A7

By Glen Vienneau

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A local group of corporate volunteers has received the higest kudos possible from their peers from across North America and Mexico.

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Glen Vienneau/Special to The Northern Light

DeeDee Stever (right), Bathurst Council president of the Aliant Pioneer Volunteers, accepted the Telecom Pioneers 2007 Community Impact Award last week from Candace Salkey of Saint John, president of the New Brunswick chapter.

The group is the Bathurst Council of the Aliant Pioneer Volunteers and the recognition is the Telecom Pioneers 2007 Community Impact Award.

"You should be proud, you are making a huge impact in your community," said Candace Salkey, president of the New Brunswick chapter of the Aliant Pioneer Volunteers.

The Saint John resident recently accepted the award in Austin, Texas on behalf of the Bathurst Council and presented the award to the Bathurst volunteers at a noon-hour reception on April 28.

The Bathurst Council, made up of 109 volunteers, was among some 200 councils up for the same award. It was their involvement with school projects that gave the local members the most pride.

"The Aliant Pioneers have made an incredible and positive impact in our school," said Gerry Pelletier, principal of École Cité de l'Amitié.

Every year, volunteers refurbished more than 250 computers for local schools and community groups. In addition, the BackPacks for Kids program also became popular with students from 16 schools. This project focused on assisting less fortunate children with items such as school lunches or clothing through a help telephone line.

The Aliant Pioneer Volunteers describes itself as the largest corporate-based volunteer organization in Atlantic Canada with some 9,000 members. Their focus is on education and technology-related projects within their community.