Alanna Thompson said she believes every person has gifts and abilities that can help make the world around them a better place to live.
It’s that philosophy that inspired a friend to nominate her for a Senate of Canada’s 150th Commemorative Medal — and Alberta Senator Betty Unger to choose to honour her volunteer work in Cochrane’s East End.
“There’s a lot of darkness in the world,” said Thompson, “and I believe the world can be a place of lightness and hope.”
Thompson is one of 14 Albertans to be recognized by Senator Unger and Lieut.-Gov. Lois Mitchell in a ceremony at Government House in Edmonton on Nov. 14.
The Senate of Canada’s 150th Commemorative Medal was created to celebrate the sesquicentennial anniversary of the first sitting of the Senate in November 1867 and “to recognize Canadians who – through generosity, dedication and volunteer work – make their hometown, community, region, province or territory a better place,” Unger said in a release.
Thompson is a wilderness first aid instructor and has lived in Cochrane for the last decade. In that time, she has participated in a variety of community-building efforts, like organizing clothing drives and back to school events, creating neighbourhood potluck suppers, hosting family Easter egg hunts and more.
Most recently, she put together a public Thanksgiving dinner for about 50 people.
She said the activities are her way to help foster a sense of community in the East End of Cochrane — an area with a vibrancy all its own.
“I think people in the East End are really community-minded … down to earth, diverse,” she said. “The East End is an awesome community.”
Thompson credits an active connection to her roots as an “expression of her faith” and said, while she is thrilled to be recognized in such a public way, it’s the efforts of all those who use their own talents and passions to make a difference that truly counts.
“I use my gifts and abilities to make the world better … I don’t consider what I do to be special,” she said. “Our town is filled with so many good people.”
