Yukon Hospitals is proud to share that Rizwan Shareef has been named the 2025 City of Whitehorse Volunteer of the Year for his outstanding service and commitment to enhancing patient care at Whitehorse General Hospital (WGH)! The award, announced every Spring since 1987, celebrates and publicly recognizes the efforts of exceptional volunteers in Whitehorse.
“Rizwan’s selflessness, leadership, and commitment to the well-being of others make him a truly outstanding nominee for the City of Whitehorse Volunteer of the Year,” says Gwen Ross, Volunteer Services Coordinator.
From a young age, Shareef aspired to become a doctor. Eager to gain experience in the medical field, he took the initiative to join Yukon Hospital’s volunteer program in 2021, while he was still a teenager. He’s since dedicated over 250 hours of service to improving patient experience while mentoring other youth volunteers.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Shareef took on an “innovative virtual volunteer role,” says Ross, creating a wayfinding map for patients to improve accessibility in navigating the hospital. The map is used frequently by patients today. The initiative demonstrates Shareef’s creativity and commitment to improving patient experience at WGH.
After completing an undergraduate degree in neuroscience and biology at Carleton University in 2024, Shareef returned to Whitehorse with a strengthened commitment to improving learning pathways for other local youth to gain experience in healthcare professions. Today, he mentors and trains youth volunteers while providing guidance on how to pursue education and careers in healthcare. Shareef goes to great lengths to help other youth to select educational programs, apply to post-secondary institutions, and prepare for interviews.
“Shareef’s confidence fosters confidence and direction for aspiring healthcare professionals in the Yukon,” says Ross.
In addition to his work with youth volunteers, Shareef also serves as a leader for the Books on Wheels program, a mobile library service at WGH which combines friendly conversation with patients while also offering them free books and magazines. Shareef’s compassionate demeanour helps to brighten patients’ days.
He also volunteers with the Infection Prevention and Control team, supporting key safety practices like hand hygiene to protect both patients and staff.
Although Shareef values all of his volunteer experiences at WGH, he highlights the opportunity to create a wayfinding map remotely during the pandemic as a standout moment. He encourages others, especially high school students, to consider joining the hospital’s volunteer program.
“I think the patient interactions, along with the experience you can garner from networking with all the healthcare professionals, can be very beneficial for anyone trying to volunteer in the hospital,” says Shareef.
“The future of healthcare is in good hands with incredible young leaders like Rizwan,” says Ross.
His dedication inspires staff, patients, and fellow volunteers, reminding us of the power of compassion, leadership, and community service.