Aliant Pioneers recognized nationally and internationally in California
SAINT JOHN, NB, April 13 - - Volunteers tirelessly serve their
communities all year long and during National Volunteer Week April 15-21, we
take this one important week to celebrate and recognize all they do to make
our world a better place. The Aliant Pioneers, 8600 strong, deliver hundreds
of projects every year to the Atlantic region, and were recently recognized
for their contributions at the International TelecomPioneers Annual General
Meeting in Anaheim, California.
No stranger to winning great awards, the Aliant Pioneers this year
received eight international, 15 national and two individual top honours for
their great work on a diverse set of projects and programs. Part of their
recognition included the Chapter Excellence Award and Community Impact Award-
two of the organizations most prestigious honours that can be bestowed upon a
local chapter.
"The Aliant Pioneers represent about one per cent of the total
international TelecomPioneer volunteer organization of close to
620,000 members, yet this team continues to be recognized for its unique
community and signature programs and individual Pioneer performance," says
Sharon Duggan, Vice President Customer Experience, Bell Aliant and Chair,
TelecomPioneers of Canada Advisory Board. "We are very proud of the work they
do and thank all of them for their fantastic efforts in our communities."
The awards were presented to the Aliant Pioneer Volunteers in February at
the 80th International TelecomPioneers Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California.
"We want to recognize all of our employees, retirees, families and
friends who volunteer with the Aliant Pioneer Volunteers and all our employees
who do great things to make our communities better places to live and work.
Your hard work and dedication is very much appreciated and your efforts are
truly amazing," said Duggan.
Aliant and the Pioneers are celebrating National Volunteer Week with many
events being hosted throughout the Atlantic Region. Please visit
www.aliantpioneers.com for a complete calendar of events and join us as we
celebrate those who serve others.
(Please see backgrounder below describing the recent awards from
California)
About Bell Aliant
Bell Aliant (TSX: BA.UN) is one of North America's largest regional
communications providers. Through its operating entities it serves customers
in six Canadian provinces with innovative information, communication and
technology services including voice, data, Internet, video and value-added
business solutions. Through its xwave offices, Bell Aliant also provides IT
professional services in Canada and the US. Bell Aliant's 10,000 employees are
committed to deliver the highest quality of customer service, choice and
convenience. In Atlantic Canada, communications products and services are
delivered to customers through the Aliant brand.
About the Aliant Pioneer Volunteers
The Aliant Pioneer Volunteers are the largest corporate based volunteer
organization in Atlantic Canada. They work in virtually every community across
the region. The over 8,600 members are made up of current and former Aliant
employees and its predecessor companies. The Aliant Pioneer Volunteers' focus
on education and technology related projects within their communities.
Over the past nine decades, the Aliant Pioneer Volunteers, along with
their families, have assisted a wide variety of community service efforts.
These energetic and innovative volunteers often offer their support at a
moment's notice. In the past year alone, the Aliant Pioneer Volunteers raised
hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity and contributed close to
150,000 volunteer hours to community efforts in Atlantic Canada.
The work of the Aliant Pioneer Volunteers contributes to Aliant's overall
community investment program. In 2007, Aliant will invest $5 Million through
corporate donations, in-kind contributions, and sponsorships programs.
The Aliant Pioneer Volunteers are part of TelecomPioneers, the largest
industry-based volunteer organization in the world. The TelecomPioneers boast
nearly 620,000 men and women throughout Canada, the United States, and Mexico
who work together to make their communities better places in which to live and
work.
For more information, visit www.bell.aliant.ca. Media representatives are
encouraged to sign up for News Alerts.
Backgrounder:
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List of 2007 TelecomPioneer Awards from Anaheim, California
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International Category
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Chapter Excellence Award
------------------------
The Chapter Excellence Award was presented to Acadia Chapter 49 which
represents Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. This award is presented to
chapters most closely aligned with the strategy of TelecomPioneers and their
sponsoring companies. There were only six Chapter of Excellence Award winners
in the world.
Community Impact Award
----------------------
Two of the Aliant Chapters received the Community Impact award which is
based on long term service to the community. Of the four chapters in the world
to receive this prestigious award two were our own Aliant Chapters of
Newfoundland & Labrador and Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island.
