Wes Sissons is a regular visitor to Riverview elementary school where he and wife Cheryl are active volunteers. With a granddaughter in the school, it was a decision the couple found easy.
However, Sissons has been a volunteer most of his life.
He admitted his childhood was rough and he always felt the need to help others.
As a West Fraser employee, Sissons became part of the company’s first aid competitive team.
And with those skills, he was a valuable member of Quesnel Highway Rescue.
“But it’s all about the team,” he said.
“And my wife has always been a big part of whatever I do, she makes me look good.”
Sissons said his wife had been volunteering before he started at the school.
“With a granddaughter in the school, we could see the need for volunteers and we responded,” he said.
What began as just helping out with the lunch program, has now become their program.
Cheryl plans the menus and does all the paperwork and Wes does a lot of the running around, cooking, cleanup and whatever else is needed.
Riverview principal Kathy Fowkes, in her support letter for his Volunteer Citizen of the Year nominations, described how vital a role the Sissons’ play in the school.
The couple are joint PAC presidents, work tirelessly on fundraising campaigns (the latest saw 30 laptops placed in the school as well as two additional Smartboards to enhance student learning), assist with the breakfast program, run the lunch program and generally volunteer to drive on field trips and any other need around the school.
“Riverview has many challenges but seeing the smiles on the children, they’re so honest in their appreciation,” Sissons said.
“We see the value and benefits of the programs in the school, and the school’s a better place for it.
“We’ve seen such improvements in students at the school, including our granddaughter with the new technology.”
He was quick to say they can’t take credit for all the improvements but Wes and Cheryl are proud to be part of the team and together they’ve accomplished a lot.
“Without the support of this community, residents and businesses and community organizations, our fundraising wouldn’t be the success it is,” he said.
“The Legion and the Salvation Army have adopted our school and help on an ongoing basis.”
Sissons admitted he was shocked to be nominated for Quesnel’s 2010 Volunteer Citizen of the Year.
“I didn’t think what we do was worthy of a nomination,” he said.
“We don’t do it for the recognition, we do it to help people, to fill a need.
“We give the students the tools they need and they do the rest. We fill their bellies and help the school acquire the technology students needs, that why I do it.”
