Jean Henderson awarded Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers [Video]

An Edmonton woman has been recognized for her dedication to helping others over the past 45 years.

Jean Henderson was presented with the Governor General of Canada Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers during a special ceremony on Wednesday.

“If you’re in it for the accolades then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons,” Jean said. “You do it because you want to do it and you have to love it,” she added.

“She rarely says no when she’s asked to help out,” said her daughter Barb Henderson. “She’s so humble that she doesn’t think she’s doing anything out of the ordinary.”

Jean has volunteered with countless organizations, groups, and charities over the past four decades. From KDays, various sporting events, rodeos, Habitat for Humanity, the Alberta SPCA and dozens more.

A few years after losing their son in 1978, Jean and her husband Doug began rallying for a children’s hospital to …