MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
FRTA VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Joyce Barton
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I’ m going to keep volunteering as long as I’ m breathing.
”
Illustration by Kim Hyunh
Joyce Barton lives in High River and has been a member of the Foothills Retired Teachers’ Association( FRTA) since she retired. If you try calling Joyce, she likely won’ t answer— she’ ll be out volunteering!
More than just a way to keep busy in retirement, Joyce looks at volunteering as a way to help build her community.“ After I retired, I just saw the need. High River is a relatively small community, and everyone needs volunteers to keep things running,” she says.
If there’ s a community event, you’ re likely to see Joyce there. She has served on the board of Sheppard Family Park and cares for their flowerpots in between big events like Heritage Day festivities and the annual Threshing Bee. Elsewhere in the community, Joyce can be seen at
Remembrance Day and Christmas celebrations, gathering charitable donations, and volunteering for her church, including visiting house-bound parishioners.
During the school year, you can also find her helping students and teachers in the library at Spitzee Elementary School.“ Volunteering has caused me to love my community even more, if that’ s possible,” she says.“ I get to know my neighbours, and they get to know me.”
Joyce faces life’ s challenges with a positive attitude, choosing to be happy and grateful.“ I’ m going to keep volunteering as long as I’ m breathing,” Joyce laughs.“ I’ m so grateful for the people who have stood by me during difficult times in my life, and I want to be there for everyone else in the same way.”
WINTER 2025 | 11