Outlook’s newest recipient of the Jim Kook Citizen of the Year award is someone who isn’t looking for any kind of spotlight. In fact, after the conclusion of our 20-minute chat inside her living room, Darlene Hovdestad only half-joked that “one or two sentences should be good” as far as the length of this profile article.
The problem is that when you give your time and effort along with the rest of Outlook’s dedicated volunteers, it’s difficult to sum things up in only a handful of words when the community decides to bestow such an honor.
Originally from Manitoba, Darlene has lived in Outlook more than 30 years, with a professional background as a teacher of English as well as a long career in nursing, particularly at the Pioneer Home in town.
As a long-time volunteer with others in Outlook, Hovdestad is noticeably modest and humble when speaking about being named the newest Citizen of the Year, and points to volunteerism in general as being something that helps drive the town.
“I’m a volunteer, like many people in Outlook are volunteers, which is one of the things that makes Outlook such a good place,” she said. “There is a lot of volunteer work that goes on. I didn’t really want to be singled out amongst all the people that are doing these things, and in what I do, I’m just one of a group. Volunteers don’t do it for the recognition, and I’m not a very public person to start with, haha!”
One of the things that occupies Darlene’s time is teaching the English language to those from other countries who have made Outlook home in the last couple of years.
“Right now, a good portion of my time is spent teaching English to newcomers to Outlook,” she said. “There are two very good hired teachers to do this in Outlook, and at present time I think there are ten volunteers, and I’m not even the leader of the volunteers. It’s been quite a group effort in doing this, and we just do whatever needs to be done.”
Another venture that Darlene’s volunteer group is involved in is crafting and collecting quilts to send overseas to refugee camps, and she credits Outlook as a community in helping to make these efforts such a success that wind up spreading happiness to a part of the world that may not see it enough.
“I think Outlook is kind of a special town by the things it does,” she said. “These quilts, Home Hardware takes them free from Outlook to Winnipeg, where they get packed up to go overseas and sent out. They get sent out all over the world. Sometimes I’m not so sure that people are aware of what goes on, such as Home Hardware doing that for us. That really helps us. As well, whenever there seems to be a tragedy, we see businesses putting on barbecues and events like that; it’s kind of amazing.”
Hovdestad’s efforts aren’t just limited to Outlook, as she has also traveled to Ethiopia numerous times, taking clothing that has been donated by local residents to give to those who needed it. Sometimes, it isn’t even clothing that makes the trip.
“Two years ago, when we went on a trip to Ethiopia, we were ready to go and then had a phone call from a lady with the soccer club,” she said. “She asked if we would take soccer uniforms and equipment to some children in Ethiopia, and we were delighted to do it. It wasn’t our idea, but we loved doing it because we were the ones who get the benefit of seeing how happy and thrilled they were! But I know of quite a few things that Outlook has done in the past, and there are just so many things that get supported here.”
When it comes to volunteers in her community, Darlene says we see it often, but perhaps the spotlight isn’t shone enough on others who deserve it. She credits the English class as being something that is truly satisfying to do.
“I think a lot of people do it in their own way, but it isn’t seen or recognized so much by others, so they’re all equally important,” she said on volunteerism. “As far as that English class goes, that is one of the most fun and satisfying things I’ve done, and I think all of the volunteers would say that. These people that are coming into town are just really neat people to know. If anything, it all just adds a wonderful dimension to life.”
Two years ago, the presence of a refugee family from Eritrea who was brought to Outlook in a joint effort between the Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the government helped build the foundation for what would become Outlook’s multicultural group, which seems to only be growing as time passes. That was also the catalyst to the English teaching that Darlene is a part of today.
“Because we had them, that’s how the English classes got started too,” she said. “The way the church organized that was by having a big committee and someone appointing others to teach them about finances or medical factors, and mine came to language. So we all had our duties.”
Hovdestad says it’s been great to see the idea of multiculturalism catching on in Outlook and seeing so many different backgrounds represented in the community, as it helps spotlight the town as a nurturer of those from other parts of the world who may not fit in elsewhere.
“That has been really good, and I think the idea has really been catching on,” she said. “Now we’ve got representation from town council on it, and it’s become very much a community thing. I think it’s good that they get into our community and become a part of us, and not just go into little groups. Someone once said at a meeting I was at that Outlook needs to keep going in this direction because there are other communities in Saskatchewan who don’t want these people to come and don’t want newcomers, and so if we get known as a welcoming community, we’re likely to get more, and it’s just the jobs that we need.”
Darlene says it’s the people of Outlook who help make it what it is by giving their time and support to things that need them most.
“I would say their willingness to support things,” she said, on the people who make up the community. “People are so willing to do whatever is necessary, it seems. I think people are just pretty generous and kind-hearted.”
Hovdestad and her husband Lorne intend to continue calling Outlook home into their later years, describing the town as a good place for people to help out and enjoy many activities.
“That’s a good question because I’m actually going to meet somebody next week that I haven’t even met because they’re new to town!” she laughed, on how she would describe Outlook to someone new to the area. “How would I describe Outlook? I think it’s a good place for older people. Not saying it’s not good for the young ones, but being an older person, I think it’s a good place for people to age here. There are activities and there are lots of volunteer opportunities; Meals on Wheels, the Pioneer Home, etc. So if someone wants to do things, there are things to do. I really do think it’s a very good place, and we have no desire to go anywhere else to retire or spend our later years. It’s home.”
Darlene Hovdestad will be honored as the 2017 Jim Kook Citizen of the Year along with the Youth, Business and Group of the Year recipients at the Community Appreciation Awards banquet on Wednesday night, April 18 at the Outlook Civic Centre.
