Edmonton woman recognized for exemplary volunteer work

What were you doing over COVID? Well for many of us, we were at home watching TV and wondering when the pandemic would end. But for one Edmontonian, she stepped up and did something else with her time.

“It doesn’t matter where you volunteer. You can volunteer 24/7 you know just to get out,” said Jean Henderson, award recipient.

Being called a superhuman in her field, Henderson is a volunteer specialist giving her time to different organizations over the years.

On Wednesday, she was awarded a national medal in recognition of her accomplishments and commitments to her community.

The Governor General of Canada Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers is the highest honour for volunteer service that someone can receive in Canada.

Over the pandemic, Henderson used her sewing skills to make face masks which were sold in support of the SPCA. She made over 6,000 masks raising over $20,000, which prompted the organization to nominate her for the award.

“She’s just one of those incredible people that we couldn’t be more grateful to have in our sphere and that’s why it’s so important that we recognized her here today,” said Leanne Niblock, the executive director of the SPCA.

Prior to the pandemic, Henderson spent 45 years volunteering in the Edmonton area. During that time she helped with the EPS Crime and Trauma-Informed Support Services (CTSS), volunteering at her church, and countless weekends at professional sports games in Edmonton.

She was also extremely influential in starting the Northern Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation which paved the way for the Stollery Children’s Hospital.