Regional Awards
December 4, 2012 - 2012 Provincial Community Leadership Award Winner
2012 PDD Northwest Region Spring Celebration and Awards Night Winners
2011 PDD Northwest Region Spring Celebration and Awards Night Winners
September 27, 2010 - 'Community ambassador' celebrates long service
2012 Provincial Community Leadership Award Winner
Community Disability Service Sector Leadership Award
Karla Sondrup — Grande Prairie
Karla Sondrup with PDD Northwest Board Chair Jane Manning (left) and Everett McDonald, MLA for Grande Prairie-Smoky (right)
Karla is a unit manager at the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit at Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Grande Prairie. She began working with the PDD program when a number of individuals with complex needs required hospitalization in order to be stabilized. Over the past few years, Karla's involvement with individuals with developmental disabilities has expanded and grown into a collaborative partnership with the PDD Northwest Community Board. Karla has gone above and beyond her role to work with PDD when individuals and service providers go into crisis. She encourages and welcomes service provider staff to come to the unit for training in the techniques developed and used on the unit. Recently, Karla has been involved at a provincial level in identifying gaps in service for the Northwest Region.
The Community Disability Service Sector Leadership Award recognizes a community service provider or individual that has demonstrated innovative practices that improve services for adults with developmental disabilities.
'Community ambassador' celebrates long service
MICHAEL SUTHERLAND-SHAW, HERALD-TRIBUNE STAFF
GPDH - Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune
September 27, 2010
Known by many as an ambassador for the city Grande Prairie, Doug Edey, 44, can now put another achievement on his wall of fame, 20 years of service with Freson Bros. IGA.
"Boy, it's exciting, fantastic. This is the longest job I've ever had," said Edey who has enjoyed his time with the company.
On Saturday, Edey was honoured with free cake and coffee at the Northside supermarket for all of his friends and family who have supported him during his time with the company.
"We wanted to celebrate Dougie's 20 years with us. He does a great job here, everyone in the town knows him, we're just celebrating," said store manager Cam Bowman who has worked with Edey for the last three years.
Edey who can usually be found leading the cheers at the local Storm junior hockey games, has also been an integral part of the community's role in assimilating persons with developmental disabilities into the workforce.
He adds that he's only reached half of his goal for helping people with special needs.
"Maybe I can make a book and help people with special needs to get into the regular workplace," said Edey.
In addition to the coffee and cake offered at the IGA on Saturday, the store was donating $1 to the Special Olympics for every filled Smart Shopper card brought into both the Northside and Southview operations.
"That's something Dougie's involved in and he feels strongly about, and we want to help support things that he's into," said Bowman who is happy to be involved in programs supporting persons with disabilities.
Bowman explains that at Freson Bros., "We're all big family here and we all enjoy working here, and its great to have long-term employees."
Edey's favourite part of working at IGA is meeting the people of Grande Prairie whom he was excited to spend time with on Saturday
Edey said if he's wanted, he could potentially stay with the company for another 20 years.
Modified: 2013-02-25
PID: 15239