Project Excellence Awards
-------------------------
These awards are given to Pioneer Chapters for their outstanding work on
community events. Our Chapters were honoured for five different projects and
activities on the international stage and these included:
<<
- 2006 Memorial Cup Transportation
This was presented to the Aliant Pioneers for their participation in
the 2006 Memorial Cup. The award emphasized their extraordinary
participation in planning and leading the transport committee during
the MasterCard Memorial Cup in Moncton, New Brunswick.
- Christmas Stocking Project
The Newfoundland & Labrador Aliant Pioneer Volunteers were recognized
for their outstanding multi year project that helped many
underprivileged people at Christmas by providing a Christmas stocking
full of gifts.
- Craft Room Treasures
The Newfoundland & Labrador Aliant Pioneer Volunteers were recognized
for their donations of thousands of hand crafted items to hospitals
and non profit organizations. This long term project involves many
volunteers and thousands of volunteer hours.
- Project Connect
Mollie Watts of Fredericton New Brunswick was recognized for her
extraordinary volunteerism to promote Project Connect. This new
project showcases the technology of our companies in the fun and
exciting series of on line games for grades three to nine.
- Acadia Chapter Bursary Fund
This bursary is awarded to hearing and visually impaired students
attending post secondary institutions in Nova Scotia and Prince
Edward Island. This decades old program received an international
foundation grant of close to $3000 to ensure it continues well into
the future.
Canadian Category
-----------------
Canadian Heart of Pioneering Awards
-----------------------------------
These awards are bestowed upon Chapters in recognition on their efforts of
signature Canadian Pioneer Projects.
- Each of the three Aliant Pioneer Chapters was recognized for their
outstanding contributions to the Computers for Schools program,
Hug-A-Bears and Heart Pillow programs.
- The Chapter representing Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island was
recognized for their outstanding participation in the I Like ME
personalized reader program.
- The Chapters representing Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and
Newfoundland & Labrador were recognized for their outstanding
participation in the Junior Achievement - Economics of Staying in
School Program.
Canadian Project Excellence Awards
----------------------------------
These awards are given to Pioneer Chapters for their outstanding work on
community events by the TelecomPioneers of Canada. Our Chapters were honoured
for three different projects.
- The Newfoundland & Labrador Aliant Pioneer Volunteers were recognized
with a Silver Award for their outstanding multi year project that
helped many underprivileged people at Christmas by providing a
Christmas stocking full of gifts.
- The Aliant Pioneer Volunteers tied for a Bronze Award for two
projects. One project involved the participation of hundreds of
volunteers who volunteer with the Lost Kids Project.
- The second Bronze Award went to the New Brunswick Chapter of the
Aliant Pioneer Volunteers for their incredible community involvement
with the schools in Northern New Brunswick. The Pioneer Help Line was
established a few years ago for teachers to request school supplies
and personal items for needy children in their area.
Individual Category:
--------------------
Molly Stacey - St John's Newfoundland and Labrador - retiree Pioneer.
------------
Molly has served the Aliant Pioneer organization in a variety of ways
for decades. She has held almost every executive position in the
Pioneer organization and since she retired four years ago, she
volunteers on average 20 hours per week! She is fully responsible for
Newfoundland & Labrador's most popular project called "Christmas
Stockings". She single handedly "encourages" hundreds of employees and
retirees to get involved to fill a stocking for the less fortunate
during the Christmas Season. In addition to this, Molly is the
provincial coordinator for the Pioneer program "I Like Me". In this
role, Molly organizes the distribution of thousands of personalized
readers to school children across the province.
Patricia O'Toole - Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia - retiree Pioneer.
----------------
Pat is a shining example of the Pioneer Spirit in action. Pat
volunteers more than 1000 hours per year and it is said that she can
make more personal contacts in one day than many CEO's! Pat has served
as President of the retiree Pioneers in Halifax Regional Municipality
for two years, and has encouraged the Pioneer members to get involved
by always coming up with new projects that encourage membership
participation. In her Pioneer roles, Pat has also been recognized by
the City of Halifax for her outstanding volunteerism, and has been
recognized by Parks Canada for her Pioneer leadership in the "Changing
of the Guard" project last summer that involved hundreds of Pioneer
members.
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