Volunteer of the YEAR

The Alberta Powerlifting Union introduced the Volunteer of the Year award in 2018.  Created in memory of loved one of an APU member, the award is given to an individual who embodies the spirit of volunteerism of the sport and the community.  Our sport is built on volunteers and without these special people who give their time to our community, we would not be where we are today.  Volunteers are the backbone of our sport and without them, we would not have spotters, loaders, referees, score tables, and all the other positions required to run a meet.  It is these selfless individuals who give us the opportunity to showcase our hard work on meet day.

APU members can nominate members for the Volunteer of the Year award, with the APU Executive voting on the person to be awarded based on the following criteria:
  • Volunteerism within the Society
  • Number of events volunteered within the year
  • Individual's enthusiasm and development for the Society

2022: Byrin Wylie

2019:  Jeannie Jamison

2018: SANDRA DRAKE


​Byrin has been powerlifting for almost a decade and throughout his time, he has worn many hats. From athlete, coach and volunteer, Byrin can be seen at almost every meet in Alberta. No matter if he is competing or coaching, Byrin always finds a way to volunteer and give back to the meet.

Whether it's being platform manager, spotting and loading, or helping tear down the meet after a long day, Byrin's commitment to giving back to the APU community shines through. Without volunteers like Byrin, we cannot have meets for our athletes. He is so humble, kind, and always brings a positive attitude and smile to meet day.

​Byrin, thank you for being part of this community and bringing the spirit of volunteering to life on meet day. The APU is thankful to call you one of ours and we are grateful for all your hard work!
Each year, the APU receives nominations from members about who should be selected for our Volunteer of the Year award. This award is so special because volunteers are the heartbeat of our community. Without volunteers, we wouldn't have spotters, loaders, referees, or anyone else else needed to run a meet. These are the people who give us the opportunity to show off our hard work on the platform. This year's recipient is Jeannie Jamison

In addition to competing in the sport, Jeannie is also a dedicated volunteer who volunteers at countless meets. You will usually see her at the score table, helping out with setup and teardown, and also helping with any of the logistics needed to run a meet. In 2018, she spent her time in Calgary volunteering for both Nationals and Worlds for the entire duration of those competitions. Jeannie is truly one of the cornerstones of the volunteering community in the APU and our meets wouldn't be the same without her.

Thank you Jeannie for your dedication and hard work, and helping to make our meets happen for our athletes. We are very lucky to have you!
If you have been at an APU meet in the past few years, you know who Sandra is. She is a pillar in our community and over the years has taken on numerous roles and tackled some of the biggest jobs in our sport (including coordinating all the volunteers for 2018 CPU Nationals in Calgary which was one of the largest National Championships to date).  And most impressive of all, she always does it with a smile!  Whether it be making sure our meet volunteers are well-fed, sitting in the referee chair, running the score table, or giving you a hug when you're not having a great meet, Sandra is always there to make sure you have a great meet experience.  

Thank you Sandra for all your hard work!  Our community wouldn't be the same without you!