Skip to content
  • Donate
  • Parish Locator
  • Search
  • Papal Visit
  • News & Events
      • The WINDOW Newsletter
      • Workshops & Seminars
      • Pilgrimages
      • Upfront Podcast
  • Faith
      • About the Catholic Faith
      • People of Mission
      • Sacraments
          • Marriage
            • Preparation for Marriage
            • Steps to Getting Married
          • Baptism
          • Confession
          • Confirmation
          • Eucharist
          • Holy Orders
          • Anointing of the Sick
          • Archives and Sacramental Records
            • Registers of Closed, Merged or Twinned Parishes
      • Prayer and Worship
          • About the Mass
          • Daily Readings
          • Grace at Meals
          • Prayers
      • Deepen Your Faith
          • Catechesis
          • Scripture Study
          • Preparing for Lent
          • Nothing More Beautiful
      • Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
          • RCIA Process
      • Liturgy
  • Ministries & Services
      • Administration & Offices
          • Accounting and Finance
          • Archives and Sacramental Records
          • Building Services
          • Communications
          • Human Resources
          • Information Technology
          • Marriage Tribunal (Annulment)
      • Cemeteries
      • Indigenous Relations
          • Delegation to Rome – Spring 2022
      • Safe Environment & Abuse Prevention
          • Report Abuse
          • Called to Protect
      • Youth & Young Adults
          • Activities
          • Camps
          • Catechesis
          • Holy Childhood Association
          • Schools & Colleges
          • World Youth Day
      • Life & Family
          • Marriage Enrichment
          • Family Planning
          • Divorced and Re-married
          • Grief
          • Courage – Encourage
      • Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations
          • Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
          • World Day of Prayer
          • Outdoor Way of the Cross
          • Ecumenical Annual Reports
      • Social Justice
          • Interfaith Housing Initiative
          • No Room in the Inn
          • Development & Peace
      • Hospital & Healthcare Ministry
          • Pastoral Care Visitors
          • Chaplains
      • Prison Ministry
      • Papal Blessings
  • Get Involved
      • Find a Career
      • Serve on Parish Council
          • Together in Ministry
      • Home-bound & Hospital Visits
          • Pastoral Care Certificate
  • Vocations
      • Priesthood
      • Permanent Diaconate
      • Consecrated Life
      • St. Joseph’s Seminary
      • Vocations
  • Ways to Give
      • Donate Now
      • Together We Serve
          • Parish Resources
          • How Gifts are Shared
          • Together We Serve FAQs
          • Information for Donors
      • Legacy Giving
      • Fundraising Events
          • Faith, Fitness, and Fun Run
          • Newman Golf Classic
          • Friars' Ball
      • Foundation of St. Joseph Seminary and Newman Theological College
  • Archbishop
      • Offices & Staff
      • Synod
      • Pastoral Letters
      • Messages & Homilies
      • Archbishop’s Dinner
  • About
      • History
          • Coat of Arms
          • Icon of St. Joseph the Worker
          • Past Bishops
      • Priests
      • Parishes & Mass Times
      • Consecrated Orders
      • Councils & Associations
          • Archdiocesan Pastoral Council
          • Lay Associations
          • Indigenous Relations Council
      • Schools & Colleges
      • Offices & Staff
      • Policies & Procedures
      • Annual Reports
      • Archives & Records
      • Twin Diocese
      • Careers
      • Retreat Centres
  • Contact
