Each year at PADS we gather to celebrate our people and our community. We truly appreciate the sacrifice AND gifts that come from leading a life of service. The sacrifice comes by way of time, energy and resources and generally speaking, it can take you away from things that one sometimes might rather be doing. But our hope for each of our volunteers is that the gifts far outweigh the sacrifice. You tend to say that you love PADS, you love our community, you love the dogs, you love learning and you love being part of such an extraordinary mission.

This page is a collection of the Volunteer Award Winners from 2019 onwards. Please join us in celebrating their accomplishments!

Covid Heroes

The 2020 -2021 year has been an undeniably challenging one – for all of us at PADS. It also has meant that new volunteer roles had to be developed on the fly to support new ways of doing business – many of these individuals took on increased workloads related to COVID-19 and some provided specialized expertise or skills that we’ve never needed before. To each of them we are grateful!

30 Stories for 30 Years – Rebekah

30 Stories for 30 Years – Rebekah

PADS has been the best thing that has happened to me and my family. It has given me a soul-mate that has added a new dimension to my life, and I am eternally grateful to the organization, the training staff, the puppy raisers, the volunteers and the extended family of supporters for all they have done.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Carol

30 Stories for 30 Years – Carol

Early in 2016 my husband and I lost our most beloved dog to cancer. He was a beautiful border collie named Ernie and he was the love of our lives. As anyone who has had to say goodbye to a cherished pet will know, we were heartbroken and bereft. After moping around the house for a few months we decided to take our sad selves off to Mexico for a change of scenery. There, we met a couple from Calgary who told us all about the puppies they raised for this amazing charity called PADS!

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anne

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anne

My life as a vice- principal and teacher of students with special needs is hectic. I worried that raising a puppy would be problematic. My test was to do a 2 month trial with Amber ll from the yellow litter and see how it went. Without question, a puppy at school works! Enter Peony, a golden retriever puppy from the Bush Litter who joined our staff January 2016.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anonymous

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anonymous

A few years ago, I was off work for an extended period of time and was fighting my way back to mental health. The most challenging part of the process was leaving the house. What would motivate me? Dogs. Volunteering at the Advanced Kennels was perfect for me.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mac

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mac

What nobody realized yet, was that Mac had already made his choice. He bonded with that volunteer and made it clear over the months of advanced training, that he had chosen her as his person. He did well in class and moved forward in the program, but he was a different, happier dog when the volunteer came to the yellow compound.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Lee

30 Stories for 30 Years – Lee

We were so excited and hoped to get a sweet, little 8-week-old yellow lab only to arrive and be presented with a large gangly 6 month old pup named Santini. I must admit, we were both slightly disappointed as we had been dreaming about puppy breath. Within a week, we realized we had hit the jackpot as Santini knew almost every command in the manual PADS had provided to us. In puppy class, Santini was a rock star and always made us look amazing.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Monica

30 Stories for 30 Years – Monica

I went for an orientation and in the Spring of 2009 I began working Sunday afternoon in the kennel. I remember being there on the first Father’s Day after loosing my father. There I was, sitting on the floor of the Advanced Kennel with Poppy, now working at Canuck Place, with her head on my lap. It helped ease the pain at the loss of my father.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mintenkos

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mintenkos

A basket of golden retriever puppies on the cover of the Burnaby Now in January 1999 caught Bob’s eye. PADS was looking for puppy raisers for their newest litter (the S litter) – Sarge, Seymour, Strider, Sully, Sadie, Sage, and Sydney. So, we decided to become involved and in late March we got the call that our “baby” had arrived, a chocolate lab named Milhouse.

Meet Sunny

Meet Sunny

We're thrilled to introduce you to our newest puppy AND our newest Veterinary Partner! Meet PADS Puppy-in-Training Sunny as well as Caitlin, Dr Schenk and Alisha at Sunridge Vet Clinic in Vernon. Sunridge is generously supporting the veterinary care of our growing...

30 Stories for 30 Years – Liz

30 Stories for 30 Years – Liz

I started co-raising PADS Cadence in February 2016, I think it was. Since I have been involved in PADS, I have met fantastic new people, participated in new experiences, and watched so many people smile because of the puppy at my side.

Volunteers of the year

Each year this award is presented to a volunteer in each region who has shown remarkable commitment to PADS and our organization’s mission.
30 Stories for 30 Years – Rebekah

30 Stories for 30 Years – Rebekah

PADS has been the best thing that has happened to me and my family. It has given me a soul-mate that has added a new dimension to my life, and I am eternally grateful to the organization, the training staff, the puppy raisers, the volunteers and the extended family of supporters for all they have done.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Carol

30 Stories for 30 Years – Carol

Early in 2016 my husband and I lost our most beloved dog to cancer. He was a beautiful border collie named Ernie and he was the love of our lives. As anyone who has had to say goodbye to a cherished pet will know, we were heartbroken and bereft. After moping around the house for a few months we decided to take our sad selves off to Mexico for a change of scenery. There, we met a couple from Calgary who told us all about the puppies they raised for this amazing charity called PADS!

