She has volunteered for 36 years
May 08, 2008 - 09:59 AM
By Keith Gilligan
AJAX -- For 36 years, Madeleine Rouleau has been rolling up her sleeves and volunteering.
Ms. Rouleau has helped at blood donor clinics, fundraised for St. Bernadette Catholic Church and helped prepare meals for the needy.
For her efforts, Ms. Rouleau was named Ajax's 2008 Ontario Senior of the Year.
Ms. Rouleau received the award last week during the Volunteer Recognition Awards Ceremony.
"I will cherish it for the rest of the my life," she said.
Ms. Rouleau has helped at blood donor clinics for 36 years, where she schedules the support volunteers.
During her acceptance speech, she stated, "I accept this on behalf of all of my blood donor colleagues," many of whom attended the ceremony at the Ajax Community Centre.
"I love every minute of it," she stated.
Ms. Rouleau said in an interview she volunteers because, "I love it. I like to do it."
In outlining Ms. Rouleau's activities, Mayor Steve Parish said, "With endless energy and enthusiasm for everything she does, Madeleine Rouleau has been a constant volunteer and supporter of many organizations for the past 36 years, spending countless hours planning, organizing, and tirelessly working on every event in which she is involved.
Volunteering is her life," he added.
Since 1977, she's volunteered at Ballycliffe Lodge, where she's assisted in a variety of activities, such as carpet bowling, bingo, Victorian teas, pub nights, bazaars and yard sales.
Other activities include the Festival of Trees for the Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital, recruiting volunteers for WindReach Farm fundraising events, preparing meals for St. Vincent's Kitchen in Oshawa, and organizing yearly bus trips for 55 people to the Catholic shrine at Sainte Anne de Beaupre, Que.
"Madeleine is a shining example of volunteerism, at any age, in our community. Madeleine is admired and highly thought of by the people of Ajax and the surrounding community for her dedication and commitment," Mayor Parish stated.
Brian Skinner, the Town's chief administrative officer, said volunteers are the "lifeblood" of a community.
"Volunteers aren't paid because they are worthless, but because they are priceless," he noted.
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