Meet 2021 Spirit of Community Award winner, Tory Khalil
In recognition of National Volunteer week, we celebrate five-year WestJetter and Spirit of Community Award winner, Tory Khalil, WestJet, Customer Service Agent, Calgary Airport. This award is given to one WestJetter every year who has made a meaningful impact on the lives of others and the communities they live and work in.
Amongst her colleagues at Calgary International Airport (YYC), Tory is well known as a ray of sunshine. Always searching for the next opportunity to volunteer and recruiting fellow WestJetters to join her in her efforts, Tory demonstrates selflessness and care in everything she does. Whether it is buying a coffee, making weekly donations to the food bank, or sending clothing to the local women's shelter, her acts of kindness go above and beyond.
We sat down with Tory to ask her a few questions about WestJet and what being the Spirit of Community Award winner means to her:
Describe WestJet in three words.
Resilient: The comeback kid
Kind: Kindness is the language we speak daily
Family: I love my team beyond words. Best people I have ever worked with.
What’s your favorite WestJet memory?
I have been given the opportunity to volunteer with the most incredible organizations including Make-A-Wish, Missing Children of Canada, Corner Stone, Police Rodeo and so much more. I love showing up in a WestJet t-shirt because the response from the community is always positive.
My favorite memory of all was repelling off the Eau Claire Sheraton in Calgary in support of Make-A-Wish. I was absolutely terrified and excited at the same time. It was single-handedly the coolest thing I've ever done.
What are you most looking forward to in the next year?
I am looking forward to growth and expansion at YYC and within the WestJet network. I cannot wait to see where we are going next and where our Community Investment team will volunteer next. I love making an impact within our community.
What does winning a WestJet Group Award mean to you?
My philosophy in life is to be kind, lead with an open heart (a bad joke, if you are lucky) and always show up 100 per cent in everything I do. WestJet is the first company I have worked for that embodies these same values and I could not be prouder to represent this company. I don’t freely seek recognition, so this award means the world to me, especially coming from my team, my leaders and my WestJet community.
What Tory’s leader had to say:
“Tory’s energy is inclusive of everyone and she instils a true sense of belonging,” said Antonio Faiola, Senior Manager, Guest Experience, YYC. “Using one volunteer opportunity at a time, Tory inspires those around her to make the world a better place in true WestJet style.”
