If you've ever hung out at the Whitehorse Curling Club (WCC), or any event associated with it, chances are you've seen Suzanne Bertrand.

Bertrand, a volunteer with both the WCC and Yukon Curling Association, works countless hours to help organize events and promote the sport of curling within the territory, especially at the junior level.

This week, she was honoured nationally for her efforts, as the Canadian Curling Association bestowed Bertrand with their Volunteer of the Year Award. She was chosen from dozens of nominees from across Canada.

'She is an amazing woman,' said Derek Charlton, the current general manager of WCC, who nominated Bertrand. 'We work together a lot and I'm very thankful for her, because I know my job would be a hell of a lot harder without that woman.'

The following is the letter Charlton submitted to CCA, outlining the history behind Bertrand's volunteer efforts and his reasons for nominating her.

'Suzanne joined the board of directors of the Whitehorse Curling Club in 2004/05, as the junior curling co-ordinator. As the board found itself short of volunteers, Bertrand also agreed to act as secretary until another candidate was found a position she still holds to this day. She came to the board during a complete change in volunteers from previous years. The board of directors was completely new, the club was heading into a new direction, and the volunteers that had worked on the junior program in the past had burned out' and needed a break. This did not hold Suzanne back.

'Suzanne is a retired school teacher who got involved with curling when her son (local curler Chad Cowan) and daughter were young and were getting involved in a new sport. Suzanne took her experience and put it to good work. She continued her work with the Rocker program on Saturday mornings, co-ordinated a junior league on Tuesday evenings, and each and every day hosted school kids that came to the club to try curling for the first time. There would hardly be a day that you would not find Suzanne at the club, working with the junior curlers and encouraging their development.

'But she did not stop there. Revenues from our Monday night bingos are our single biggest fundraiser and source of funding. When the volunteer co-ordinator decided that they needed a break, Suzanne immediately stepped into the role, in addition to everything else she was already doing.

'Suzanne co-ordinated six volunteers for each and every Monday night, as well as attending the bingos to ensure that they were operating properly and that her volunteers were present and accounted for.

'In addition, Suzanne also assisted with no less than four bonspiels, and stepped forward to be the volunteer and entertainment co-ordinator for the 2006 National Mixed Curling Championships that were recently held in Whitehorse.

'This is all on top of what got her involved with curling in the first place. Her kids. Suzanne continues to coach (Cowan's) competitive curling team, as well as working with kids that have gone to the Arctic Winter Games and the Canada Winter Games. She also assists the Yukon Curling Association by acting as their technical co-ordinator.

In addition to everything else that she does, she has now completed her Level 3 coaching certificate and is assisting the development of other coaches around the Yukon. Suzanne deserves this award.'

Charlton estimated Bertrand averages 35-45 hours a week a full time job� as a volunteer with the curling club.

'She just loves curling.'

The CCA will pay for Bertrand to fly to the Tim Horton's Brier next month, to receive her award. She'll be joined at the Brier by WCC head ice technician Doug Gee.

Gee has been selected as one of the team members for the ice crew at the Brier, which will be held in Regina, Sask., which is a huge honour. In past years, Gee has been invited to be part of the Scott Tournament of Hearts ice making team, when it was held in Red Deer, and of course, he was head ice maker during the national mixed, when it was held in Whitehorse.

Curling teams from across the country were amazed by the quality of ice at the WCC and repeatedly complimented Gee on it.

Before Gee heads to the Brier, he will be preparing the ice for this weekend's High Country Inn Rendezvous Mixed Bonspiel, which will be held at the WCC.