The English Montreal School Board held its seventh Volunteer Appreciation Evening on April 30 at Le Baron Royal in St. Léonard. This year’s event was held during National Volunteer Week.
This year’s Volunteer of Distinction is Irene Berry, who has been volunteering at Westmount Park Elementary School for the past 20 years in various capacities.
“I love being at Westmount Park and being with the children. It’s like a second home to me,” said Ms. Berry, who recently turned 80. “The love I get from the children and the teachers in the school is incredible. It’s great to know that I’m appreciated by everyone.”
Time and space did not allow the EMSB to honour all of its nearly 1,700 volunteers in person. Therefore, only those individuals who have volunteered for more than five years attended the reception, representing some 500 people.
Dante Elementary School’s choir served as the musical guests. Global Television anchor Jamie Orchard and Luciano Pipia of CBC Radio returned as the emcees. This year’s main corporate sponsors for Volunteer Appreciation Evening are First Canadian Financial Services/TransAmerica, PBL Photography, Steve’s Music Store, Ristorante Sapore and Le Doral Hot Lunch Providers. Orchard interviewed Berry on the new Global weekend program Focus Montreal. That interview can be viewed in the video section of the EMSB website at
www.emsb.qc.ca.
Weather: Montreal, May 15th 2008 / 14°C
/ Light rain
/ Wind: 13 Km/h / Humidity: 88 % 
Steven Guilbeault - 
