What would Ladner look like without volunteers? It would probably be pretty boring, have no sense of community or belonging and would not be a very fun place to live.
Volunteers are the life-blood of communities and Ladner is no different.
The Ladner Business Association (LBA) presents a number of events and activities throughout the year for the community to enjoy.
The events are primarily free, made possible by the hard work and dedication of volunteers.
“I am continually amazed and in awe of the tireless energy of our community's volunteers at our various events throughout the year,” says LBA president Jill McKnight. “Thank you to the volunteers to make our community a home.”
Valerie Miller has volunteered with the Ladner Village Market for the past 10 years, the LBA Christmas Tree Lighting event the past five and is now an employee of Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust assisting with the popular Day at the Farm event in September.
She says she volunteers out of a love for the community.
“If I don’t participate and give back when I can, we won’t have the amazing events and the feeling that is Ladner,” says Miller. “All the events help give us a sense of community. I think I have volunteered for pretty much all of the events over the years. Whether it is putting up road barriers, handing out cookies at the tree lighting – if you love your community, you need to be involved with it.”
Miller is convinced that without volunteers, the LBA would never be able to host the many events it does.
“With our Day at the Farm event we basically rely on 60 to 70 volunteers to make that event happen and that is not an unusual number for such a large community event,” she says. “So many people benefit from the events that are put on. It gives people a sense of belonging to something.”
Connie Lucas is now five years retired as the owner of Ladner and Delta Travel.
She began volunteering almost 15 years ago for the LBA’s popular Quilt Walk and Classic Car Show. Since then she has also volunteered at the Easter parade and Breakfast with Santa.
She says helping out just makes her feel good.
“I love meeting people, giving back to the community and helping the community. I just enjoy it,” she says. “Since I retired I can give back a little more. Plus the connections that I made when I was a business owner, I still get to see a lot of those people out in the community, many of which have become friends.”
Carol Miles, owner of South Delta Heels, is a tremendous LBA volunteer. She has sat on the LBA executive, helped with the Easter parade, Tree Festival and Breakfast with Santa and has also volunteered with the Delta Hospital Foundation gala for several years.
Miles says when she and her husband moved to Ladner 15 years ago she never really felt like she had been part of a community living anywhere else.
“But after living in Ladner for 15 years, you feel you have an investment in this little town. Let’s say I volunteer for the tree lighting with the LBA, nobody in the future is going to necessarily remember me having volunteered, but the kids who came will remember the event and it makes me feel really good to know that I’m a part of something. No one volunteers to get his or her name in the paper or to get recognition. Volunteering is an investment in the people that live here.”
Miles says she and others volunteer because they truly love where they live.
“It’s part of being a part of the community. Fifty years when I’m dead and gone they will still be talking about the tree lighting festival and the kids and grandchildren will still be coming to that event. That’s what makes it special.”
