Volunteers have long played an important role in the work of many organizations on The Island. Without them, some organizations would have to close their doors.
A prime example of the importance of volunteers can be seen in the work of the dedicated people who have committed their time and their energy to the restoration of the Glenaladale House and Estate.
As part of the restoration project, the old Glenaladale schoolhouse was also relocated to this property and restored as a Welcome and Events Centre. Under the direction of volunteers like Mary Gallant and Aggie-Rose Reddin, this historically significant property has been saved for generations to come.
The monumental task of raising the substantial amount of money required to purchase the property and to restore the grand old house has been described as one of the greatest achievements of a small volunteer group in the history of P.E.I. These same volunteers have been working diligently to tell the story of the Acadian and Indigenous presence on this property.
In the summer of 2022, Glenaladale celebrated the 250th anniversary of the arrival of Capt. John MacDonald and the Glenaladale Settlers with a summer-long list of events and celebrations. For these significant accomplishments, the volunteers of Glenaladale have been chosen to receive the Volunteer of the Year Award.