Roger Marple Volunteer Award

Roger Marple was an active board member of the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories from September 2018 to his passing in October 2022. He worked tirelessly to reduce the stigma of dementia and promote dementia supportive communities. His passion to speak up about the stigma of living with dementia went above and beyond expectations. Roger always supported and advocated to help break society's barriers.

The Roger Marple Volunteer Award was created to honor a volunteer who reflects Roger's spirit and dedication to the Alzheimer’s Society and those affected by dementia.

The first volunteer award in his name was presented to Roger posthumously in January of 2023.

Eligibility and Award Criteria

The award will be presented to the volunteer who supports people living with dementia and personifies Roger’s promise of:

“I promise I will not make fun of any challenges you may have with your terminal condition called life. I will see who you are regardless of any challenges you may have.  I will recognize and support you to live your life to the fullest regardless of the challenges you have. I promise to recognize what hope looks like for you living your life to the fullest, with the time you have left, so you can live a good quality of life. And most of all, I will respect who you are.”

Preference will be given to anyone who has taken on the battle against stigma and or promotes dementia supportive communities.

Individuals can be nominated from anywhere in Canada by any individual or organization. Organizations are not eligible to be nominated.

Nomination Criteria

Four Areas of Focus of the Award:

people living with dementia,
an enhanced quality of life for people living with dementia,
the reduction of stigma, and/or
the promotion of dementia supportive communities.

In the nomination look to demonstrate any or all of the following:

The volunteer’s commitment to the four areas of focus.
Targetable and measurable demonstration of how the actions, initiatives and strategies of the volunteer has impacted the four areas of focus.
The result of the influence the volunteer has had regarding dementia supportive communities.
If and how this has affected dementia related issues provincially and nationally.
If and how this volunteer has affected or improved community-wide issues that affect the community’s and/or its member’s quality of life.
If and how the volunteer has impacted education, support and information related to the practice of others.
Any related achievements and how these achievements are innovative and inspiring.

Award Selection Process

Nominations will be judged by an award selection committee of the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories. The award selection committee consists of one executive member of the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories, a previous recipient of the Roger Marple Volunteer Award, and three community members with links to the dementia community. The judges will apply a standardized rubric to all nominations and the nominee with the highest score will be the winner. All nominees will be notified of the outcome in December and all nominees are encouraged to attend the Annual General Meeting where the winning nominee will be announced.

The judges will not engage any nominees during the selection process. Preference will be given to anyone who has taken on the battle against stigma and or promotes dementia supportive communities.

Nomination Window

Nominations are accepted from September 21st to October 31st each year.

Click here to nominate a volunteer!

There is no cost to apply.

Roger Marple Volunteer Award Recipients

Roger Marple (2023)

Cindy McCaffery (2024)

Lee Rinne (2025)