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!
Verne & Charlie
"When I received Charlie’s leash from Director of Training, Ron Tymrick, I was at a low point in life. I was recovering from a devastating spinal injury and could not walk safely, nor pick up anything dropped. When I fell – which happened daily – I could not...
Jean
"On an ordinary morning in 1998, in the Vancouver Sun, there appeared a heart-catching article about a golden retriever named Brandy. This bundle of charm was at work in the office of his puppy raiser, learning the rules of office etiquette, on his way to becoming a...
Mary-Jo & Jolie
In 2004, while skiing in the pristine Kootenays, Mary-Jo encountered conditions that would change her life dramatically. After waking up completely paralyzed from the neck down, Mary-Jo knew she would need extraordinary faith, help, and courage. With the incredible...
Karen & Ranger
"Aardvark, inflation and guitar", three simple words Ron Tymrick, PADS Director of Client Services, asked me to remember during my interview with PADS over 11 years ago. These three words he told me he would ask me at anytime to see if I could recall them. Well Ron, I...
Georgina & Duncan
"It has been almost 6 years since I was teamed with Duncan, an enthusiastic black lab with a passion for retrieving objects of all shapes and sizes. Trained with funding from supporters, like you, it is with this extraordinary dog that I lead an “ordinary” life! I am...
Sarah & Leo
"I was born with Cerebral Palsy and I use an electric wheelchair to get around. Before Leo came along I would always get frustrated when dropping something, or trying to get through a doorway, or reaching an automatic button. With Leo I feel safe and secure when out...
Entrekin family & Sienna
"I can't thank PADS enough for allowing Sienna to join our family. As a single parent of three children, two of whom have special needs, having a VIP dog has been more than a blessing. Sienna joined our family last December, after being on the wait list for just...
Volunteers of the year
Verne & Charlie
"When I received Charlie’s leash from Director of Training, Ron Tymrick, I was at a low point in life. I was recovering from a devastating spinal injury and could not walk safely, nor pick up anything dropped. When I fell – which happened daily – I could not...
Jean
"On an ordinary morning in 1998, in the Vancouver Sun, there appeared a heart-catching article about a golden retriever named Brandy. This bundle of charm was at work in the office of his puppy raiser, learning the rules of office etiquette, on his way to becoming a...
Mary-Jo & Jolie
In 2004, while skiing in the pristine Kootenays, Mary-Jo encountered conditions that would change her life dramatically. After waking up completely paralyzed from the neck down, Mary-Jo knew she would need extraordinary faith, help, and courage. With the incredible...
Karen & Ranger
"Aardvark, inflation and guitar", three simple words Ron Tymrick, PADS Director of Client Services, asked me to remember during my interview with PADS over 11 years ago. These three words he told me he would ask me at anytime to see if I could recall them. Well Ron, I...
Georgina & Duncan
"It has been almost 6 years since I was teamed with Duncan, an enthusiastic black lab with a passion for retrieving objects of all shapes and sizes. Trained with funding from supporters, like you, it is with this extraordinary dog that I lead an “ordinary” life! I am...
Sarah & Leo
"I was born with Cerebral Palsy and I use an electric wheelchair to get around. Before Leo came along I would always get frustrated when dropping something, or trying to get through a doorway, or reaching an automatic button. With Leo I feel safe and secure when out...
Entrekin family & Sienna
"I can't thank PADS enough for allowing Sienna to join our family. As a single parent of three children, two of whom have special needs, having a VIP dog has been more than a blessing. Sienna joined our family last December, after being on the wait list for just...
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).
Verne & Charlie
"When I received Charlie’s leash from Director of Training, Ron Tymrick, I was at a low point in life. I was recovering from a devastating spinal injury and could not walk safely, nor pick up anything dropped. When I fell – which happened daily – I could not...
Jean
"On an ordinary morning in 1998, in the Vancouver Sun, there appeared a heart-catching article about a golden retriever named Brandy. This bundle of charm was at work in the office of his puppy raiser, learning the rules of office etiquette, on his way to becoming a...
Mary-Jo & Jolie
In 2004, while skiing in the pristine Kootenays, Mary-Jo encountered conditions that would change her life dramatically. After waking up completely paralyzed from the neck down, Mary-Jo knew she would need extraordinary faith, help, and courage. With the incredible...
