2026 Recipient of the Aleda Patterson Award
Tammy Patterson has never been one to stand on the sidelines.
Whether she's championing a cause, embracing a new adventure, or showing up for someone who needs her, Tammy approaches life with remarkable energy, curiosity, and conviction. She knows what she believes in, isn't afraid to speak her mind, and when something captures her heart, she gives it everything she's got.
That spirit has made Tammy an extraordinary advocate for ABC Head Start Society and a fitting recipient of the 2026 Aleda Patterson Award.
This year, Tammy played a pivotal role in ABC's West Campus Capital Campaign, helping raise more than half a million dollars in just a handful of months. Her determination, generosity, and ability to rally support helped transform an ambitious vision into a welcoming new space for Edmonton children and families.
But Tammy's contributions to ABC are just one part of a much larger story.
A Shared Belief in the Potential of Children
The award bears the name of a woman who helped shape both ABC Head Start Society and Tammy's own journey of community service: her mother-in-law, Aleda Patterson.
ABC's founder, Aleda was a force to be reckoned with. A passionate advocate for children and families, she believed deeply in the potential of others and the power of community to create meaningful change.
When Aleda encouraged Tammy to become involved with ABC, Tammy readily agreed. What began as a family connection soon grew into a personal commitment to the organization's mission.
As a devoted mother to two sons, Tammy has always placed tremendous value on children and education. She was an active presence in her sons' school lives, volunteering, joining field trips, and finding ways to support their learning.
That same belief in the importance of giving children every opportunity to succeed became central to her involvement with ABC.
Tammy often reminds others that the children ABC serves today could become tomorrow's doctors, lawyers, and community leaders. With the right support, their potential is limitless. And to Tammy, ensuring they have that opportunity is a responsibility we all share.
Over the years, she has contributed to ABC in countless ways. As a former Board member, she helped guide the organization and champion its mission. She was also a driving force behind the beloved Scarecrow Festival gala, dedicating herself to everything from securing auction donations and coordinating events to creating elaborate Halloween decorations.
Her determination was particularly evident in her advocacy surrounding Aleda Patterson School. Tammy and her family helped champion the school's naming in Aleda's honour, while Tammy worked tirelessly to secure classroom space for ABC within the facility. Through persistence, relationship-building, and a refusal to give up, she helped ensure ABC could serve children and families there for two years.
For Tammy, supporting a cause has never meant simply lending her name. It means rolling up her sleeves and finding a way to make things happen.
All In, Whatever the Adventure
Ask Tammy's longtime friend Lisa Sadd to describe her, and one thing becomes immediately clear: Tammy doesn't do anything halfway.
The two met approximately 25 years ago, when their children were young. Lisa remembers initially finding Tammy's directness and assertiveness a little intimidating. Today, those same qualities are among the things she admires most.
Tammy is confident, determined, and unapologetically herself. She has a natural curiosity about the world and a willingness to embrace new experiences, even when they take her outside her comfort zone.
Whether it's golf, pottery, mahjong, or cribbage, Tammy approaches her interests with genuine enthusiasm. She's not afraid to be a beginner, to challenge herself, or to seek out new communities and connections along the way. What begins as a passing interest often becomes a new passion.
That same spirit has inspired her to take on physical challenges, including long-distance cycling and the New York City Marathon, and to pursue opportunities to learn about different people, places, and cultures.
Her love of learning even led her back to university later in life, where she earned a degree in Anthropology from the University of Alberta, motivated by a genuine desire to better understand the world around her.
Her professional journey has reflected that versatility as well. At Norlab Laboratory Solutions, a family-owned business, Tammy worked in marketing before eventually taking on the role of Safety Officer.
For Tammy, curiosity isn't simply about discovering something new. It's about participating fully, building connections, and continuing to grow.
Generosity Beyond the Spotlight
Tammy brings that same enthusiasm and determination to her community involvement.
Over the years, she has supported a wide range of organizations and causes, including the Stollery Children's Hospital, children's mental health initiatives, her neighbourhood community league, and the Citadel Theatre, where she served on the Board.
Her commitment to children's mental health has even intersected with her love of physical challenges, including cycling initiatives supporting the cause.
More recently, Tammy volunteered at the CPKC Women's Open at Edmonton's Royal Mayfair Golf Club, combining her passion for golf with her instinct to contribute.
But perhaps the most telling examples of Tammy's generosity have little to do with formal volunteer positions or fundraising campaigns.
They're found in the way she shows up for people.
Her friends know her as fiercely loyal, deeply caring, and always willing to lend her time and energy. She's the person who takes charge when something needs organizing, who brings people together, and who isn't afraid to tackle a challenge.
Whether supporting a friend, advocating for children, or rallying others around a cause, Tammy's commitment comes from a genuine desire to make a difference. She doesn't wait for someone else to take the lead. When she sees an opportunity to help, she acts.
A Legacy Entirely Her Own
The Aleda Patterson Award recognizes individuals who embody the spirit of its namesake: a commitment to community, a belief in the potential of others, and a willingness to turn compassion into action.
Tammy shares those values, but she has expressed them in a way that is distinctly her own.
Through her advocacy for children, her support for charitable causes, her curiosity about the world, and her unwavering loyalty to the people around her, Tammy has made a difference in countless ways.
As her husband Wes describes it, Tammy is someone who “says yes to life.” And once she's committed to something, she's “all in.”
It's that spirit of generosity, conviction, and wholehearted commitment that makes Tammy such a fitting recipient of the Aleda Patterson Award.
ABC Head Start Society is proud to recognize Tammy Patterson as the 2026 recipient of the Aleda Patterson Award.
Because whether she's championing a cause, embracing a new adventure, or showing up for someone who needs her, Tammy Patterson does it the only way she knows how. Wholeheartedly.