Norm McLeod Awards

Muriel Rieger: Winner, Community Champion Award

Community Champion Provides Scholarships that Make a Difference
by Andrea Collins

A special award was created this year for a very special lady. Muriel Rieger of Camrose was nominated in the Dreamweaver category of the 2004 Norm McLeod Awards, but didn’t quite fit the criteria. She wasn’t a parent, worker, volunteer or advocate in the disability community, yet her contribution certainly supports the dreams of individuals and the concept of community inclusion. And so, at age 92, Muriel Rieger became a recipient of a Community Champion Award.

The path to the award began 15 years when Muriel established a scholarship fund for people with developmental disabilities to pursue their education. Recipients have used the money to attend courses at Augustana University College, Red Deer College, Gardner Bible College and other educational facilities. Other have used it to take driver education courses, purchase books, pay for tuition and living expenses, purchase adaptive aids and computer equipment, and take self-defense training.

However, the seed that grew into this legacy from a generous senior citizen was sown 80 years before when as a young woman, Muriel worked two summers at Alberta Hospital Ponoka. “I’ll never forget it or get over it,” she says. “I remember one patient looking out of the window and telling me, ‘Do you see those people out there? We’re in here to be protected from them.’ Perhaps there was more truth than fallacy in that. So many of them were left there by families who never came to see them again. They totally deserted them. It was unreal.”

Muriel smiles when she sees how different it is for the individuals she helps through her scholarship fund. She hears back from many of the scholarship recipients and meets others at the restaurants where they work. “They’re living a very different life – they’re given a chance now.”

Muriel is also a keen supporter of the Camrose Association for Community Living (CACL), who nominated her for the award. As they said, ‘Muriel has no vested interest and wants no recognition. She just wants to make a difference,” said Esther McDonald of CACL. Every organization needs a Muriel Rieger. We count our luck stars that she is ours.”

For Muriel winning an award was “overwhelming – I still can’t get it organized in my mind yet.” She sees herself as the same as everyone else, raised by parents who encouraged her to help others and not to be afraid to ask for help if you need it. “There are some things we can do for ourselves and some things we can’t. People have helped me through the tough times and the good times. It’s my turn to give back.”

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