Having won the Coach of the Year, Athlete of the Year, Volunteer of the Year in Canada award, local volunteer and archery club promoter Rene Schaub was still shocked when he found out Lac La Biche County employees nominated him for a provincial award.
One of only four winners in Alberta, Schaub took home the Energize Recreation Volunteer Award given out by Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation officials at a special banquet on October 23.
“I feel like I don’t deserve all of this,” said Schaub, who is the only volunteer to be given the provincial award for archery and only the second Lac La Biche-based winner of the award.
Schaub has dedicated 13 years with the Lakeland Archers, and many credit him for bringing the archery club from 12 members to the more than 140 last year, with this year’s members expected to be higher.
Volunteering his time with the archery club is also what landed Schaub in ninth spot out of 194 for the UFA Small Town Heroes contest. The contest recognized volunteers from across the province, Saskatchewan and British Columbia for their efforts. The local volunteer had one of the highest number of votes, with almost 8,400 from people supporting his online bid.
“I had a ton of support and wherever I go around town, people tell me, ‘We voted for you.’ It was great to see the community get behind me,” said Schaub.
The archer said he even received a personalized letter from country music singer Paul Brandt, who will be performing a concert for the winner of the Small Town Heroes contest. He may not have won a concert for the community, but Schaub says he is still lucky.
“Volunteering with kids means everything to me and I always love to do it,” he said.
