Whenever Joan Donald heads out into the community she keeps one notion at the forefront.ìI have often been quoted as saying, ëYou can't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You have to be able to throw something back,'î she said.And the 76-year-old Donald has been doing precisely that in the Red Deer region for up to half a century. Giving back, and not asking for anything in return.But this summer a totally unexpected honour was thrown back to her. And in a very big way.Donald has been named one of 35 new Members of the Order of Canada. The official announcement was made late last month by Gov.-Gen. David Johnston that the longtime Red Deer County resident would receive the award that recognizes a lifetime of distinguished service to a community.ìIt was overwhelming,î said Donald when first told of the award in a confidential phone call about six weeks ago. ìAt first I said, ëYou've got to be kidding. Are you calling the right person?'ìI needed time to reflect. This is something I never expected,î added Joan. ìOver the years Jack (her husband) and I have won things but both of us have never done things for awards. It's never on our minds. But to think people here thought enough of us to write letters and that sort of thing for this (Order of Canada), it is simply overwhelming.îHowever, the fact is that Joan and Jack Donald, who together founded and built Parkland Fuel Corp. ñ the country's largest independent marketer and distributor of fuels ñ have not only given generously of themselves in the community through volunteerism, they have donated millions of dollars to a number of non-profit groups. This includes $3 million to Red Deer College in 2007 to establish the Donald School of Business. The Donalds also gave Red Deer's Westerner Park $1.5 million for a new administration building.In the meantime both have served as volunteers on scores of non-profit boards, including Joan's tireless efforts with STARS air ambulance where as chairperson for the Central Alberta district organization the necessary funds were raised to purchase two leased helicopters.ìWhen I see a need in the community I put my mind to it,î said Joan. ìI'm a bit of a dreamer, and I ask myself, ëIf we did this will it improve the community?'îWhen Joan puts that dream in motion she has a three-part criteria to make it happen. First, she establishes the need. Then she sets out to build an organization. And finally she finds the right team of people to realize the goal.ìI'm a people person. I can always attract people,î said Joan. ìPeople do trust me that I can get things done.ìI have surrounded myself with good people who have made me look good. It's the people I have managed to gather up that have really made the difference,î she added. ìAnd we have fun while doing it.îAs for the business side of things, she has left that to husband Jack, who will be inducted into the Calgary Business Hall of Fame on Oct. 19.ìWe have been a great team over the years. He's the business mind and I'm the people person. We complement each other. He has always been so supportive.îJoan will humbly go to Ottawa at an unspecified date early in 2012 to accept the award. In the meantime her volunteerism and philanthropy will continue, even while she and Jack, who is also 76, do their best to find time to take breaks and relax south of the border.She is currently on the sponsorship committee for the annual Festival of Trees in Red Deer. And her expertise in volunteering and leadership is constantly been sought.ìI am trying to slow down,î said Joan. ìBut I will probably be a volunteer for as long as I see there is a need.î
