Energetic and Helpful
by Lee Hunt
“She is very energetic and always willing to help out with volunteering wherever it is needed.” With these words, Brentwood Community Association President, Bonita McCurry, describes Shiney Choudhary.
Shiney stepped in as interim Secretary to the Board in Spring of 2024 and was officially elected to the position at the Annual General Meeting in September of that year.
This position means that Shiney attends and takes notes at monthly Board meetings and then types up these minutes which are distributed to Board Members. Shiney told me that she enjoys being on the Board as it is “a great way to get to know people and the community”.
Born and raised in India, Shiney moved to Saskatoon where she attained her B.A. at the University of Saskatchewan. Being “especially drawn to the prairies,” Shiney moved to the University of Calgary to pursue a master’s degree in social work. As part of that goal, she works as a student researcher “seeking to improve services for youth plus seeking to understand housing insecurity in rural areas.” Shiney has one more year of study to complete her M.A., then “wants to work with people.”
Shiney enjoys having a vegetable plot in the Brentwood Community Garden where she has had “the opportunity to grow produce and to learn a lot about plants.” She and her husband, Benjamin, who is originally from Denmark, both “really like the prairies.” The pair especially likes “Calgary’s numerous parks plus the opportunity to meet people from everywhere.”
Shiney relishes travel – with Australia’s Victoria and Melbourne being two of her particular favourites. She also enjoys reading – especially non-fiction. Shiney is becoming more and more interested in painting and drawing with particular focus on such watercolour landscapes as prairie sunsets. When I asked Shiney if she had a separate room for doing her artwork, she chuckled and replied, “No… I do my art at a tiny little desk.”
Shiney’s interest in art is partly what drew her to membership in Brentwood Cares. Shiney painted the new Little Free Library which Brentwood Cares installed about two years ago. She also helped the group to apply for and obtain government funding.
We in Brentwood are fortunate to have community members who volunteer to serve on our Board of Directors. We have an effective balance of long-time members, medium time members, plus relatively new ones such as Shiney. Our grateful thanks to all.
Plus, a special thanks to Shiney for the enthusiasm which she brings to her volunteer endeavours in our community.
