Two women from the Peace Region are being honoured for helping their communities. Maggie Gervais of McLennan and Penny Steffen of Grimshaw have both been named 2019 Stars of Alberta.
Stars of Alberta is a provincial award that recognizes and encourages Albertans to support community initiatives. Gervais says she’s still can’t believe she won.
“I was shocked and honoured; it was quite an event and I really was overwhelmed with it.”
Gervais was nominated by town council members in McLennan for her numerous years of service. She has been with Royal Purple, which is a group dedicated to helping children, for the past 30 years.
She is also on the McLennan Recreation board and works with the Northern Alberta Railroad Museum. Growing up, Gervais says she always wanted to volunteer.
“That was always my dream and passion that whenever I retired or semi-retired I want to give back to the community. Even as a young child, I wanted to do stuff like that and now that I have the time, I just like to give back and I just really enjoy it.”
Steffen was nominated for the award by the Town of Grimshaw Community Services Department. She helps out with the 4-H Club and also volunteers with the Grimshaw and District Agricultural Society and the North Peace Stampede Association.
She also spent 21 years teaching curling and has helped out with the Grimshaw Huskies Senior Men’s hockey team, Grimshaw Minor Hockey Association, and the Alberta Pond Hockey Championships.
The Stars of Alberta awards started in 2000 and since then, 127 Alberta volunteers have received the honour.