Judi Murakami is among the many volunteers who are being appreciated at the Sid Williams Theatre AGM and Volunteer Appreciation Night.
She started volunteering there in 2008, shortly after retiring to the Comox Valley from Victoria. She enjoys meeting the public while ushering and selling raffle tickets. Her love of theatre even put her onto the stage in the Courtenay Little Theatre production of Half Life in 2011.
“It was a great experience, and one that made me appreciate all the work that’s involved in putting on a production,” Murakami said. “That’s why I’m always blown away by the Comox Valley Youth Music Centre (CYMC) productions as they do it in two weeks.”
Her volunteer skills have also benefitted the Comox Recreation Commission, the Comox Valley Newcomers, Shaw TV, Unity Church and the North Island Rhododendron Society, where she was president for the past two years. She laughingly admits she’s not the gardener in the family, but she does know how to run meetings. As a lifelong learner, Murakami obtained a bachelor in communications, master’s in applied behavioral sciences (where she learned about organizational development), then graduated as a Licensed Unity Teacher, and became a sought-after speaker and teacher in the U.S. and Canada.
Not one to sit still, Murakami’s newest venture is running for council for the City of Courtenay. She’s looking forward to applying the skills she learned as a social worker, a safety advisor and a quality assurance consultant for long-term care for the benefit of the city.
Come and meet Murakami at the Courtenay Museum on Sunday, June 24 from 3-5 p.m. There will be live music and refreshments.
