The founder of the Caribruisers Roller Derby Club was presented with this year’s Women With Heart Award.
Sunny Dyck was recognized for not only her love for roller derby but passionate volunteerism as well.
“Absolutely overwhelmed. This is an amazing honor, it really is,” Dyck said.
“I wouldn’t want to live in Williams Lake unless I could do the volunteering that I do. I have a great time doing it and it’s something that I wake up every day wanting to do and so I do it.”
The Women With Heart award is given annually by the Women’s Contact Society to a woman from the Williams Lake area who has made a significant contribution to the community and demonstrates the following attributes, values, qualities, and contributions:
- passion for their work, career, or volunteerism
- generosity of spirit
- positive impact on the community
- success
- leadership
- advocacy on behalf of those less fortunate than themselves
- raised public awareness of violence against women and girls
- raised public awareness of barriers faced by women and girls
“My son recently started roller derby but was having a hard time and wanting to quit. I explained this to Sunny and she said, “I deal with kids all the time, this why I do what I do. Every child starts somewhere and some are a tad more ready to go. I just to encourage him to keep on trying,” wrote Lisa Anderson who nominated Sunny for the award.
“It was relieving to hear this from her. It’s nice when someone acknowledges your struggles, or those of your child, and goes above and beyond to help.”
Sunny was also nominated by S’asha Mendez (Fuller).
“Sunny is not just any volunteer. She gives more to her community than she gives to herself,” she wrote.
A total of 4 women were nominated for the award that is now in its’ 8th year according to executive director of the Women’s Contact Society, Irene Willsie.
“The turnout is the right turnout because it’s the people who wanted to be here, and Sunny is a very vibrant person that gives of herself very generously. So that’s exactly who we wanted to recognize with the Women of Heart award,” says Willsie.
“It’s really special that our community has so many remarkable women.”
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