Laura volunteers from her heart; making a difference in the lives of others is her passion.
As part of volunteer recognition month; SEAPARC is proud to feature Laura Smith. Laura is a well known Sooke resident who has been happily married for 21 years and is a mother of four.
She volunteers twice a week for SEAPARC as a guide for our Community Walking Group, where she leads walkers on various trails around Sooke, giving advice and encouragement on the way.
Volunteering has been a part of Laura’s life since she was very young. She has always taken joy from helping others. She remembers doing lots of volunteer work for sporting groups and churches, as well as volunteer work at seniors’ homes and long term care hospitals.
Once she had children, she found herself volunteering at the schools at least twice a week and later volunteering for the sports they participated in. She speaks fondly of working with the Baptist Church for four years as a volunteer in their Rainbow Program.
SEAPARC manager Larry Hutchings gives credit to former program manager Lorraine Brewster for recruiting Laura in 2008 to lead a guided walking group.
“She has been one of our most enthusiastic, dedicated volunteers ever since, she is very well respected by our walking group participants and SEAPARC staff,” stated Hutchings.
Laura has been active all her life, has a passion for fitness and is a true humanitarian. Laura is inspirational and has a knack and a desire to motivate people.
She believes physical exercise builds healthy lifestyles and keeping active is key to long, happy lives. She finds the walking group very rewarding adding that walking is something most everyone can do. The trails they use have varying levels of intensity, so there is something for walkers of all fitness levels.
Laura takes great joy in getting people started on an exercise program and watching them progress. She loves making a difference in their lives and she does it well.
“Laura is adored by everyone in her program. She always goes above and beyond our expectations. SEAPARC and Sooke are lucky to have such a great leader in our community” says SEAPARC Recreation Program Assistant Darcy Smith