Volunteers at Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre win awards
Monday January 21, 2008 -- Camille Jensen 
Three volunteers from the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre were awarded Donna Cansfield Community Recognition Awards for their contributions to their communities.

Christina Myshkevich, a student at University of Guelph-Humber, and Mark Succi, a student at McMaster University, were honoured for their volunteer work at the Etobicoke long-term care home. Mary Shewchuk, 77, who also volunteers at the home, was awarded for her work with seniors.

On receiving an award, Shewchuk says she’s humbled.  As a senior, Shewchuk says what’s really encouraging is her younger counterparts.

“It made me very proud to see that young people are engaging in volunteer work and doing what they can,” she says. 

Anna Walpole, manager of programs at the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre, says she’s honoured that the volunteers picked up so many awards adding that the volunteers do amazing work.

Walpole is hoping the awards will encourage more youth to get involved.  She believes that youth should look at volunteering as a way to advance and develop new skills.

“It’s a great way to get work experience,” says Walpole.  “They can meet new people, network and build their resumes.”

To help encourage volunteers in the home, Walpole says her secret is to discover what they’re passionate about.

“When students come to the care centre I do my best to find out what they are interested in and then give them opportunities where they can build on their portfolios and resume,” she says. 

Walpole uses both award recipients Christina Myshkevich and Mark Succi as examples of the invaluable experience volunteering has to offer. 

Myshkevich was given the opportunity to design a new resource manual used for educating families on the home. 

Working independently and with the management staff, Myshkevich researched websites and contacted other homes. She then took all her ideas and worked with the senior team to create a new manual.

Succi created a website, chronicling the lives of residents at the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre.   Called the Legacy Project, Succi's project helps bridge the gap between youth and seniors.

Incorporating music, pictures and the lives of residents, Succi's website was designed entirely from scratch.

Walpole also encourages students in the health-care field to look for internships in the long-term care.  She says long-term care offers multi-disciplinary experience involving interaction with various professionals like social workers and doctors.

For Walpole, creating meaningful work is crucial to attracting and keeping volunteers.

“Just giving them opportunities to put them in places where they are confidently learning, developing and growing, says Walpole, “I think that is what keeps them here.”

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Legacy Project brings youth and seniors together