Actors have the Oscars. Writers and scientists have the Nobel Prize. And VoicePrint has the Regional Volunteer Ambassador Program.
It's not a contest, but an opportunity for VoicePrint volunteers, staff and listeners to celebrate and recognize the good work of our entire corps of 800+ volunteer readers.

More information on our New Regional Volunteer Ambassador Campaign

Meet our 2008 Regional Volunteer Ambassadors 

The following Volunteer readers will represent their respective regions at an award ceremony on Friday, September 18, 2008 at Toronto.

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of our Volunteer readers for their hard work and dedication. We're proud to honour you and your representatives at this year's Staff Conference.

Introducing VoicePrint's Central Regional Volunteer Ambassador

Amy Foulkes

Volunteers once a week on Wednesdays (generally)

Shows: Eastern Regional Report

How long with VoicePrint:  4 years

Hear an audio clip of Amy (mp3)

Amy Foulkes started her Volunteer service with VoicePrint while living in Halifax, and continued serving as a Volunteer reader when she moved back to her hometown of Ottawa. Amy is a trained journalist and one half of the duo that records the program Eastern Regional Report on Wednesday's. Her weekly reading partner, Ross Cleary, was proud to nominate Amy for Regional Ambassador because of her commitment to VoicePrint and her talent behind the mic. Members of the selection committee noted that Amy will make an excellent Ambassador because of her "pleasant voice" and the fact that she is "professional, engaging and truly sounds interested" in what she is reading.

Amy worked with CBC in the past as a producer with the radio science program ‘Quirks and Quark'.  She now works with the federal government.

Introducing VoicePrint's Pacific Regional Volunteer Ambassador

Howard Greaves                                              

Volunteers once a week on Tuesdays

Shows: BC Profile (fills in elsewhere as well)

How long with VoicePrint:  2 years

Hear an audio clip of Howard (mp3)

Howard is described by our Vancouver Volunteer Coordinator as being very thorough and articulate.  His readings exhibit a unique sense of style and flare.  This can be attributed to his well-timed pauses which add meaning and create an interest for the story.

Why does Howard make a great Volunteer ambassador?

He goes above and beyond the expectations of a regular Volunteer.  Howard always ensures that he brings VoicePrint pamphlets to conferences and presents a positive image for VoicePrint.  In the past two years, he has requested hundreds of VoicePrint pamphlets for conferences and outreach events on at least 6 or 7 occasions.  He is impressively diligent in spreading the word about VoicePrint thus serving as a true ambassador.

Background:

Howard is very involved with the educational field.  Before emigrating to Canada in 1965, Howard worked with the London University Bookshop and Penguin Books in London.  He then worked for the Classics bookstore chain in Montreal, Quebec City, St. John, and New Brunswick before moving back into publishing in Toronto. He was then transferred to Vancouver in 1970.  After editing a very large primary school social-studies project in conjunction with the BC Ministry of Education, he became an independent sales representative for several firms including Oxford University Press and Macmillan of Canada.

Between 1980 and 1984 he chaired the committee of the Friends (fundraisers) of the Vancouver Public Library and in 1984 took over the chairmanship of the Alcuin Society (alcuinsociety.com) which is dedicated to the love of the physical aspects of the book and runs the annual Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada. The Society's most recent publication was "Duthie's Bookmarks" which celebrated fifty years of that stores' remarkable artistic bookmarks.

In 2005 his company, Portal Press, published "Your Magical Brain" for teachers to apply recent knowledge of the brain in their classrooms.  In 2008, Howard will publish "Brain Wellness", a book which will be of much interest to the many who are now looking for ways to prevent brain deterioration.

Outside of VoicePrint, Howard also records books for UBC's Crane Library.