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anne

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anne

My life as a vice- principal and teacher of students with special needs is hectic. I worried that raising a puppy would be problematic. My test was to do a 2 month trial with Amber ll from the yellow litter and see how it went. Without question, a puppy at school works! Enter Peony, a golden retriever puppy from the Bush Litter who joined our staff January 2016.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anonymous

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anonymous

A few years ago, I was off work for an extended period of time and was fighting my way back to mental health. The most challenging part of the process was leaving the house. What would motivate me? Dogs. Volunteering at the Advanced Kennels was perfect for me.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mac

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mac

What nobody realized yet, was that Mac had already made his choice. He bonded with that volunteer and made it clear over the months of advanced training, that he had chosen her as his person. He did well in class and moved forward in the program, but he was a different, happier dog when the volunteer came to the yellow compound.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Lee

30 Stories for 30 Years – Lee

We were so excited and hoped to get a sweet, little 8-week-old yellow lab only to arrive and be presented with a large gangly 6 month old pup named Santini. I must admit, we were both slightly disappointed as we had been dreaming about puppy breath. Within a week, we realized we had hit the jackpot as Santini knew almost every command in the manual PADS had provided to us. In puppy class, Santini was a rock star and always made us look amazing.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Monica

30 Stories for 30 Years – Monica

I went for an orientation and in the Spring of 2009 I began working Sunday afternoon in the kennel. I remember being there on the first Father’s Day after loosing my father. There I was, sitting on the floor of the Advanced Kennel with Poppy, now working at Canuck Place, with her head on my lap. It helped ease the pain at the loss of my father.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mintenkos

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mintenkos

A basket of golden retriever puppies on the cover of the Burnaby Now in January 1999 caught Bob’s eye. PADS was looking for puppy raisers for their newest litter (the S litter) – Sarge, Seymour, Strider, Sully, Sadie, Sage, and Sydney. So, we decided to become involved and in late March we got the call that our “baby” had arrived, a chocolate lab named Milhouse.

Meet Sunny

Meet Sunny

We're thrilled to introduce you to our newest puppy AND our newest Veterinary Partner! Meet PADS Puppy-in-Training Sunny as well as Caitlin, Dr Schenk and Alisha at Sunridge Vet Clinic in Vernon. Sunridge is generously supporting the veterinary care of our growing...

30 Stories for 30 Years – Liz

30 Stories for 30 Years – Liz

I started co-raising PADS Cadence in February 2016, I think it was. Since I have been involved in PADS, I have met fantastic new people, participated in new experiences, and watched so many people smile because of the puppy at my side.

Spirit of PADS award

This award is awarded to  volunteers that demonstrate extraordinary commitment to PADS and our community in their efforts to support PADS mission and vision and is  awarded each year to one or more volunteers (or household).  

30 Stories for 30 Years – Rebekah

30 Stories for 30 Years – Rebekah

PADS has been the best thing that has happened to me and my family. It has given me a soul-mate that has added a new dimension to my life, and I am eternally grateful to the organization, the training staff, the puppy raisers, the volunteers and the extended family of supporters for all they have done.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Carol

30 Stories for 30 Years – Carol

Early in 2016 my husband and I lost our most beloved dog to cancer. He was a beautiful border collie named Ernie and he was the love of our lives. As anyone who has had to say goodbye to a cherished pet will know, we were heartbroken and bereft. After moping around the house for a few months we decided to take our sad selves off to Mexico for a change of scenery. There, we met a couple from Calgary who told us all about the puppies they raised for this amazing charity called PADS!

