Achi news desk-
An Edmonton woman has received the highest honor for voluntary service a person can earn in Canada, for her long-time dedication to her community.
Jean Henderson received the Governor General of Canada’s Sovereign Medal for Volunteers at a ceremony in Edmonton on Wednesday afternoon. The award recognizes the outstanding volunteer achievements of Canadians who demonstrate passion, dedication and commitment to the community.
“This is a little overwhelming,” a very humbled Henderson said of the recognition. “The years and years you put into volunteering, it’s because you love it. And I love it.”
Henderson has spent more than 45 years volunteering in the Edmonton area, with dozens of agencies including crime and trauma support services led by the Edmonton Police Service, Habitat for Humanity and the Alberta SPCA.
When she received the phone call from the Solicitor General’s office informing her that she had won the award, Henderson said she could not believe it.
“I said, ‘This is a scam, right?’ Who gets such a call? I think I told her three times it was impossible,” Henderson said. “After she said some of the things she knew about me I thought it was true. But this is way beyond the scope of what I am doing for him. I love it.”
Sovereign Medal for Volunteers from the Governor General of Canada.
Global News
It was Henderson’s fundraising efforts for the SPCA during the COVID-19 pandemic that nominated him for the prestigious award.
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Henderson was watching the news and learned that Alberta SPCA donations are way down, and animal surrenders are increasing. She was already making face masks, so she thought she would sell them for $5 a piece and donate the money to the animal charity.
“We got to $1,000 and Barb (her daughter) said, ‘Mom, maybe we can get to $2,000.’ And then it was ‘$4,000, maybe we can get to $5,000’,” Henderson recalled. “It just kept coming and going.”
Soon, they hit an astonishing $20,000 in donations. With the help of donated materials, her daughter and her husband, Henderson sewed more than 6,300 face masks.
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Gord Steinke receives a volunteer award from the Governor General of Canada
“My mom, she’s retired and has been on disability and fixed income for years because of a serious car accident,” said Henderson’s daughter, Barb Henderson. “It doesn’t stop her, though. She makes the effort to get out, volunteer her time and stay active and current in the community.
“She rarely says no when asked to help. She’s so humble that she doesn’t think she’s doing anything out of the ordinary.”
The executive director of the Alberta SPCA said Henderson’s donation has guided the organization through a very difficult time.
“She’s one of those superhumans who thinks of everyone in her community first, and puts everyone first, whether it’s an animal or a person. She is one of those amazing people that we couldn’t be more grateful to have in our field,” said Leanna Niblock.
“People like Jean don’t expect to be recognised. I think their hearts are so pure and they are so kind and they want to give so much to their communities, as she said, she didn’t do it for the recognition. She did it because she saw a need in her community.”
The Government Gen. Mary Simon on hand for the ceremony. Henderson was presented with her award by EPS Superintendent. Christa Pennie. Henderson began volunteering with the EPS victim services unit through her son, who is an EPS staff sergeant.
“I started and I haven’t looked back. It has been a wonderful experience. Doing services for victims is not for everyone, but volunteering for anywhere else… it doesn’t matter where you volunteer,” she said.
“I feel like I’m helping something. You don’t do it for the awards. If you’re in it for the accolades then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. You do it because you want to do it and you have to love it. And I love it.”
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
