It’s volunteer appreciation week and local community members were recognized for their contributions, including at Interior Health’s annual volunteer lunch at the Oliver Community Centre on Monday.
Among the attendees was Diana MacDonald, a volunteer with St. Johns Ambulance who is working as a therapy dog evaluator with a new program coming to the communities of Oliver and Osoyoos.
MacDonald’s interest in therapy dogs was inspired by someone she met on a cruise around the British Isles who “knew everything there was to know” about therapy dogs.
“By the time I came home I was convinced that’s what I wanted to do. Two weeks later someone gave me a standard poodle. I didn’t have a choice.”
The program, which sends teams of dogs and their owners around them community, including to Sunnybank Centre, McKinney Place and South Okanagan General Hospital, has been in the works since the beginning of the year.
Volunteers started their evaluations in January and two weeks ago the certifications started rolling in.
“I love it,” MacDonald said. “I do the evaluating for the teams and I get to play with all the dogs that come in. It’s just wonderful.”
So far, the program has seven teams working in the community, and another 10 on a waitlist, waiting to be evaluated.
MacDonald says she loves working with dogs, but even more with people.
“The bottom line is being of service to others,” she said.
Her favourite part of the program is having someone tell her they don’t like dogs, but then change their mind once they actually meet the dog.
“They’ll look up and say ‘what’s its name,’ and then we’re there for the next hour.”
All throughout the week, volunteers in Oliver were recognized for their service, including at the Town’s annual Spirit of Oliver Awards and my local MLA Linda Larson.