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anne

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anne

My life as a vice- principal and teacher of students with special needs is hectic. I worried that raising a puppy would be problematic. My test was to do a 2 month trial with Amber ll from the yellow litter and see how it went. Without question, a puppy at school works! Enter Peony, a golden retriever puppy from the Bush Litter who joined our staff January 2016.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anonymous

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anonymous

A few years ago, I was off work for an extended period of time and was fighting my way back to mental health. The most challenging part of the process was leaving the house. What would motivate me? Dogs. Volunteering at the Advanced Kennels was perfect for me.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mac

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mac

What nobody realized yet, was that Mac had already made his choice. He bonded with that volunteer and made it clear over the months of advanced training, that he had chosen her as his person. He did well in class and moved forward in the program, but he was a different, happier dog when the volunteer came to the yellow compound.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Lee

30 Stories for 30 Years – Lee

We were so excited and hoped to get a sweet, little 8-week-old yellow lab only to arrive and be presented with a large gangly 6 month old pup named Santini. I must admit, we were both slightly disappointed as we had been dreaming about puppy breath. Within a week, we realized we had hit the jackpot as Santini knew almost every command in the manual PADS had provided to us. In puppy class, Santini was a rock star and always made us look amazing.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Monica

30 Stories for 30 Years – Monica

I went for an orientation and in the Spring of 2009 I began working Sunday afternoon in the kennel. I remember being there on the first Father’s Day after loosing my father. There I was, sitting on the floor of the Advanced Kennel with Poppy, now working at Canuck Place, with her head on my lap. It helped ease the pain at the loss of my father.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mintenkos

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mintenkos

A basket of golden retriever puppies on the cover of the Burnaby Now in January 1999 caught Bob’s eye. PADS was looking for puppy raisers for their newest litter (the S litter) – Sarge, Seymour, Strider, Sully, Sadie, Sage, and Sydney. So, we decided to become involved and in late March we got the call that our “baby” had arrived, a chocolate lab named Milhouse.

Meet Sunny

Meet Sunny

We're thrilled to introduce you to our newest puppy AND our newest Veterinary Partner! Meet PADS Puppy-in-Training Sunny as well as Caitlin, Dr Schenk and Alisha at Sunridge Vet Clinic in Vernon. Sunridge is generously supporting the veterinary care of our growing...

30 Stories for 30 Years – Liz

30 Stories for 30 Years – Liz

I started co-raising PADS Cadence in February 2016, I think it was. Since I have been involved in PADS, I have met fantastic new people, participated in new experiences, and watched so many people smile because of the puppy at my side.

Verne Trevoy award

Verne Trevoy was a Calgary volunteer, a PADS client, and an extraordinary gentleman.  With his partner, PADS Service Dog Charlie, at his side, was the heart and soul of the Calgary program. Verne was single handedly responsible for recruiting countless volunteers, donors and even staff to our cause with his gentle, yet passionate, dedication.  

This award is presented to a Calgary volunteer (or household) when there is a recipient who exemplifies Verne’s passion and dedication.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Rebekah

30 Stories for 30 Years – Rebekah

PADS has been the best thing that has happened to me and my family. It has given me a soul-mate that has added a new dimension to my life, and I am eternally grateful to the organization, the training staff, the puppy raisers, the volunteers and the extended family of supporters for all they have done.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Carol

30 Stories for 30 Years – Carol

Early in 2016 my husband and I lost our most beloved dog to cancer. He was a beautiful border collie named Ernie and he was the love of our lives. As anyone who has had to say goodbye to a cherished pet will know, we were heartbroken and bereft. After moping around the house for a few months we decided to take our sad selves off to Mexico for a change of scenery. There, we met a couple from Calgary who told us all about the puppies they raised for this amazing charity called PADS!

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anne

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anne

My life as a vice- principal and teacher of students with special needs is hectic. I worried that raising a puppy would be problematic. My test was to do a 2 month trial with Amber ll from the yellow litter and see how it went. Without question, a puppy at school works! Enter Peony, a golden retriever puppy from the Bush Litter who joined our staff January 2016.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anonymous

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anonymous

A few years ago, I was off work for an extended period of time and was fighting my way back to mental health. The most challenging part of the process was leaving the house. What would motivate me? Dogs. Volunteering at the Advanced Kennels was perfect for me.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mac

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mac

What nobody realized yet, was that Mac had already made his choice. He bonded with that volunteer and made it clear over the months of advanced training, that he had chosen her as his person. He did well in class and moved forward in the program, but he was a different, happier dog when the volunteer came to the yellow compound.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Lee

30 Stories for 30 Years – Lee

We were so excited and hoped to get a sweet, little 8-week-old yellow lab only to arrive and be presented with a large gangly 6 month old pup named Santini. I must admit, we were both slightly disappointed as we had been dreaming about puppy breath. Within a week, we realized we had hit the jackpot as Santini knew almost every command in the manual PADS had provided to us. In puppy class, Santini was a rock star and always made us look amazing.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Monica

30 Stories for 30 Years – Monica

I went for an orientation and in the Spring of 2009 I began working Sunday afternoon in the kennel. I remember being there on the first Father’s Day after loosing my father. There I was, sitting on the floor of the Advanced Kennel with Poppy, now working at Canuck Place, with her head on my lap. It helped ease the pain at the loss of my father.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mintenkos

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mintenkos

A basket of golden retriever puppies on the cover of the Burnaby Now in January 1999 caught Bob’s eye. PADS was looking for puppy raisers for their newest litter (the S litter) – Sarge, Seymour, Strider, Sully, Sadie, Sage, and Sydney. So, we decided to become involved and in late March we got the call that our “baby” had arrived, a chocolate lab named Milhouse.

