs in the conversation pit. The video monitor is hooked up to a Nintendo Wii (WE) system … and there’s a kitchen area for quick and easy meal preparation.
We’ll be having an official ribbon-cutting in early May at South Central to wrap up another B.C. Youth Week – which, incidentally and hardly surprising, happens annually thanks to immense volunteer input from Burnaby's young people.
I’d like to take this opportunity to extend special thanks to this new generation of proactive and enthusiastic individuals – torchbearers for volunteerism now and onward into the future as they make a life-long habit of giving generously of their time for causes that matter. (5:26)
Slide 6
Let me repeat myself once more: All of us who spend time outdoors in Burnaby’s park system are indebted to volunteers.
They build and maintain wilderness trails ….
lead interpretive hikes …
get their hands dirty digging community gardens …
help restore natural wildlife habitats …
and take leading roles in fundraising and door-to-door campaigns.
Some even help with the care and pruning of the city’s delightful leafy green ecosculptures, of which there are now more than thirty across Burnaby. Last year contribution at Cameron Park was a dragon, and I'm told it's rare not to find kids and family groups posing for photos in front of it. Volunteer Edward Scissorhands are doing a great job in trimming back the foliage and sharpening its floral claws.
Volunteers are also pivotal in our invasive plant management and habitat restoration strategy. Our staff is working with neighbourhood groups to track down and uproot himalayan blackberry, Scotch broom and the giant hogweed …. all of them aggressive intruders suffocating native species.
On a rather alarming subject and as you may be aware, bees are dying off in large numbers. If the predictions are right, and nobody doubts them, the loss of these pollinators will have a significant impact on the entire ecosystem.
One bit of hopeful news that we can offer is that 2011 marks the first year the parks team has begun setting up “bee condos” – simple wooden beehives that help bees survive and thrive - at strategic spots in our green spaces. Let's pray that actions like this can help stem the tide. (6:40)
Slide 7
What’s on the horizon? Well, looming large is the BC Senior Games in August 2012. We expect more than 3,000 participants aged 55-plus to take part in the 25th anniversary of the games.
By now, this city has earned a glowing reputation for hosting large-scale events of this kind. The latest example is the World Police and Fire Games in 2009, and again volunteers deserve their share of the credit for making it another in a line of events well done. Burnaby is blessed with many seasoned volunteer leaders whose spirit and enthusiasm light the way towards successful special events.
Now the call has gone out for leadership volunteers for the BC Senior Games.
They’ll be assuming responsibility for volunteer operations in all kinds of areas: registration, communications, transportation, promotions, security, administration and medical services.
So again, I’ll repeat myself and make it clear: We’re indebted to volunteers – experienced and new alike. And we extend our heartfelt appreciation for their work in pulling rabbits from hats and making the impossible possible. (7:36)
Slide 8
Volunteerism has had an impact in many corners of Burnaby. But nowhere is it more of a living tradition than at the Burnaby Village Museum.
Community interest groups are responsible for two of the museum’s finest assets.
In 1989, the World War One-era CW Parker Carousel was to be auctioned off, one horse at a time, to the highest bidders through a New York auction house.
Instead, Burnaby’s Friends of the Carousel took action, raised funds to buy the entire thing and then restored it to museum-quality splendour. Today thousands of people annually enjoy this wonderful carnival ride.
Then there’s the museum’s beautiful tram car. It’s one of just seven such trams remaining from an era when electric railway cars moved people and goods around the Lower Mainland. It’s been returned to its original beauty by a passionate group of train buffs known as the Friends of Interurban Tram 1223 (twelve twenty three). Without them, we’d have lost a piece of our community history.
This year is the museum’s 40th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the mayor, city council and our Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission have decided to throw the gates open and waive admission fees throughout the 2011 season.
The museum opens in early May and a special 40th anniversary celebration is set for June 11. By all means, take advantage of the no-cost admission and visit again … and again … and again!
And when you go, say hello to the colorful characters who walk the museum’s grounds in period costume. All are volunteers, teenagers and adults alike, ranging in age from 13 to 70. Their love of history – combined with strong interpersonal skills – make them ideal ambassadors for Burnaby’s civic museum.
Slide 9
In closing, I’d like to cite the three-word theme that is being used by the organizers of National Volunteer Week this year ….
Passion … Action … and Impact.
Passion … because volunteers care deeply and want to make a difference.
Action … because volunteers are making significant and tangible contributions to the community
and Impact … because these contributions make a huge difference to untold numbers of people – improving their quality of life, providing essential services and creating opportunities for increased health, fitness and social engagement.
That’s the winning trifecta that delivers so much to our community.
Thanks and good night. (9:44).