INNISFAIL - For the past 15 years Joan Miller had dedicated herself to volunteerism.
Last week she became Innisfail's most special volunteer. In fact, she is special for all of Alberta.
On Oct. 15 Miller was in Edmonton to officially receive the prestigious Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers from Alberta Lt.-Gov. Lois Mitchell. The medal is considered an official national honour, and the only one for volunteerism given by the Governor General of Canada.
The circular silver medal, designed to reflect the ideas of caring and generosity, recognizes the exceptional volunteer achievements of Canadians from across the country in a wide range of fields and pays tribute to the dedication and commitment of volunteers.
The Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers was unveiled in 2015 and replaced the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award created in 1995 by then-Governor General Roméo LeBlanc. The intent of the new medal was to build on the legacy and spirit of the Caring Canadian Award .
Miller, 76, was nominated for the new medal by longtime local legion member Doug Whorrall and former Alberta Lt.-Gov. Donald Ethell. However, Miller did not know that she would be a recipient of the award until about two months ago.
"I am really honoured they have chosen me for the volunteer work I have done and thought that was sufficient to be awarded this medal," she said.
Miller has actively volunteered in the community for most of the time since she arrived in Innisfail in 1999 with her husband Dale, who was a Royal Canadian Air Force veteran. Dale became involved with the local legion and Joan later joined him.
"My husband was always very civic minded and he was on town council for one term. He was always involved in the small towns we lived in," she said. "We just felt the legion is a worthwhile organization. They do a lot for the veterans and a lot for the community, especially the young people."
Following Dale's passing in 2015 Joan resumed Dale's work on the legion's executive. She is now the organization's 1st vice-president and in line to be the next president when the two-year executive terms end next month.
"Joan is very deserving of this award and I am glad to see that she got it. She not only volunteers with the legion but with other groups around town," said Danny Rieberger, the current chair of the legion. "Her family was a volunteer family. Joan is our upcoming president. She will be taking on a very big role as a volunteer, the biggest one in the legion community."
While Miller has made extraordinary volunteer contributions to the legion, her selfless commitment to volunteerism has been felt elsewhere in the community. She has volunteered 15 years for the Innisfail and District Historical Village and is currently the organization's secretary.
"I think it (village) is awesome. We have a president there who is very forward looking and is very history inclined and she's doing an awesome job for the village to build it up and become the best museum we can be for a small town," said Miller. "We are so fortunate that our museum isn't just one building with a lot of plaques and mementos. Our museum has all the various buildings and the stories behind them. It is a wonderful experience for somebody to walk through."
She is also a member of St. Mark's Anglican Church and has regularly assisted other congregation members by giving them rides to church and to medical appointments.
"If I am going anyway why can't I pick them up and take them?" said Miller, who conceded last week she was "humbled" with being honoured.
"There are so many other people who are so much more deserving, but if their name isn't put forward then nobody knows about it," she said.
