Once you have been in Revelstoke for a few months there are more than a few familiar faces, Jessa Burke’s is one of them.
You may have seen her at Luna, or at the polling station during the election, or maybe behind the bar at Splitfest, she makes it her mission to volunteer as much as possible.
“I always try to volunteer anywhere, one because of the opportunities that arise but also because things don’t run without volunteers,” she said.
Burke is a true local. Though she and her twin were born in Kelowna, she has spent most of the rest of her life in Revelstoke and has been volunteering almost the whole time.
In high school she visited seniors and volunteered at the Human Society, among other things.
“I get it from my mom, she is a big volunteer, I wouldn’t be where I am without my mom,” she said.
At the moment Burke works at the Bierhaus, Great Canadian Tours, the pool and volunteers as a ski patroller.
Though she hasn’t committed to any long term volunteering, such as with the fire department, she is considering it once she gets back from post secondary.
“It’s hard, most things they do need a commitement from,” she said. “So if you are considering school or you are leaving for a long period of time, they tell you to wait until you are completly settled.”
This fall Burke is heading to MC College to become a hairdresser, she said she needed a profession where she could talk alot. And she put a lot of thought into her decision.
At 17 Burke spent time in Hinton working in the oil field as a welder’s apprentice. After four months she came back and went travelling in New Zealand and Indonesia with her hard earned money.
“I really tried to make sure I knew what I wanted to do,” Burke said.
She didn’t want to move away from Revelstoke just because, her family is here and being able to spend time with her grandparents is very special to her.
That being said it is sometimes hard when you know almost everyone in town.
“It’s hard to want to have a chill day,” she said with a laugh. She would have to turn off her phone, avoid the computer and stay in doors.