There鈥檚 no denying Alden Bradley has a big heart.
For the past decade, Bradley has spent his free time clocking in countless hours with Jasper鈥檚 Meals on Wheels program, visiting hospital patients, shoveling driveways, and driving seniors to their doctor appointments.
鈥淲hy not help people? I like helping the elderly people in town if they have to go to Hinton for medical reasons. I just want to help make people a little more comfortable,鈥� said the born-and-raised Jasperite. 鈥淚 grew up with a lot of these people and worked with and played sports with them so now that they鈥檙e older and starting to fail I like to help them with whatever I can.鈥�
Bradley was applauded for his community contributions on Oct. 26, after receiving the 2016 Minister鈥檚 Seniors Service Award, a provincial recognition for people who volunteer their time to make a difference in the lives of older adults.
鈥淭his is a very special award for me and I鈥檓 very honoured鈥擨鈥檝e never received an award like this before,鈥� Bradley said.
Award recipients are nominated by their peers and selected by Alberta鈥檚 seniors and housing minister Lori Sigurdson. This year Sigurdson received 63 nominations, but only eight were chosen.
鈥淓arlier this year I saw Mr. Bradley and thanked him for the generosity he had shown recently to a senior in our community. His response was 鈥榯hat鈥檚 what we are here for鈥攍ooking after seniors.鈥� It was shortly afterwards that I came across the nomination information for this award and knew without a doubt that this was the opportunity to recognize this man鈥檚 dedication,鈥� said Lindsay Winkler, a nurse at Seton-Jasper Healthcare Centre鈥檚 home care office.
鈥淭hrough my work I am actively involved in the lives of seniors and I see the positive difference that Mr. Bradley makes in their daily lives.鈥�
The healthcare centre鈥檚 manager, Lorna Chisholm, agreed with Winkler鈥檚 sentiments.
鈥淎lden is humble, gentle and generous. I think it is those qualities that make him an excellent recipient of this award,鈥� Chisholm said. 鈥淓veryone at the centre is very grateful for him.鈥�
Award recipients were honoured at a ceremony at Edmonton鈥檚 Government House at the end of September. However, Bradley was unable to make it due to previously planned volunteer engagements that he wasn鈥檛 willing to break. Instead MLA Eric Rosendahl came to Jasper, hand-delivering the award.
鈥淲hen people volunteer they make a commitment to their community and Alden really stood out with his commitment. Alden has put in countless hours helping out and that鈥檚 a huge commitment鈥攖hat鈥檚 why he got this award,鈥� Rosendahl said. 鈥淰olunteering is so important for helping communities thrive and Alden does a great job with that.鈥�
Winkler, Chisholm and a few other hospital staff joined Bradley as he accepted his award.
鈥淲e really appreciate everything he does,鈥� Winkler said.
Bradley said he will continue to remain active, volunteering with Jasper鈥檚 seniors.
鈥淚t just makes me feel good and I like helping people鈥擨 think that鈥檚 a pretty good reason to keep doing it,鈥� Bradley said.
Kayla Byrne
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