MANNVILLE, AB December 12, 2011—Volunteers are the backbone of communities and the benefits of their dedication can be found across the Vegreville-Wainwright constituency. It is important, according to Vegreville-Wainwright MP Leon Benoit, to once again recognize the efforts of those who give so generously of their time.

“As I walk down Main Streets and visit recreation centres across the Vegreville-Wainwright constituency I see the difference volunteers make in our communities every day. Without the efforts of volunteers many small towns and organizations simply wouldn’t exist,” said Benoit.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I invite everyone to join me in thanking our volunteers for making our community stronger and more vibrant.”

The Government of Canada values the dedication of the millions of Canadians who give so generously of their time and recognized their efforts recently on International Volunteer Day. Volunteerism is important to Canada and to the vitality of the not-for-profit sector, which relies heavily on volunteers. The value of volunteer work in Canada is estimated to be around $14 billion.

In January 2011, the Government announced the creation of the Prime Minister’s Volunteer Awards. The awards were created to recognize the exceptional contributions of volunteers and organizations working to improve the well-being of families and communities.

For more information on the Prime Minister’s Volunteer Awards, please visit www.pm.gc.ca/awards.