Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club coach named June Co-op community champion

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — June’s Co-op community champion is a ski coach at Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club and a former direct support worker at the Fort St. John Association for Community Living. 

Sarah Altena, June’s Co-op community Champion, said she was surprised to hear she was chosen as this month’s champion.

“I think it’s a nice way to appreciate [people],” she said. “I’ve nominated people in the past, and some of those people have won, so I didn’t expect to have a turn myself.” 

Altena has been coaching at the Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club for the past five years. She had also served on the board of directors for four years before stepping down. 

Altena described what she has enjoyed most about working with the ski club.

“I coach the bunnies, so they are four and five years old,” she said. 

“The best thing about that age is just that they’re learning they can have fun outside in winter, and they’re learning to connect to other people…the club is really set up for families to be able to enjoy together,” Altena continued. 

According to Altena, the club hosts “special family day events,” which give kids a way to pass the time in the winter and allow families an affordable way to spend time together. 

“I’ve met some of the nicest people in Fort St. John on the trails at the ski club,” Altena said. 

The ski club hosts an annual cross-country skiing race, also known as a loppet, that invites skiers from Fort Nelson, Dawson Creek and Grande Prairie to participate. 

“We’ve got the lodge, and we have the co-op community barbecue….we’ll put out meals and have this big communal race and have local sponsors for prizes,” said Altena. 

In a nomination message, Altena is described as “the most selfless person I have ever met,” and someone who “speaks for those who can’t speak for themselves and advocates for those [who] can’t.” 

Altena previously worked for the Fort St. John Association for Community Living (FSJACL) for seven years. 

“I’ve gained a lot of knowledge about how the system works and how people can go about asking for what they need in a language that you know the government bodies will understand,” she said. “So I’ve been able to support people to do that.” 

During her time with FSJACL, Altena took on several roles.

“I did everything from direct support to supervising,” she said. “Part of that was group homes, part of it was a day program, part of it was a home share living program.”

Altena also did work with a non-profit senior center in the city. 

“I was somebody’s community sponsor at Abbey Field House…just to make sure he was getting the kind of care and support that he needed,” she said. 

Altena encouraged people to build the community they want to see. 

“We have to get up, and we have to volunteer, we have to help, we have to make this community what we want it to be,” explained Altena. 

As part of her nomination, Altena will receive a Co-op gift card valued at up to $100, in addition to being featured in an article on Energeticcity.ca. 

If you know someone who deserves recognition for their community work, visit the nomination page.