Heather Renaud, '77 BSc(HEc)

Heather Renaud, '77 BSc(HEc), is a dedicated volunteer and Alumni Ambassador with the Office of Alumni Relations. She has volunteered with the university since 1973 and appreciates connecting with students and alumni through Office of Alumni Relations-hosted events - from Open House to Alumni Weekend. Her passion for volunteering reflects a belief that it's part of a healthy life-work balance.

Tell us how you stay connected to campus through volunteerism.

Volunteering as an Alumni Ambassador has allowed me to stay connected to U of A students, alumni and to the overall campus life and activities. My favourite roles span the whole life of a student: from the start of their campus life by volunteering at Open House, to handing out snacks during exams at Unwind Your Mind, all the way to convocation and beyond with Alumni Weekend.

I also just started another role, as a U of A Health and Wellness volunteer helping to promote student health and well-being. I can use my 30-year professional experience as a registered dietitian to help students achieve a healthy life balance while on campus and beyond into their careers. I also stay connected to the campus atmosphere through the Edmonton Lifelong Learners Association and with the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences 100th anniversary celebrations.

Why do you think it's important for grads to volunteer their time?

I am so thankful for my University of Alberta degree in nutrition as it afforded me a 30-year career as a registered dietitian. It gave me all the knowledge, skills and experiences required to accomplish all my goals and led to a successful career. I realized it was time to give back through volunteering.

I believe graduates can share their knowledge, skills and experiences with students and alumni to help promote a work-life balance. They can help convert theory into practice for recent graduates and share their experiences on the value their education to their careers and the importance of giving back to the campus and community on a lifelong basis.

Do you volunteer for other organizations? Where?

I have volunteered for many decades as the area zone district captain and as a canvasser for both the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. It's a great opportunity to meet neighbours, fundraise for a healthy cause and share stories and experiences while connecting to the community.

What does volunteering mean to you?

Volunteering allows me to give back by mentoring and sharing my time, knowledge and experiences. I can hopefully have a positive influence on a student's journey through life. I am grateful for the opportunities that volunteering has afforded me and I believe that my life is richer for those experiences.

What impact has volunteering had on you? On others?

Volunteering has had a profound impact on my life. It has given me a feeling of accomplishment, self-worth and satisfaction that I have helped others.

I have instilled the value of education in my children, and both have gone on to complete U of A undergraduate and master's degrees in their fields of study. I always encouraged them to have outside passions and activities in sports, music and the arts. It has broadened their scope of education and experiences. I believe my life of volunteer experiences was shared, as I see my children now performing volunteer roles themselves.

What advice would you give to people looking to volunteer?

I would advise people to think about how their career experiences can help others. As alumni, we have accumulated a lifetime of skills and abilities that we can share with students to help them become more reliable and accountable people. No matter how busy you are, always make time to volunteer as you will make a difference to yourself and others.

Share a story or a memory from your time volunteering.

I always enjoy volunteering at the U of A Open House. The students and parents are so wide-eyed and overwhelmed trying to decide if university life is suited to them. I remember one girl who was in tears as she approached our booth. Her main concern was that she would have to give up all her outside activities in order to keep up her marks at university. She had a very high average so I talked to her about ways to balance her study, social and athletic life. I also shared the experiences of both my children who maintained high academic achievements but never gave up on their activities, passions or dreams. In fact, they believed that these were what got them through the stressful times on campus. I convinced her she would find time to do her activities as well as achieve her academic goals. I told her to surround herself with university friends as they will have similar stresses and they can all strive together to achieve the best school-life balance. She left with a big smile on her face, confident in what she could achieve, and I felt that I had pointed her in the right direction and helped to relieve her anxiety and convince her she would have a successful campus life.

On average, how many hours per month do you volunteer?

I have never really added up the hours volunteering. I believe it's the quality of time volunteering more than the amount of time that's most important.

Anything else you would like to add?

I believe if you volunteer on an ongoing basis, it will greatly enhance your life enjoyment. I have found everything you give to others, you receive many times over in return. Volunteer it forward!