  • Search/Login
      • Search
      • Log In
  • Find a Mass, Parish, or Priest
  • Donate/Volunteer
      • Donate
      • Volunteer
  • CAEDM NET
  • Papal Visit
  • News & Events
    • The WINDOW Newsletter
    • Workshops & Seminars
    • Pilgrimages
    • Upfront Podcast
  • Faith
    • About the Catholic Faith
    • People of Mission
    • Sacraments
      • Marriage
        • Marriage Preparation
      • Baptism
      • Confession
      • Eucharist
      • Confirmation
      • Holy Orders
      • Anointing of the Sick
      • Archives and Sacramental Records
        • Registers of Closed, Merged, or Twinned Parishes
    • Prayer and Worship
      • About the Mass
      • Daily Readings
      • Grace at Meals
      • Prayers
    • Deepen Your Faith
      • Catechesis
      • Scripture Study
      • Preparing for Lent
      • Nothing More Beautiful
    • Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
      • RCIA Process
    • Liturgy
  • Ministries & Services
    • Administration & Offices
      • Accounting and Finance
      • Archives and Sacramental Records
        • Registers of Closed, Merged, or Twinned Parishes
      • Building Services
      • Communications
      • Human Resources
      • Information Technology
      • Marriage Tribunal (Annulment)
    • Cemeteries
    • Indigenous Relations
      • Indigenous Delegation to Rome – Spring 2022
    • Safe Environments & Abuse Prevention
      • Report Abuse
      • Called to Protect
      • Volunteer Management
    • Youth & Young Adults
      • Activities
      • Camps
      • Catechesis
      • Holy Childhood Association
      • Schools & Colleges
      • World Youth Day
    • Life & Family
      • Marriage Enrichment
      • Family Planning
      • Divorced and Re-married
    • Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations
      • Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
      • World Day of Prayer
      • Outdoor Way of the Cross
      • Unity Newsletter
      • Ecumenical Annual Reports
    • Social Justice
      • Interfaith Housing Initiative
      • No Room in the Inn
      • Development & Peace
    • Hospital & Healthcare Ministry
      • Chaplains
      • Home-bound & Hospitalized Visitations
    • Prison Ministry
    • Papal Blessings
  • Get Involved
    • Careers
    • Serve on Parish Council
      • Together in Ministry
    • Home-bound & Hospitalized Visitations
      • Pastoral Care Certificate
    • Become a Volunteer
  • Vocations
    • Priesthood
      • St. Joseph's Seminary
    • Permanent Diaconate
    • Consecrated Life
  • Ways to Give
    • Donate Now
    • Together We Serve
      • Resources for Parishes
      • How Gifts are Shared
      • Information for Donors
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Legacy Giving
    • Fundraising Events
      • Faith, Fitness, and Fun Run
      • Newman Golf Classic
      • Friars’ Ball
    • The Foundation of St. Joseph Seminary and Newman Theological College
  • Archbishop Richard W. Smith
    • Offices & Staff
    • Synod on Synodality
    • Pastoral Letters
    • Messages & Homilies
    • Archbishop’s Dinner
  • About the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
    • History
      • Coat of Arms
      • Icon of St. Joseph the Worker
      • Past Bishops
    • Priests
    • Parish & Mass Times
    • Consecrated Orders
    • Councils & Associations
      • Archdiocesan Pastoral Council
      • Lay Associations
      • Indigenous Relations Council
    • Schools & Colleges
    • Offices & Staff
    • Policies & Procedures
    • Financial Reports
    • Twin Diocese
    • Careers
    • Retreat Centres
  • Contact
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
Parishes & Mass Times
Find Clergy
Donate
Become a Volunteer

