Dayle Conlin, Sirius Ally
As a lifelong volunteer, Dayle Conlin grew up watching her mother and grandmother volunteering in their community. Lending a helping hand or a spare moment anywhere they could to make a difference in the lives of folks down the street, across the park, in each other’s world in some way. 
Naturally, Dayle has carried on that good Samaritan legacy through her own life.
“I’ve been volunteering all of my life. As a young person I used to go out canvassing for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and those kinds of things. It’s just always been part of what I’ve done.”
Decades later, early retirement left Dayle with more time, energy and a certain feeling that many of us can relate to.
“I was feeling lost for those first few years, so I really needed something to fill that void.”
After the end of a high-stress and demanding career, Dayle again carried on the legacy left by her mother and grandmother. Women mentoring women and strong, socially conscious role models.
For the last six years, Dayle has volunteered with carya as an Ally with Sirius, a program that supports girls as they complete high school and helps develop confidence, resiliency and leadership in their community.
“It was just so exciting for me to be involved with the youth. I remember feeling so impressed with today’s youth. They deal with so much more than what I did and what my daughter did.”
That intergenerational lens gave Dayle insight and understanding for the pressures and complexities of life as a teenage girl. Now they navigate the always unpredictable landscape of social media.
She found they were more open and forward-thinking than her generation was. And as she got to know them, the mutual benefits of volunteering became clear.
Through working with girls in the program, Dayle learned more about the LGBTQ+ community and the struggles queer youth face today. From gender identity and pronouns to healthcare, bullying and perseverance. Above all, she learned about acceptance and celebration. While she had not expected to also be the student in her volunteering ecosystem, it was a welcome surprise.
“I didn’t quite know what to expect, but I certainly didn’t think that I would be the one learning like I did. I learned a lot from them, and from their openness and acceptance.“
Volunteering with carya
carya’s Sirius program
Benefits of Volunteering
Volunteer Alberta