Fifty-two individuals from the Wellington County area are among the more than 10,000 men, women and youth across Ontario honoured this year for their dedication to organizations in their local communities.
Each year, the Ontario Volunteer Service Awards recognize thousands of volunteers, of all ages for years of continuous service to a single organization (starting with five years and ranging up to 60 years; youths are recognized for two or more years).
Forty-eight ceremonies will be held across the province over three months, ending in Kingston on June 27. Recipients are nominated by the organizations they serve.
“Volunteers make Ontario a better place to live,” said Charles Sousa, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
“Each year they provide vital services to millions of Ontario families. It is our honour to celebrate their generosity and leadership with Volunteer Service Awards.”
Individuals from or volunteering in Wellington County who received recognition during Kitchener ceremonies on April 19 and 20, include the following:
– Evan Accettola of Harriston, youth award for volunteering with Caressant Care Nursing Home;
– Valerie Andrews of Belwood, 5 years with the Optimist Club of Erin;
– Barry and Mary Auger of Clifford, 20 years each with Caressant Care Nursing Home;
– Cheryl Banks of Fergus, 15 years with the Elora Festival and Singers;
– Diane Barley of Elora, 5 years with the Elora Centre for the Arts;
– Leona Belford of Erin, 10 years with the Optimist Club of Erin;
– Fran Binning of Fergus, 10 years with the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games;
– Marg Blacklock of Guelph, 40 years with Eden House Care Facility;
– Lynn Boland Richardson of Kitchener, 15 years with the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games;
– Martin Bosch of Guelph, 5 years with the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Wellington-area grant review team;
– Anne Bradley of Hillsburgh, 10 years with the Elora Festival and Singers;
– John Burbidge of Puslinch, 10 years with the Optimist Club of Strabane;
– Deb Callaghan of Erin, 15 years with the Optimist Club of Erin;
– Jean-Guy Cayouette of Hillsburgh, 30 years with Scouts Canada’s Toronto district;
– Jad and Kate Dodsworth of Fergus, 20 years each with the Elora Festival and Singers;
– Margaret Duffield of Fergus, 30 years with the Groves hospital volunteer association;
– Mary Dunlop of Elora, 5 years with the Wellington Terrace nursing home in Aboyne;
– Judy Eckhardt of Elora, 15 years Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games;
– Gord Feniak of Fergus, 5 years with the Elora Centre for the Arts;
– Muriel Gass of Fergus, 25 years with the Groves hospital volunteer association;
– Deb Gauthier of Fergus, 5 years with the Elora Centre for the Arts;
– Deanna Gibb of Fergus, 5 years with the Elora Centre for the Arts;
– Pat Graves of Belwood, 15 years with the Elora Festival and Singers;
– Andrew Grayson of Guelph, 20 years with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario’s south Wellington branch;
– Susan Harper of Fergus, 10 years with the Wellington Terrace nursing home in Aboyne;
– Regina Heaney of Mount Forest, 10 years with Trellis Mental Health and Development Services;
– Tara Herd of Grand Valley, 5 years with St. John Ambulance’s Guelph branch;
– Peter Hinchcliffe of Kitchener, 5 years with the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Wellington-area grant review team;
– Ethel Hornsby of Elora, 10 years with the Wellington Terrace nursing home in Aboyne;
– Sienie Katerberg of Elora, 10 years with the Wellington Terrace nursing home in Aboyne;
– Stephanie Lines-Toohill of Elora, 5 years with the Elora Centre for the Arts;
– Al Martin of Hillsburgh, 10 years with the Optimist Club of Erin;
– Erik Mathisen of Erin, 5 years with the Optimist Club of Erin;
– Pearl Milne of Rockwood, 10 years with the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games;
– Ellen Morrison of Guelph, 10 years with the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games;
– Evelyne Near of Arthur, 25 years with Workplace Safety and Prevention Services’ Orangeville chapter;
– Joanna Patrick of Elora, 5 years with the Elora Centre for the Arts;
– Anne Peace of Puslinch, 30 years with Trellis Mental Health and Development Services;
– Wally Pirker of Drayton, 15 years with Wilfrid Laurier University;
– Judith Reed of Rockwood, 15 years with the Ontario Electric Railway Historical Association;
– Effie Robinson of Arkell, 30 years with Trellis Mental Health and Development Services;
– Patricia Russell of Puslinch, 30 years with Trellis Mental Health and Development Services;
– Joyce Schnurr of Kenilworth, 5 years with the Parkinson Society’s of southwestern Ontario (Kitchener area) branch;
– Camille Slack of Elora, youth award for volunteering with the Elora Centre for the Arts;
– Ron Smith of Erin, 10 years with the Optimist Club of Erin;
– Sallie Smyth of Fergus, 25 years with the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club;
– Grant Speed of Puslinch, 10 years with the Optimist Club of Strabane;
– Chuck Summers of Guelph, 10 years with the Alzheimer Society of Guelph – Wellington;
– Rose Van Sickle of Harriston, 40 years with Girl Guides of Canada’s Ontario Council;
– Henry Vervoort of Elora, 25 years with the Workplace Safety and Prevention Services’ Kitchener-Waterloo chapter;
– Vi Wallace of Elora, 10 years with the Elora Festival and Singers; and
– Maggie Youngblood of Fergus, 20 years with the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games.