Introducing VoicePrint's Atlantic Regional Volunteer Ambassador

Charles Hsuen

Volunteers once a week on Mondays

Shows: Atlantic Life

How long with VoicePrint:  2 years

Hear an audio clip of Charles (mp3)

The Atlantic office has been fortunate to have Charles Hsuen on board as an active Volunteer since 2006. In addition to his unfaltering commitment to quality programming, Charles has enthusiastically embraced numerous outreach events.  During the course of this past year, he has conducted remote interviews, emceed and was an auctioneer for one of VoicePrint's community partners, Ride for Sight.  While his professionalism and experience are quite valuable, the sheer joy and enthusiasm Charles projects makes it a pleasure to work with him. He has been instrumental in relationship building, raising awareness and advocating on behalf of VoicePrint.  Charles epitomizes true ambassadorship.

Charles's interests extend to all forms of entertainment media.  Following his graduation from Ryerson's Television and Radio program in 1998, he has worked behind and in front of audio visual formats including radio, video and still photography.  Specializations in the study of vintage television, film and radio have been an interest of his for 25 years.  He has been collecting and researching jazz music for 20 years.  His radio programs have been presented in various mediums for 17 years.  The "Community Swing Project" was a 22-piece jazz band Charles organized for charitable concerts.  He enjoys playing jazz clarinet, alto saxophone, singing, dancing, performing and pantomime. As well, Charles is also a historian and was an advocate in City Hall for the Toronto Transit Commission. 

Introducing VoicePrint's National Office Regional Volunteer Ambassador

James Murdoch

Volunteers once a week on Wednesdays

Shows: GTA Report

How long with VoicePrint:  3 years

Hear an audio clip of James (mp3)

James is a Volunteer reader for the Toronto LBC, usually reading and self-teching the GTA report. He is a fine example of an exemplary reader because of his smooth on-air presentation and his willingness to jump in to cover for anyone.  VoicePrint had a crisis in Halifax which required someone to come in very early in the morning to record some programming.  As reliable as he is, James just had to be briefed about the situation and immediately volunteered to help.  If asked to research and pull his own articles while his Coordinator was on holidays, again James took control of the situation and obtained his articles without any assistance.

Additionally, he will go in to the community to carry the spirit of VoicePrint.  A prime example is when he was front and centre at the VoicePrint booth at the People In Motion event in June and at Thornhill Days in September 2007.  He is quick to step forward to go to outreach events and not only speak positively of VoicePrint and its talented bank of readers, but also speaks with great passion as to what we do.

Introducing VoicePrint's Prairie Regional Volunteer Ambassador

Jonathan and Marlene Dean

Volunteer once a week on Tuesdays

Shows: Producer "Stone Soup Anthology" program

How long with VoicePrint:  14-15 months

Jonathan and Marlene read news articles and are also the Volunteer producers of the innovative "Stone Soup Anthology" program, showcasing writers from Lethbridge and southern Alberta, and posted on the Lethbridge Local Broadcast Centre.

The Deans are exceptional ambassadors as they were among the first Volunteers to join VoicePrint in Lethbridge and have been active Volunteers ever since.  They also helped create The Stone Soup anthology, showcasing writers from Lethbridge and southern Alberta.  Marlene and Jonathan actively seek submissions from new writers' groups for this.  In addition, the Deans have joined Lethbridge Coordinator Bob Short in speaking with local groups about VoicePrint.  They take every opportunity to promote the service through the other Volunteer efforts they undertake in the community.

Other Volunteer commitments include service with Meals on Wheels, The Lethbridge Naturalists, and The Canadian Federation of University Women.

Jonathan's biography:

Jonathan Dean is a retired teacher who taught band and choral music for over 30 years.  Born in England he moved to Canada in 1968.  He enjoys playing the piano, writing stories, collecting stamps and walking with his sheepdog, Morley.  He started Volunteering for Voiceprint in 2007 when it first started in Lethbridge.

Marlene's biography:

Marlene Dean has lived in Alberta since 1970.  A teacher, she has taught in the public school system and at the University of Lethbridge.  She has also been a freelance writer.  Her work has appeared in the Lethbridge Herald and literary journals.  Marlene began Volunteering for Voiceprint when it opened in Lethbridge in 2007.

2007 Volunteers Awards