For someone whose life has revolved around volunteering, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that Shirley Armstrong is finally being recognized as this year’s Citizen of the Year.
Not so surprising was the way she reacted— like any humble person in her position.
“(When I found out), I thought, ‘Why me? I’m just an ordinary person doing what I do,’” she said. “I like being a volunteer though. I really enjoy it … so someone must have thought I did something good.”
Aside from her regular paid jobs, Armstrong has been involved in groups such as the Humboldt Vintage Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), the Little German Band, and the St. Andrew’s Anglican Church choir. In the past 10 years, she also acted as host for the Saskatchewan Winter Games. She was doing volunteer work like that while also maintaining a full time job.
“The world revolves around volunteers. By being a volunteer, you learn so much about the community; about where it’s going and what direction,” she said. “If it wasn’t for volunteers, we wouldn’t have a whole heck of a lot of anything.”
Armstrong grew up a farm north of Wadena and went to a little country school there. She graduated from the Wadena high school in 1971 and then wrote her public service exams at the legislative building in Regina. She continued to rise in public service until 1975, when she transferred to Saskatoon to work in social services. Three years later, she agreed to move to Humboldt and do contract work, which involved counseling adults and young offenders. At some point over the next 25 years or so, Armstrong got married and had kids. She eventually left social services and worked a few other jobs before ending up at Graphic Ad in 2000.
It was through this journey that she became heavily involved with her volunteering activities. As secretary for the Vintage Club and president of BBBS, these groups took much of her time, but it’s something she believes was necessary.
“A lot of people wondered how I could (volunteer) and do contract work, but the contract work was all after hours, so that’s how I could do it and keep a full-time job,” she said. “I think I grew up with that at home and going through school.”
Anyone who knows Armstrong probably knows that she’s about as honest and straightforward as they come. Part of that may have been influenced by her work in social services and even she says that it might have made her more judgmental because of it. Nevertheless, it has made her firm in her beliefs, one of which is that if you can’t or won’t volunteer, you don’t have any right to criticize the way things are done.
“Don’t be scared to take the next step and see what it’s all about. If you show a little bit of interest in an organization, take the next step and find out from people and you’ll have an idea what it’s all about,” she said. “You won’t know something until you try it and I think by just stepping up to the plate and trying it, you’ll know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing.”
As of late, Armstrong has been slowing down her volunteerism and has instead decided to focus more on her music. After teaching herself how to play the conga drums, she had been playing with a real percussion drum set while with the band. Now, Armstrong is teaching herself how to play the harmonica and will be going out with another lady to perform at events.
“I have kind of stepped down from the majority of it because I want to spend more time with music and the grandkids and the home life keeps you busy too. I want to spend time with my husband because he hasn’t been able to work for the last 10 years,” she said. “Volunteerism is really a part of my life, but there comes a time when you have to step down from that as well, otherwise you’ll never get to do the things you want to do.”
