Winning a silver medal on home ice at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics was a moment Canadian skip Cheryl Bernard will always remember.

“I'll never forget it. It’s a good way to go out to have played an Olympics in your own country for your country,” said Bernard.

Bernard also represented Alberta four times at the Scott Tournament of Hearts and retired from the sport this past spring.

She is now going in a new direction and is the new spokesperson for World Vision.

Her interest in the children’s charity started when she went on a trip to Africa a few years ago with her mother.

“One of the ladies on the trip sponsored a child through World Vision and she set up to meet the child there and it was one of the most meaningful things in her life to be able to meet that child  and after that I thought, that's something  I want to get involved in,” said Bernard.

Susan O'Connor played third for Bernard for many years and believes World Vision is a perfect fit for her long time skip.

“She's got a heart of gold and would give anything for anybody, very loyal to her friends, always wants to help, lend a hand anywhere she can. Very rarely says no to anybody who asks her to do things. She’s a special person,” said O’Connor.

Carolyn Darbyshire-McRorie also threw rocks for the Bernard rink and says the charity is getting a great team member.

“Her professionalism, her energy just her personality, she's just a wonderful person to be around. She’s always giving, she's got a great heart,” said Darbyshire-McRorie.

Bernard’s focus for the next few months will be World Vision's sponsor a child campaign.

“That means a lot to me. I have a child in Tanzania that I sponsor and I may get to meet her in January and I think the biggest part is to raise awareness and have the people of Calgary and Alberta look at sponsoring a child,” she said.

For her athletic accomplishments on the local, national and international ice and for using her profile to help kids in poverty stricken countries, Cheryl Bernard is our Inspiring Albertan this week.

(With files from Darrel Janz)