Frances Clark has spent more than six decades volunteering in Richmond. That’s right. Six decades. Among her many achievements and tireless efforts she was instrumental in helping establish the Richmond Centre for Disability, Caring Place and the Richmond Therapeutic Equestrian Society. Last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper commended her for her hard work.
Clark was the national lifelong achievement recipient of the Prime Minister’s Volunteer Awards, an award created in 2011 to recognize individual volunteers. There is just one recipient each year in the lifelong achievement category.
“Volunteering is something you don’t do alone. You may lead and push to achieve a goal but it’s always done with others to make it happen. No one volunteer can take credit for everything,” said a humble Clark.
As she explains, at times volunteering can take a lot from someone.
“Sometimes you’re asked to help out and the next thing you know you’re up to your eyeballs,” quipped Clark.
But while the work may be hard and often comes with little recognition the long-time Richmond resident said she has always enjoyed planning events and working with people. She said the outcome of community work — seeing people being helped — is always the best prize, although she’s not saying it wasn’t nice to receive a framed certificate and $10,000 from the Prime Minister. The money comes in the form of a grant and will be donated to RCD.
“It kind of confirms what you’ve done has been worthwhile,” said Clark.
Born with brittle-bone disease, Clark, now 78 and in need of a wheelchair, started volunteering in her late teens as a means of participating in the community since during that time she was often excluded from society (she wasn’t allowed to attend public school because of her disability).
“I was not a party person, I loved meetings and being involved in organizing things. I basically enjoyed that it was challenging to me. Because I was never expected to get anywhere in life you have a different perspective on things,” explained Clark.
She became a passionate dog lover and worked with non-profit animal organizations. She turned that love into founding the Western Federation of Individuals and Dog Organizations (FIDO), which sought to establish responsible pet ownership guidelines. In the 1970s she helped eliminate no-pet policies in BC social housing units. Her love of animals led her to establish a kennel on No. 5 Road, where she worked for 24 years to pay the bills.
Clark was also an instrumental member of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce.
She said one of her more instrumental achievements was in 1994 when she helped establish Caring Place, which now houses 22 non-profit groups.
“That one I knew I made a difference because I didn’t quit,” said Clark.
She said Richmond is a great community for volunteering, noting it’s not a given in most communities that such a robust partnership exists between citizens, organizations and their respective city hall.
Clark said one of the toughest parts of volunteering is occasionally seeing organizations, and sometimes people, spar between one another for limited resources and recognition. But more often than not, volunteering brings out the best in people, Clark said.
The Richmond Centre for Disability helped 27,000 individuals in 2013.
Last year 13.3 million Canadians volunteered their time in some capacity. The federal government estimates that volunteering contributes $50 billion a year to the economy.
