Northern Lights recipient – Shawna Serniak

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Location: Edmonton, Alberta

While the COVID-19 pandemic has sidelined many volunteers across the province, Edmonton’s Shawna Serniak has continued to step up for the community.

Recognizing that community organizations are still in need of donations of clothing and other essentials for those in need, Shawna has hit the road, picking up and delivering contributions to local charities for those unable to make the trip. It’s the kind of leadership Shawna demonstrates as Volunteer Coordinator with the Christmas Bureau of Edmonton, coordinating the thousands of volunteers who helped to make the holiday season brighter for those less fortunate. She is also impacting those same Edmontonians more directly – and for the past four years has volunteered with The Bag of Hope to help cook Christmas Dinners for the city’s homeless.

While inspiring others through her example, Shawna has also taken a more direct approach to encouraging other women through the Every Woman Empowered Facebook group by sharing the stories of motivational speakers, ranging from NHL greats to women who are shaking up the business world. This is in addition to her support of numerous events and campaigns aimed at helping others in the community.