Dirk Bannister's bubbly personality is as sparkling as champagne. The 75-year-old Airdronian uses his spirited character to volunteer his time. In fact, he has been volunteering for the past five decades.
 
On Thursday, October 21st, Bannister was awarded the Alice Modin Award, as part of the Minister’s Seniors Service Awards.
 
 "I started volunteering when I was in high school. I guess somebody decided that that was a good idea that I should be rewarded for that," Bannister said. "We don't volunteer for the praise, but it's nice when somebody recognizes what you have done."
 
Bannister who is a retired airline employee could be enjoying a warm Florida breeze, kicking back and enjoying his golden years, but instead, he devotes his time to several organizations in Airdrie and Calgary. He's volunteered for women’s shelters, Kamp Kiwanis, and the Calgary Drop-in Centre. When asked which organization has left a lasting impact on him, Bannister said it's difficult to choose just one. 
 
"If I had to pick one, it would be the work that Community Links does in Airdrie and RockyView County," he said. " The social workers there - nobody gets rich with a degree in social work - they do it for for for the love of people, and the fact that they're giving to this community makes me very happy."
 
Bannister moved to Airdrie in 1975, and all though there have been times in his life where he moved away from the city, there was one thing that no other place had that Airdrie has.
 
"Every time we came back to Alberta, we came back to Airdrie, because it's just that kind of town."
 
Currently, Bannister is the Secretary of the North Rocky View Community Links, the Cochrane Kiwanis Club, as well as the Kiwanis Calgary Northmount Club. He also volunteers at Airdrie Community Links.
 
"I've always believed that volunteering in your community if you can, is so vital. We live in such a great country. We can volunteer in this country," Bannister said. "For me, it's like paying back the rent. I give back where I can."
And even though the day was dedicated to honouring Bannister and people like him, he didn't rest on his laurels.
 
"I've been busy doing some volunteer work right after the conference call this morning," he said.
 
When he does have time to himself Bannister enjoys playing chess and following sports.
 
"I watch an awful lot of Canadian football and my real passion is baseball," he said. "Baseball season is about to be over for the team that I cheer for (The Los Angeles Dodgers)."
 
When asked how he manages to keep such a positive and upbeat outlook, especially during a global pandemic, Bannister offered a simple answer.
 
"I've always felt that if you stay positive, it's much better than being negative and I know that's easy to say and it's very, very hard to do sometimes," Bannister said. "I have a very happy life."
 
The Alice Modin Award is named after Alice Modin, who, more than 30 years ago, campaigned for a seniors’ day in Strathcona County, and paved the way for the province-wide Seniors’ Week, which is celebrated to this day.
 
"I'm out there just doing what I can and when I can. It just keeps me going," Bannister said.
 
 
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