Klinger Receives Award For Volunteerism At Highway To Heroes Car Show Appreciation Event
By Robert Thomas
Is it possible to keep a secret from a room of about 60 people until the last minute was answered on Wednesday evening as a completely surprised Starla Klinger was presented with the Lois Boyle Award. Boyle was the administrative assistant for the Colonel who started the Snowbirds and she is known as the “Mother Of The Snowbirds.”
The award is given to an individual who has demonstrated the ability to strengthen the bonds between Moose Jaw, inspire and encourage community service as well as exhibit extraordinary effort to overcome challenges and obstacles while making a contribution.
The award was presented to Klinger for her extensive volunteer service from the Friends of the Forces Fellowship as part of an appreciation dinner for sponsors and volunteers who helped out with the 2022 Highways To Heroes Car Show this past July.
“I was very surprised and I feel humbled and honoured. I wasn’t expecting it…surprised and when they list it out you don’t realize how much time you spend in your community until someone lists it out,” she said.
ACHIEVEMENTS LISTED - A surprised Starla Klinger listens as her achievements are listed as to why she was a deserving recipient of the Lois Boyle Award - MJ Independent photo
Klinger, was born in Moose Jaw, but grew up in Regina. She lives with her husband Padre Andrew Klinger at Bushell Park but has been stationed at other bases. Bushell Park is the name of the community where the housing units are at 15 Wing Moose Jaw.
“I think as a military family it is important to get to know the people in your community. And moving around so much we just get involved right away so we can meet the people and do fun things together,” she said.
Asked if it was a requirement for her as the Padre’s spouse to volunteer and meet the base employees she said it was not.
“No it is not required of me but I can certainly see the value in it.”
Klinger has a part-time job from home which she says allows her the “opportunity to work with the community.”
In presenting the award a list of Klinger’s extensive volunteer service while stationed in Moose Jaw was read out.
Her volunteering efforts included - curating the “Charming Dandelion” a library that runs at no cost to the community, hold a “bear hunt” as part of the 2021 grand opening, connecting holiday initiatives for veterans and serving military members, no-cost outings for family activities, helped the local legion celebrate Veterans week by providing special stickers, poppies and more, ran a Christmas Cards for Veterans campaign and secured funding to buy indigenous themed books to help break down the cultural divide by fostering healthy relationships with the local indigenous peoples.
“I didn’t realize it was that much. It was just spending time in the community and being together.”
Volunteering and helping others was part of her upbringing.
“I was raised to do what you can to invest in other people’s lives and be kind and generous,” she said.
Klinger said she still had lots of family in Moose Jaw and although not raised here her own Moose Jaw connection helps her to bridge between the city and the base.
“It definitely helps. My step dad is a member of the Legion so we have been able to build some relationships there and they come out to help out with events on the base,” she said.
Klinger said her major role is to help connect Moose Jaw with the base. An example is an upcoming event this November.
“We have an event coming up in November where we have the Moose Jaw Fire Department, EMS. A bunch of Moose Jaw organizations like the Moose Jaw Public Library they are coming out to be part of an event on the Base for the families.”
She said organizations coming out to events at the Base is very important.
“It is really important. We spend a lot of time and our resources in Moose Jaw. And our children go to school here. We shop and work in Moose Jaw so it is really essential we get to know each other well.”
Klinger said in closing she would like to thank the organizers for the event, the wonderful car shows and the many people and organizations to help make them a reality.
AWARD PRESENTED - Base Commander Colonel Jonathan Bouchard of 15 Wing (left) presents the Lois Boyle Award to Starla Klinger along with Roy LaBuick chairman of the Highway To Heroes Car Show - MJ Independent photo
Base Commander’s Remarks
Colonel Jonathan Bouchard stressed the importance of relationship between 15 Wing and Moose Jaw.
“Everything we do is about people. And everything we do is about building relationships,” Bouchard said, adding “when you are part of a community that lives only four or five kilometers from the main town we rely a lot upon the bigger centre to raise and educate our kids.”
“Our kids as part of the activities in the community like the riding stables that my daughter attends. And the school my kids attend as teenagers. So we are really proud to be part of this community called Moose Jaw.”
He further stressed the importance of building actual relationship between the Base and Moose Jaw.
“It is really, really important to continue to build that relationship and not be afraid to talk to people. Social media is something but there is nothing better than being in a room filled with people and looking at people’s eyes and discovering what is behind those eyes.”
Snowbirds Reunion
Bouchard made special mention about the upcoming 50th reunion of former members of the Snowbirds - the Canadian Armed Forces demonstration team located at the Base - happening October 20th to 23rd.
Cheques Issued
As part of the event there were two cheques awarded to groups who helped make the 2022 Highway To Heroes Car Show a success.
The first cheque of $1,000 was presented to representatives of the Moose Jaw Travel Club who provided between 15 and 20 students to assist with the Highway to Heroes Car Show in July.
A total of 54 Moose Jaw students as well as their parents will be visiting London, Paris, Rome and Venice over Easter 2023. Each traveler is responsible for raising $5,500 to cover the costs of the trip.
The group is also working at the Moose Jaw Events Centre (former Mosaic Place) cleaning up after hockey games.
TRAVEL DONATION - Roy LaBuick (left), chairman of the Highway To Heroes Car Show, presents a $1,000 cheque to two representatives of the Moose Jaw Travel Club. The funds will be used for a group of students and their parents to travel to Europe during the Easter break - MJ Independent photo
A second $1,000 was presented to the Moose Jaw Exhibition Association for allowing the car show to be held at the grounds.
The money will be directed to the Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Centre, located on the Exhibition Grounds, for the care of the owls.
OWL BUCKS - George Fowler (left) general manager of the Moose Jaw Exhibition Association accepts a cheque for $1,000 from Roy LaBuick chairman of the Highway To Heroes Car Show. The money is in appreciation for the Exhibition Association allowing the event to be held there and will be used for the upkeep of the burrowing owls at the Saskatchewan Burrowing Owls Center - MJ Independent photo
As part of the awards certificates of appreciation were also given out to all sponsors as well as volunteers who make the event happen.
The 2023 (7th) edition of the Highway to Heroes Car Show will be held at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds Saturday July 22, 2023.