ATHABASCA – The woman behind the History Check app has been recognized once again, this time by the province, as part of the Alberta Northern Lights Volunteer Recognition Program, which was created to celebrate Albertans who have gone above and beyond during the pandemic.
The application was created by Smith’s Sheila Willis in an effort to share her love of Alberta history with travellers and residents in a paperless and more convenient way than traditional books and maps.
The app has been gathering steady momentum since it was released, but an update at the start of the coronavirus pandemic to aid truckers as they criss-crossed the province as an essential service is the latest reason it is a must-have app. When COVID hit and forced many businesses to temporarily close their doors, Willis realized that those who drove and delivered the goods we all need to their destinations would be some of the hardest hit.
No longer could they stop just anywhere to grab a bite or use a washroom, so she found a way to help them out with the History Check app, marking available facilities for the use of those who were still on the road.
Annette Schwab has been one of Willis' biggest supporters since the app was released, and was the one behind her nomination for the recognition.
“She saw the need; the truckers had no place to stop, no bathroom, no rest areas and she just ran with it,” Schwab said. “Sheila is very tireless and hardworking; a little bundle of energy.”
Schwab, who works at the Canadian Tractor Museum in Westlock, said she felt History Check does not get the support it needs or deserves from agencies whose purpose is to promote tourism.
“Their mandate is to promote Alberta, so why aren’t they?” Schwab asked. “She doesn’t get a whole lot of support from Travel Alberta and I don’t know why.”
What started as an encyclopedia of Alberta historical information and locations all tagged in GSP, has morphed over the last few months into a comprehensive atlas of Alberta and so far, Willis has done it all for free.
“I’m really a volunteer; at some point in my life I intend to get paid,” she said. “But it feels good to be recognized, because it’s a labour of love.”
When the idea came to add in information for the truckers, friends of Willis’ jumped to her aid. Heather Porrill, owner of Buttery Bites Caramels in Saddle Hills County, and Renee Charbonneau, the executive director of the Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association, were both already terribly busy, but gave up their free time to help find trucker-friendly locations.
“When the whole thought came up, I started sending out a few Facebook messages saying, ‘Hey, I can do this, but I need help with calls and both of them jumped on board to make calls to gas stations et cetera,” said Willis. “So, while I’m recognized, it was really a partnership.”
Willis is not resting on the recent accolades though; she is about to launch a fundraising campaign aimed to help non-profits that have also been hindered by the pandemic.
“We have always had an affiliate marketing program that I've never promoted. So, I'm sitting here thinking ... how about I push out the affiliate marketing? Because right now, all those non-profits are having serious challenges with fundraising grants,” Willis said, adding details will be available soon.
Heather Stocking, TownandCountryToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @HLSox
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