Province honours volunteer sector’s shining lights

Originally published on Jan 14, 2026 at 08:14

By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Chestermere senior instrumental in helping youths find their way and build their community has earned a place on a growing list of outstanding Alberta volunteers.

Patricia Sproule — noted for her work leveraging the passion of youth through the wisdom of experience — is among eight recipients honoured in the 25th anniversary round of the Stars of Alberta Volunteer Awards.

The provincial government awards have been presented to 171 Alberta volunteers since the program’s inception in 2000.

Last year’s recipients were recognized at a ceremony officiated by Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani and Tanya Fir, the minister of arts, culture and status of women, on International Volunteer Day, Dec. 5.

The Stars of Alberta honoured a second Albertan in the category for seniors in 2025. Recipient Grace Couturier has been a crisis support worker with the Lethbridge Police Service for more than two decades.

Six other honourees made the list in categories for youth, adults and breaking barriers.

Other 2025 recipients are Karinik Gupta and Jhanna Mariel Villanueva in the youth category; Sairose Kassam and Aline Nzeyimana in adult; Sameer Singh, in breaking barriers, anti-racism; and Tracy Folorunsho-Barry, in breaking barriers, fighting gender discrimination.

For over 45 years Sproule has supported youth and community development professionally and as a volunteer.

A founder of the Synergy Youth and Community Development Society and an advisor to its board, she’s led or supported initiatives that have altered the fabric of her Calgary-area community.

Empowering youth to speak up for their needs and ideas is huge for Sproule, says a government news release. Case in point: the creation of a widely recognized mountain biking park.

With Sproule’s support, three Chestermere youth stood before council to make their pitch for land to develop what would become the Chestermere Family Bike Park.

“With Patty as their mentor and biggest booster, council signed on unanimously, and today youth from across Rocky View County and Calgary are bombing the berms at one of the best mountain bike parks in Western Canada,” says a biography in the government news release.

Sproule was instrumental in launching the Chestermere Community Health Centre, the Chestermere Emergency Management Agency, a restorative justice program called Project Rewrite and a Christmas program called Gifts of Kindness.

She is “always looking for opportunities to create inclusive, empowering spaces that foster leadership, connection and belonging.” Her passion is “particularly evident” in her work with high-risk and LGBTQ-plus youth.

The volunteer “has advocated tirelessly to ensure all young people feel seen, supported and valued,” says the release.

Alberta has nearly 28,000 non-profit organizations, and more than half of them are completely run by volunteers. Each year, Albertans volunteer 227 million hours of their time “supporting vibrant communities and the provincial economy,” the release says.