Meet Sunny

Meet Sunny

We're thrilled to introduce you to our newest puppy AND our newest Veterinary Partner! Meet PADS Puppy-in-Training Sunny as well as Caitlin, Dr Schenk and Alisha at Sunridge Vet Clinic in Vernon. Sunridge is generously supporting the veterinary care of our growing...

30 Stories for 30 Years – Liz

30 Stories for 30 Years – Liz

I started co-raising PADS Cadence in February 2016, I think it was. Since I have been involved in PADS, I have met fantastic new people, participated in new experiences, and watched so many people smile because of the puppy at my side.

Juanita Valentine award

 

The Juanita Valentine Award is named for this fiesty lady that spent a lifetime supporting PADS with ferocious tenacity, perseverance, and love. This award is now presented only when there is a recipient that reflects her remarkable spirit and commitment. May be presented to any volunteer (or household) in British Columbia.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Rebekah

30 Stories for 30 Years – Rebekah

PADS has been the best thing that has happened to me and my family. It has given me a soul-mate that has added a new dimension to my life, and I am eternally grateful to the organization, the training staff, the puppy raisers, the volunteers and the extended family of supporters for all they have done.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Carol

30 Stories for 30 Years – Carol

Early in 2016 my husband and I lost our most beloved dog to cancer. He was a beautiful border collie named Ernie and he was the love of our lives. As anyone who has had to say goodbye to a cherished pet will know, we were heartbroken and bereft. After moping around the house for a few months we decided to take our sad selves off to Mexico for a change of scenery. There, we met a couple from Calgary who told us all about the puppies they raised for this amazing charity called PADS!

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anne

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anne

My life as a vice- principal and teacher of students with special needs is hectic. I worried that raising a puppy would be problematic. My test was to do a 2 month trial with Amber ll from the yellow litter and see how it went. Without question, a puppy at school works! Enter Peony, a golden retriever puppy from the Bush Litter who joined our staff January 2016.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anonymous

30 Stories for 30 Years – Anonymous

A few years ago, I was off work for an extended period of time and was fighting my way back to mental health. The most challenging part of the process was leaving the house. What would motivate me? Dogs. Volunteering at the Advanced Kennels was perfect for me.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mac

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mac

What nobody realized yet, was that Mac had already made his choice. He bonded with that volunteer and made it clear over the months of advanced training, that he had chosen her as his person. He did well in class and moved forward in the program, but he was a different, happier dog when the volunteer came to the yellow compound.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Lee

30 Stories for 30 Years – Lee

We were so excited and hoped to get a sweet, little 8-week-old yellow lab only to arrive and be presented with a large gangly 6 month old pup named Santini. I must admit, we were both slightly disappointed as we had been dreaming about puppy breath. Within a week, we realized we had hit the jackpot as Santini knew almost every command in the manual PADS had provided to us. In puppy class, Santini was a rock star and always made us look amazing.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Monica

30 Stories for 30 Years – Monica

I went for an orientation and in the Spring of 2009 I began working Sunday afternoon in the kennel. I remember being there on the first Father’s Day after loosing my father. There I was, sitting on the floor of the Advanced Kennel with Poppy, now working at Canuck Place, with her head on my lap. It helped ease the pain at the loss of my father.

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mintenkos

30 Stories for 30 Years – Mintenkos

A basket of golden retriever puppies on the cover of the Burnaby Now in January 1999 caught Bob’s eye. PADS was looking for puppy raisers for their newest litter (the S litter) – Sarge, Seymour, Strider, Sully, Sadie, Sage, and Sydney. So, we decided to become involved and in late March we got the call that our “baby” had arrived, a chocolate lab named Milhouse.

Meet Sunny

Meet Sunny

We're thrilled to introduce you to our newest puppy AND our newest Veterinary Partner! Meet PADS Puppy-in-Training Sunny as well as Caitlin, Dr Schenk and Alisha at Sunridge Vet Clinic in Vernon. Sunridge is generously supporting the veterinary care of our growing...

30 Stories for 30 Years – Liz

30 Stories for 30 Years – Liz

I started co-raising PADS Cadence in February 2016, I think it was. Since I have been involved in PADS, I have met fantastic new people, participated in new experiences, and watched so many people smile because of the puppy at my side.