April 2010

April 26, 2010

MHK employee amongst recipients of prestigious Citizen Awards

Each year, the Edmonton Police Commission, along with the Edmonton Police Service, recognize citizens who have demonstrated outstanding civic responsibility by assisting the police in preventing a crime, intervening in a crime in progress, apprehending an offender or coming to the aid of a victim. On April 23rd, 23 individuals who were nominated by police officers received their awards, including an employee of MHK Insurance, Pam Lecavalier. Pam earned this recognition due to her efforts in helping to save a man’s life last year.

In the late evening of January 30, 2009, a man was walking home to his apartment in the area of 114 Avenue and St. Albert Trail after finishing his shift as an ETS bus driver. He was approached and attacked by two males in an attempted personal robbery. After being knocked to the ground, the man received severe head injuries and was stabbed in the back before the attackers were scared away by witnesses, the first of which was Pam. Along with two fellow samaritans, Pam stayed with the man and provided comfort while tending to his injuries until paramedics arrived.

In attendance for these Citizen Awards were His Honour, the Honourable Norman Kwong, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Honourable Frank Oberle, Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security, Mayor Stephen Mandel, Commission Chair Brian Gibson and Police Chief Michael Boyd.

In addition to being recognized by the Edmonton Police Commission, MHK Insurance also presented Pam with the first ever MHK Humanitarian Award in 2009 for exemplifying the true character and spirit of this company – courage, caring, compassion, and community-mindedness.

April 26, 2010

Two employees receive the 2010 MHK Humanitarian Award

For the second year, MHK Insurance presented its Humanitarian Award, which serves to recognize the efforts of its employees in making a significant difference in the local and global communities. This year, there were two recipients—Judi Meindertsma and Mike Melnick. Judi is a commercial account manager who has been with MHK for nearly 15 years, whereas Mike has been with the company for just over three years as a commercial client executive. Here are the stories behind their awards.

On January 20, 2010, Judi joined 11 other members of Edmonton’s West End Christian Reformed Church to travel to southwestern Honduras on a mission to work in a few small villages, including El Naranjo. She spent 10 days working side by side with the local people, shoveling sand, carrying water, and making many steep treks in the mountain villages as part of her group’s efforts to build concrete platforms. The time spent in Honduras opened Judi’s eyes to the poor conditions so many people live in around the world, and made her all the more grateful for her own blessings. Judi truly proved that one person can make a difference.

On April 7, 2010, Mike was in the right place at the right time to help someone in need of medical attention. On his way back from meeting a colleague in downtown edmonton, he saw an elderly lady fall on the sidewalk face first and pass out. Her groceries were strewn everywhere and she laid motionless. Mike quickly pulled over, called 911, and stayed with the lady, holding her head stable until paramedics arrived. On a previous and separate occasion, Mike demonstrated his willingness to help someone in desperate need when he assisted a lady who had been hit by a bus one morning. He stayed until further help arrived. Mike has shown that his compassion for his fellow human being is beyond measure.