Executive Council
March 3, 2008Minister Hedderson Presents Awards to
Deserving MUN Volunteers
The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister Responsible for
the Volunteer and Non-Profit Sector, today commended Memorial University
students for their community volunteerism during the annual Memorial
University Volunteer Incentive Program Awards Ceremony. Minister
Hedderson was joined by His Honour, the Honourable John C. Crosbie,
Lieutenant Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Dr. Eddy
Campbell, Acting President of Memorial University. The ceremony took
place at Confederation Building today.
"Our government is committed to improve our
relationship with the voluntary and non-profit sector, identify
opportunities for co-operation and collaboration and celebrate the
tremendous work of community volunteers. A gathering like this is an
opportunity to continue our efforts in fulfilling these commitments,"
said Minister Hedderson. "The training in career development,
self-awareness, and leadership abilities that the Memorial volunteer
program provides are skills recognized by the sector and government as
essential in the growth and advancement of the voluntary and non-profit
sector."
At the ceremony today, Minister Hedderson presented
bronze, silver and gold level awards to over 130 volunteers, an amazing
increase from last year�s 47 recipients. The criterion for receiving
these awards is the participants must complete 20 hours of volunteerism
for bronze, 40 hours for silver, and 80 hours for gold. This is the
fifth anniversary of the Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) and is a
joint initiative of the Student Volunteer Bureau and the Centre for
Career Development and Experiential Learning. The VIP aims to broaden
interests and deepen personal experience while realizing the
participant�s leadership skills through the completion of volunteer work
with various groups and organizations.
"This program started five years ago as a way to
reward and recognize the volunteer work that students at Memorial were
already doing. Never could they have imagined then that the program
would have exploded the way it has," said Rhonda Pittman, Co-ordinator
for the Student Volunteer Bureau, Memorial University of Newfoundland.
"Even since last year, the number of award recipients has tripled. By
participating in this program, students from all walks of life, from
this province, the rest of Canada and the rest of the world, are proving
to everyone on campus and to the greater community that they are engaged
and active citizens. Their time means the world to us here at Memorial,
and to the people whose lives they touch every day."
With 187,000 volunteers, over 4,000 organizations and
21,000 employed by the sector, there is a substantial presence of
volunteers and organizations contributing to this province. The award
recipients will contribute to the growth of the sector in Newfoundland
and Labrador and play a positive role in encouraging other young people
to get involved in the voluntary and non-profit sector.
"The awards ceremony is an important event to honour
the young volunteers who will become leaders in every sector of our
society," said Minister Hedderson. "These students stand as an example
of commitment and dedication to all of us. In congratulating these young
people, our government also renews our commitment to support and enhance
the voluntary and non-profit sector in Newfoundland and Labrador."
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Media contact:
Lesley Clarke
Communications Specialist
Intergovernmental Affairs
709-729-6026, 699-2910
lesleyclarke@gov.nl.ca
2008 03 03
10:45 a.m.