The kitchen is just one of the many places you will find Liz Laing helping out at the Dr. Bob Kemp Centre for Hospice Palliative Care.

Liz Laing thinks it's kind of odd that she's been named the 2007 Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.

"I think a lot of people do a lot more than I do," she said.

But staff at the Dr. Bob Kemp Centre for Hospice Palliative Care couldn't disagree more.

"I think she more than deserves it and has for years, as a matter of fact," said executive director Beth Ellis. "I think she's an absolutely fantastic individual."

For the past eight years, Ms. Laing has been a dedicated volunteer with the hospice, in the area of special events and office administration, as well as working with clients living with a life-threatening illness.

"She always gives beyond what is expected of her and has brought comfort, compassion and dignity to many individuals and families at end of life," said director of bereavement programs Maureen Talbot.

Ms. Laing began delivering comfort, compassion and dignity with her work in the Day Hospice program, which provides recreational programs; a supportive home-like environment; respite for caregivers; and support from others, sharing a similar experience.

"It gave me an opportunity to take them away from their illness for a short period of time and that sounded like a good thing," she said of her decision to join the hospice team. "After that, I just kept volunteering in different ways."

In 2004, Ms. Laing received the Hospice Association of Ontario June Callwood Award for outstanding volunteer dedication and commitment to the hospice. The award is presented to individuals who exceed in their volunteer role and go that extra mile in providing excellence in end of life care.

In 2006, Ms. Laing co-chaired the committee leading the hospice's annual Hike for Hospice. The project is one of the hospice's major fundraisers and allows the facility to continue providing life-enriching programs at no cost to individuals and their families.

Though the project went above Ms. Laing's assigned volunteer duties, she stepped forward without hesitation to lead the five-month endeavor. As co-chair, Ms. Laing led the hospice's team of volunteers and staff through the organization, implementation and follow-up. With her help, the hospice raised more than $20,000.

"You don't even have to ask her to do anything, she just automatically does it and sees things that have to be done, which is absolutely fantastic," said Ms. Ellis. "It doesn't matter whether it has to do with fundraising, clients or helping out in the kitchen, she just brings such a positive energy to the organization, along with a caring and compassionate attitude and the ability to treat clients as equals."

Ms. Talbot adds that Ms. Laing's attitude never wavers.

"She is always optimistic whatever the situation. She takes on any task with a positive and cheerful outlook," she said. "In my opinion, her most significant attribute is her non-judgmental nature. She allows others the space to be who they are - a key attribute in the rich community we live in."

Ms. Laing says having a positive outlook is easy, when you work with the kind of people at the hospice.

"The rest of the volunteers and the staff are just great," she said. "I know a lot of them because we're all from Stoney Creek, most of us, so we know each other from things around in the community, but then they all moved up here and we all continued this long friendship. But, I've met a lot of new people too, which is great."

Ms. Laing says she often gets close to clients and their families, which makes it difficult when their time together ends.

"That part is always hard, you get teary when they go out the door," she said.

Though it can be difficult, Ms. Laing says she finds satisfaction in knowing the hospice provides an escape from reality - even if only for a short period of time.

"Families will come in and they just want to talk or they just want to sit and have something to eat and relax," she said. "And you hope you're giving them some kind of comfort and obviously, a lot of them do tell us that, that they feel like they can relax a bit here and I think it kind of helps to put them at ease."

In addition to volunteering with the hospice, Ms. Laing spent endless hours volunteering at her children's schools as they were growing up and always gets her family involved in everything she does.

"It's important to give back," she said.

Ms. Laing is also an active member of the Stoney Creek Horticultural Society and the Winona Peach Festival executive committee, as well as a volunteer with VON, delivering Meals on Wheels to those in need in the community.

But ask Ms. Laing why she does all she does and her response is simple.

"Because that's just what you do for others," she said. "Plus, I can't sit still and I love being busy, so I might as well do something useful. I just really enjoy it and I love meeting all the people."

Ms. Laing also thinks the hospice is a great place.

"Everybody says I'm nuts and that I might as well just move in - it's like my second home," she laughed. "I love being here, absolutely love it. But, I didn't think I'd ever get an award for it. I just do it because I love it."

The 2007 Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Awards and Banquet will take place May 15 at Galileo's Garden. Tickets are available at the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce office or by calling (905) 664-4000.