When youSA国际影视传媒檙e talking about volunteers, there is one person who is seemingly ever-present at one place almost every time thereSA国际影视传媒檚 an event at the Yellowknife Ski Club.

That person is John Stephenson and his definition of volunteering should be something simple: if people are in need, then he helps.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 interesting that our society treats volunteering as something unique and special,SA国际影视传媒� said Stephenson. SA国际影视传媒淚 have to think that, in our human society, it would just be normal SA国际影视传媒� we just help someone out and we volunteer.SA国际影视传媒�

Volunteering has been something Stephenson has been involved in since the 1980s. As the current facility director with the ski club, his duties include making sure everything is as they should be. Beyond that, he jumps into helping organize different events.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not just the ski club where Stephenson lends his time. HeSA国际影视传媒檚 offciated at short-track speedskating events and is the current president of the Latham Island Neighborhood Association, which advocates for community road safety and public spaces.

So why did Stephenson become a volunteer in the first place? It began by helping out a friend with an initial cleaning of Old Town back in the 1970s.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was a fundraiser for the Old Stope Association to help the residents in Old Town build a shower house since there was a huge need with residents mostly living in shacks without shower facilities,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Though the shower house never materialized, Stephenson said he still found it meaningful that the funds were used for other good contributions such as the start of the Wildcat Cafe and the first bench in front of the downtown post office.

And that spirit still lives on.

Like others who volunteer, Stephenson has had to sacrifice parts of his personal life.

SA国际影视传媒淪ometimes I had a backlog of things that my children would harass me about, saying, SA国际影视传媒楧ad, are you going to pick up those papers and file them?SA国际影视传媒� and I would say SA国际影视传媒業 will work on that tomorrowSA国际影视传媒�,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭oday, the volunteer thing is more rewarding compared to dealing with that pile of papers or a calendar.SA国际影视传媒�

Kerry Wheler, president of the ski club, said Stephenson is one of many volunteers, but heSA国际影视传媒檚 always putting things in working order before events begin.

To recognize and honour the work that heSA国际影视传媒檚 done, the club awarded him a lifetime membership.

SA国际影视传媒淗e has been a consistent contributor,SA国际影视传媒� said Wheler.

Looking into the future, Stephenson hopes that people can still see him running around and still volunteering.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 71 years old and hopefully another 20 years of active living,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 have stuff I want to do with sports or something else that will come along and it enriches my life over and over again.SA国际影视传媒