Karen & Ranger
"Aardvark, inflation and guitar", three simple words Ron Tymrick, PADS Director of Client Services, asked me to remember during my interview with PADS over 11 years ago. These three words he told me he would ask me at anytime to see if I could recall them. Well Ron, I...
Georgina & Duncan
"It has been almost 6 years since I was teamed with Duncan, an enthusiastic black lab with a passion for retrieving objects of all shapes and sizes. Trained with funding from supporters, like you, it is with this extraordinary dog that I lead an “ordinary” life! I am...
Sarah & Leo
"I was born with Cerebral Palsy and I use an electric wheelchair to get around. Before Leo came along I would always get frustrated when dropping something, or trying to get through a doorway, or reaching an automatic button. With Leo I feel safe and secure when out...
Entrekin family & Sienna
"I can't thank PADS enough for allowing Sienna to join our family. As a single parent of three children, two of whom have special needs, having a VIP dog has been more than a blessing. Sienna joined our family last December, after being on the wait list for just...
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.
Verne & Charlie
"When I received Charlie’s leash from Director of Training, Ron Tymrick, I was at a low point in life. I was recovering from a devastating spinal injury and could not walk safely, nor pick up anything dropped. When I fell – which happened daily – I could not...
Jean
"On an ordinary morning in 1998, in the Vancouver Sun, there appeared a heart-catching article about a golden retriever named Brandy. This bundle of charm was at work in the office of his puppy raiser, learning the rules of office etiquette, on his way to becoming a...
Mary-Jo & Jolie
In 2004, while skiing in the pristine Kootenays, Mary-Jo encountered conditions that would change her life dramatically. After waking up completely paralyzed from the neck down, Mary-Jo knew she would need extraordinary faith, help, and courage. With the incredible...
Karen & Ranger
"Aardvark, inflation and guitar", three simple words Ron Tymrick, PADS Director of Client Services, asked me to remember during my interview with PADS over 11 years ago. These three words he told me he would ask me at anytime to see if I could recall them. Well Ron, I...
Georgina & Duncan
"It has been almost 6 years since I was teamed with Duncan, an enthusiastic black lab with a passion for retrieving objects of all shapes and sizes. Trained with funding from supporters, like you, it is with this extraordinary dog that I lead an “ordinary” life! I am...
Sarah & Leo
"I was born with Cerebral Palsy and I use an electric wheelchair to get around. Before Leo came along I would always get frustrated when dropping something, or trying to get through a doorway, or reaching an automatic button. With Leo I feel safe and secure when out...
Entrekin family & Sienna
"I can't thank PADS enough for allowing Sienna to join our family. As a single parent of three children, two of whom have special needs, having a VIP dog has been more than a blessing. Sienna joined our family last December, after being on the wait list for just...
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.
Verne & Charlie
"When I received Charlie’s leash from Director of Training, Ron Tymrick, I was at a low point in life. I was recovering from a devastating spinal injury and could not walk safely, nor pick up anything dropped. When I fell – which happened daily – I could not...
Jean
"On an ordinary morning in 1998, in the Vancouver Sun, there appeared a heart-catching article about a golden retriever named Brandy. This bundle of charm was at work in the office of his puppy raiser, learning the rules of office etiquette, on his way to becoming a...
Mary-Jo & Jolie
In 2004, while skiing in the pristine Kootenays, Mary-Jo encountered conditions that would change her life dramatically. After waking up completely paralyzed from the neck down, Mary-Jo knew she would need extraordinary faith, help, and courage. With the incredible...
Karen & Ranger
"Aardvark, inflation and guitar", three simple words Ron Tymrick, PADS Director of Client Services, asked me to remember during my interview with PADS over 11 years ago. These three words he told me he would ask me at anytime to see if I could recall them. Well Ron, I...
Georgina & Duncan
"It has been almost 6 years since I was teamed with Duncan, an enthusiastic black lab with a passion for retrieving objects of all shapes and sizes. Trained with funding from supporters, like you, it is with this extraordinary dog that I lead an “ordinary” life! I am...
Sarah & Leo
"I was born with Cerebral Palsy and I use an electric wheelchair to get around. Before Leo came along I would always get frustrated when dropping something, or trying to get through a doorway, or reaching an automatic button. With Leo I feel safe and secure when out...
Entrekin family & Sienna
"I can't thank PADS enough for allowing Sienna to join our family. As a single parent of three children, two of whom have special needs, having a VIP dog has been more than a blessing. Sienna joined our family last December, after being on the wait list for just...