Nadene McMenemy is the recipient of the Recreation and Parks Association of NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 Volunteer of the Year award, and while she never set out for recognition, itSA国际影视传媒檚 an honour she is happy to receive.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen the phone rang and I got the call a couple of weeks ago that I had won this award, I was overwhelmed,SA国际影视传媒� the long-time Kugluktuk resident said one day before she was presented with the award on Sept. 27. SA国际影视传媒淲hen you go into volunteerism and philanthropy at the scale that I go at it, youSA国际影视传媒檙e not doing it for recognition, youSA国际影视传媒檙e doing it for what youSA国际影视传媒檙e achieving in the community, and the love of your community. But, you know, for all you do and the reasons you do it, itSA国际影视传媒檚 nice to be recognized for your hard work too once in a while.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 happy that itSA国际影视传媒檚 bringing attention to my community too, and the work we do here.SA国际影视传媒�

McMenemy, who also operates the Enokhok Inn with her husband Johnny Tootoo, has been volunteering in Kugluktuk since she arrived in the community roughly 11 years ago. That includes work with the Nattiq Frolics Committee, the Coppermine Racing Committee, the Radio Committee and the Hamlet of Kugluktuk. However, her most notable volunteer efforts revolve around her role as the head of the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 Christmas Committee.

Each year SA国际影视传媒� with the exception of those interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic SA国际影视传媒� committee members spend hundreds of hours fundraising for a range of free community events and generous donations during the holiday season. One of the committeeSA国际影视传媒檚 primary fundraising initiatives is an annual telethon that has raised north of $10,000 in previous years.

McMenemy admits her volunteering and fundraising eats up a lot of her time, but she sees it as as sacrifice worth making.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 easy to get lost in it,SA国际影视传媒� she acknowledged. SA国际影视传媒淚 mean, the last few months, my regular work keeps me very busy and all my free time I devote to this.

SA国际影视传媒淪ometimes ISA国际影视传媒檓 in over my head, but, at the end of the day, we pull it off and it happens.SA国际影视传媒�

McMenemy recognizes that it will become more difficult for her to juggle her many volunteer responsibilities as she gets older, and that retirement could be a just few years away.

However, the veteran volunteer hopes her efforts will inspire other people to donate their time to helping their communities.

She has seen first-hand the difference a concerted and coordinated volunteer effort can make.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檒l benefit every single organization in your community if you have a strong base [of volunteers],SA国际影视传媒� she said.

In addition to McMenemySA国际影视传媒檚 Volunteer of the Year award, the Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut named Baker LakeSA国际影视传媒檚 Nathan Annanaut the 2023 Recreation Leader of the Year, while KugluktukSA国际影视传媒檚 Tanisha Metuituk and Maggie Bolt both received Youth Leader of the Year awards.