Tracey Vavrek (Grande Prairie)

Tracey Vavrek’s story is one marked by early challenges. After surviving an unsettled, abusive childhood, Tracey found herself widowed at the age of 18 with a baby on the way. When she did remarry, she once again found herself living in an abusive home. Tracey’s oldest son was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 12. While he was in treatment, in Edmonton, the freedom of being away from her abusive home in Grande Prairie gave her the strength and courage needed to turn her life around and escape the abuse. Inspired by the support network she experienced in Edmonton, Tracey established a support program for families dealing with cancer, called Young Persons and Families with Cancer Society. Over the years, the organization has provided invaluable support to countless families. Tracey was given a lot of setbacks in life – setbacks that individually some people never overcome. Yet she persevered and saw these challenges as crucial motivations for change. As a community leader, she is recognized as a true ambassador for Grande Prairie.