Northern Lights recipient – Kathy House

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Location: Edmonton, Alberta

So how can one ‘be prepared’ for a pandemic? It helps if you have someone like Kathy House as one of your Girl Guide leaders. With COVID-19 creating numerous challenges for Alberta non-profits, Kathy has been steadfast in her continued support for Edmonton-area Girl Guides. A District Commissioner herself, she regularly checks in with other area commissioners to offer assistance when needed. With COVID threatening to bring a halt to the annual cookie sale, a critical fundraiser for Girl Guides, Kathy stepped up to contribute her time and talents to help devise creative ways to sell and recollect cookies, relieving the stress of her fellow volunteers.

Kathy is continuing to make a difference in the lives of children in Edmonton and across the province. As one of the event’s early organizers, Kathy has seen the annual Simply Supper Helps Lemonade Stand Day, a popular fundraiser for the Stollery Children’s Hospital, grow from a handful of stands in Edmonton to more than 250 across the city in 2020. She continues to support Lemonade Day through her involvement with the Simply Supper Helps organizing committee.

With a passion for volunteering in support of children’s health, Kathy also joined the Stollery Women’s Network (SWN), a group of supporters from across the province working to ensure children are able to access the care they need when they need it. SWN is one of the organizations that has benefited from Kathy’s committed service to the community, as she has served as the past chair of the Earl Buxton Parent Council and has a long association with the Junior League of Edmonton.