How a lifelong belief in volunteerism shaped Unity’s 2026 Citizen of the Year

For Weber, however, volunteerism has never been about awards.

Since moving to Unity in 2008, she has become involved in a wide range of community initiatives while raising four children with her husband.

According to her award citation, Weber serves as chair of the community skating club, coordinates grassroots baseball, coaches junior NBA basketball, manages and coaches baseball teams and volunteers at school events. Professionally, she works in autism services, supporting children and families.

Sheena Weber poses with her 2026 Citizen of the Year award at the Unity Community Centre in Unity on Friday, May 29, 2026. (Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

The award committee described her as someone who continually finds ways to give back despite a busy schedule, often stepping forward wherever help is needed.

Asked which accomplishment she is most proud of, Weber said it is difficult to single out any one contribution.

“I feel like I hold a lot of pride in all of them,” she said.

“I think they’re all very important to our community, so I don’t know if I could choose one. That’s more important than the other because they’re all they all make Unity what it is.”

One project that has become especially meaningful is the effort to build a new daycare in Unity.

The community’s current daycare building has been sold, prompting plans for a new facility on 4th Avenue East that would provide 66 licensed childcare spaces.

As part of that effort, Weber has helped lead fundraising through the Unity Daycare Board. About two years ago, she organized a sold-out duelling pianos fundraiser aimed at raising money and awareness for the project.

The event remains one of the moments that stands out most to her.

“When I’ve seen the hall full of people for that, that sold out with $350 tickets, that was like a super great feeling,” she said. “To know that I was behind that and I did a lot of work to get to make that happen and raise funds for our new daycare.”

The planned daycare is expected to cost between $1.5 million and $1.7 million. She said the building is expected to arrive on site over the winter, with work continuing afterward and a possible opening next spring.

The project, she said, reflects the strength of volunteerism in the community.

“I do, yes,” Weber said when asked whether she thinks Unity has a strong volunteer spirit. “There’s lots of great volunteers in the community of Unity.”

That community spirit is one of the reasons she and her family have chosen to call Unity home.

“It’s a great place. Me and my husband raise our four children here. It feels safe and a place where you’re included and yeah, a place to call home.”

Although she was the one standing on stage accepting the Citizen of the Year award, Weber said the recognition belongs just as much to the many others who volunteer alongside her.

“I don’t volunteer for the recognition, but I love being a part of the community,” she said. “It’s such a great community to raise our family, so it makes volunteering easy.”

—

Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com

by Kenneth Cheung

How a lifelong belief in volunteerism shaped Unity’s 2026 Citizen of the Year

What's Trending