There are people out there whose commitment to helping others shines through in many ways.
Lacombe resident Norm Start is one of those dedicated people. The retired teacher, who for many years poured so much of himself into the education of local youngsters, has been recognized for another means of service from the Alberta Music Festival Association.
Since 2000, Start has been volunteering with the Lacombe Music Festival by helping to organize and manage facility usage around the city for the yearly event.
"My job is to set up the venues," he said, adding the team currently uses College Heights Church, St. Andrew's United Church, and the Lacombe Memorial Centre. For his efforts, he was nominated by the local committee for the Provincial Volunteer of the Year Award, which he received in Edmonton on Oct. 18.
It was back 2000 that he was approached about handling facility management for the festival.
"That's why I volunteered - because I believe in young people and I believe in community," he said.
As mentioned, Start worked as a teacher - from 1960 to 1995 - partly in Saskatchewan, partly in Bentley and for the bulk of that time in Lacombe. Along with the teaching, he coached on a regular basis as well - everything from hockey and baseball, to soccer and ringette.
"I always felt the students I coached worked harder for me in the classroom because they understood I was giving my time to them for their sports, too. So it was a good combination," he said. "And so when I got a chance to begin with the music festival, it was really a continuation of me working with youth."
Today, the festival offers musicians the opportunity to be adjudicated by a range of accomplished professionals.
"Whether it's about education in sports or in the arts - we all just want to improve," Start said. "It's fun for me to watch the improvement of young people within those three situations."
Start, who has also served as president of the Lacombe Music Festival for two terms, said another reason for his involvement is the strength of the committee.
"Everybody does their job well, and the prime purpose is to provide a really good festival for the kids," he said.
For Start, inspiration to volunteer was modelled early on by his folks.
"I've always thought that I wanted to do what my father did - and that was to be a 'common sense' person in a given situation, and to be a leader in the background," he said. "You also always need people to do various things.
"I also like sports, and I like music. I also just like to be involved," he added.
"There are also benefits (through service) as an educator. The kids get to know you better, and they get to know you outside of the classroom. And like I say, I always thought they worked harder for me in the classroom because they saw I was giving to their sports activities, too."
As for what sparked a passion for teaching, Start recalled teaching Vacation Bible School as a 16-year-old.
"I taught a class of 10-year-olds, and one of them was my younger brother! The principal in high school also directed me towards teaching. I love it. I love the interaction with the kids, and the opportunity to help them grow from grade to grade on a firm foundation," he explained.
For Judy Foulston, an adjudicator with the Lacombe and District Music Festival Committee, it was a joy to see Start nominated for the remarkable honour.
"He's always at venues early - shovelling sidewalks, making sure everything is ready, and looking after all the details. He's very committed," she said, adding the Start has always been very good-natured in his roles with the organization as well.
As president, she pointed to his kind and calm direction as well.
She also recalled how a past leader stepped away from the organization a couple of months before the annual festival.
"We were ready to cancel the whole thing. Then I called up Norm, and asked if there was any chance he would step in and help us. He did! He calmly settled things down, and got us through everything," she said. "He is calm, and he gets things done. He's confident, and assured."
He's also been a big help in other ways around the community, such as at St. Andrew's, she said.
"He just does things to help other people."