Latest News

All News

Stories from the Papal Visit

Share your story! A Papal Visit is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most Catholics. We have heard many stories and unique…
Continue Reading

Upcoming Events

All Events
Retrouvaille Marriage Help Wee...
2022-08-12
Our Lady of Victory Youth Camp...
2022-08-22
Evening at the Mac - Aug. 25
2022-08-25

Pastoral and Administration Offices

Office Hours
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday
780-469-1010
1-844-469-1010 (Toll free)
780-465-3003
8421 101 Avenue NW
Edmonton AB T6A 0L1

Senate honours Catholic Social Services volunteers for making community a better place

01 June 2018

Appears in: Uncategorized

The way Betty Boyd sees it, volunteers receive much more than they give.

“I never felt I was doing that much,” said Boyd, 88, who has served with Catholic Social Services for more than 20 years. “And the people that you’re helping are so thankful and so grateful.”

She and her fellow volunteers recently received one more note of appreciation when their efforts were recognized by the Canadian Senate.

Catholic Social Services (CSS) was awarded with the Senate 150th Anniversary Medal, minted to commemorate the first sitting of Parliament’s upper chamber in 1867.

It is given to Canadians who make their communities a better place, said Alberta Senator Betty Unger, who presented the medal to a number of organizations at a May 14th ceremony at Government House in Edmonton.

“Albertans embody the spirit of volunteering,” said Unger during the ceremony.

Troy Davies

CEO Troy Davies accepted on behalf of the agency’s 673 volunteers, who last year gave 44,684 hours to various social programs run by CSS.

“We wouldn’t be able to do everything that we do unless it was for our volunteers,” said Davies.

“The number of hours that (volunteers) contribute and the various services that they’re involved with are extraordinary. We have a couple of ministries in our programs that are almost strictly volunteer-run.”

*Founded in 1961 by Monsignor William Irwin, CSS provides more than 100 services for new immigrants, low-income families, people struggling with addictions, and others throughout central Alberta. A park is named after Irwin in the lot south of École/Escuela Grandin School.

“We’re attempting to serve and meet the needs of vulnerable Albertans and provide them with supports, care and a sense of hope,” said Davies.

Boyd first started volunteering after she retired at 65. She joined the Host program, a mentoring program for new immigrants, and still remains close to some of the families she’s helped.

“It was very rewarding for me, because I was meeting new Canadians,” said Boyd. She continues to volunteer with the Welcome Home program, offering companionship to formerly homeless families and individuals as they settle into new homes and communities.

Bea Salmon has also volunteered with Catholic Social Services since retiring in 1994. She helps with the annual Sign of Hope fundraising campaign and hand-writes thank-you letters to donors. Sign of Hope raised approximately $2.4 million in 2017.
Her Catholic faith plays an important part in her volunteer service.

“Like the Lord says, ‘I was hungry and you fed me, I needed clothes and you clothed me,’ ” said Salmon.

“It’s like that’s my purpose, and I’m just trying to follow what Jesus said, what Jesus asked of us.”

The spirit of volunteerism is part of what makes Canada a great country, said Davies.

“We’re a stronger country and a stronger province, and a stronger community because of the invaluable services that volunteers bring and provide — purely from a generosity of spirit — and it’s nice to see that recognized.”

*Editorial note: An earlier version of this article stated that CSS was founded by the Archdiocese of Edmonton. It has been updated to reflect the priest who founded it, Monsignor William Irwin.

Tags:

award Catholic Social Services medal Senate Troy Davies volunteer

Recent Posts

  • Archdiocesan News

    Stories from the Papal Visit
    August 4, 2022

    Share your story! A Papal Visit is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most Catholics. We have heard many stories and unique…

    Continue Reading

  • Archdiocesan News

    Speeches and Homilies of Pope Francis during his visit to Canada
    July 29, 2022

    His Holiness, Pope Francis, completed his apostolic journey to Canada from July 23rd – July 29th, 2022. On this “pilgrimage…

    Continue Reading

  • Archdiocesan News

    Rolheiser: Why is there something instead of nothing?
    July 27, 2022

    The Belgian theologian Jan Walgrave, who directed my doctoral thesis, was a true intellectual and a rare one. True, in…

    Continue Reading

  • Archdiocesan News

    Ermineskin Cree Nation releases info for Maskwacis Papal Visit July 25th
    July 23, 2022

    

    Continue Reading

  • Archdiocesan News

    World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly – July 24
    July 23, 2022

    Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 24 July 2022 "In…

    Continue Reading

Pastoral & Administration Offices
8421 101 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T6A 0L1
Phone: 780-469-1010
Toll-free: 1-844-469-1010
Privacy Information
Terms of Use
2022 Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton