Ontario Celebrates the Outstanding Contributions of Volunteers in Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes
Brockville – The Ontario government is recognizing 61 Ontarians in Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes with a Volunteer Service Award, an annual award honouring the exceptional contributions of individuals providing dedicated service to a single organization.
Recipients of the award were recognized at a virtual ceremony held on November 29 and will receive a personalized certificate and lapel pin to acknowledge and thank them for their years of service.
“I am extremely grateful to the exceptional 61 residents of Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes who have helped make such a positive impact in our community,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “Their dedication and commitment have made a lasting difference in the lives of so many of their neighbours and friends, and I am so pleased at this opportunity to properly recognize their contributions.”
The 4,555 recipients of the 2022 Ontario Volunteer Service Award, from across the province, support a wide range of organizations and causes, including those serving families, children and youth, vulnerable people, hospitals, senior centres and food security programs. These volunteers also help as board members, in fundraising, in promoting the arts and showcasing the different cultures that make Ontario unique.
The 2022 Ontario Volunteer Service Awards recipients from Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes include:
5 Years of Service
| Sandy Archibald | Athletics Ontario Officials Council – East Region |
| Kate Baker | Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council – Community 25 Kemptville |
| Pamela Brooks | Seniors’ Community Services |
| Sara-Dawn Crites | Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council, Community 25, Lanark |
| Mike Fay | Country Roads Community Health Centre – Portland |
| Michel Gadoury | Brockville and Area food bank |
| Sharon Halladay | Country Roads Community Health Centre – Portland |
| Julienne Lee | Leeds and Grenville Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society |
| Mary Anne McAllister | Leeds and Grenville Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society |
| Chris McColl | Jewel’s Gently Used Clothing – Perth |
| Garry Merriman | Country Roads Community Health Centre – Portland |
| Sue Miller | Jewel’s Gently Used Clothing – Smith Falls |
| Mary Potter | Seniors’ Community Services |
| Kim Sumara | Big Brothers Big Sisters – Lanark County |
| Pam Tanney | Country Roads Community Health Centre – Portland |
| Vicki Tighe | Brockville and Area food bank |
| Susan Whelan | Scouts Canada |
10 Years
| Marina Abbott | Seniors’ Community Services |
| Dave Archibald | Athletics Ontario Officials Council – East Region |
| Karine Bailey | Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council – Community 25 Kemptville |
| Illona French | Beverley Senior Citizen’s Club |
| Irene Goodsell | Beverley Senior Citizen’s Club |
| Wanda Merriman | Beverley Senior Citizen’s Club |
| Arthur Merriman | Beverley Senior Citizen’s Club |
| Patti Mordasewicz | Ontario Genealogical Society – Leeds & Grenville Branch |
| Patti Mordasewicz | Leeds and Grenville Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society |
| Valerie Morris | Seniors’ Community Services |
| Yvonne Olson | Delta Agricultural Society |
| Laura Papaioannou | Brockville and Area food bank |
| Florence Pratt | Beverley Senior Citizen’s Club |
| Don Presley | Brockville and Area food bank |
| Brent Rathwell | Lower Beverley Lake Park Management Board |
| Victoria Renner | Scouts Canada |
| Nicole Therrien | Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council, Community 25, Lanark |
| Pam Willard | Delta Agricultural Society |
15 Years of Service
| June Blair | Grenville County Historical Society |
| David Butchart | Scouts Canada |
| Morgan Kenny | Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council, Community 25, Lanark |
| Fraser Laschinger | Grenville County Historical Society |
| Gayle O’Connor | Jewel’s Gently Used Clothing – Smith Falls |
| Michaelann Wright | Lower Beverley Lake Park Management Board |
| Eric Wright | Lower Beverley Lake Park Management Board |
20 Years of Service
| Carl Jobson | Brockville General Volunteer Association |
| Norma Jobson | Brockville General Volunteer Association |
| Jean Laird | Brockville General Volunteer Association |
| Mark Leslie | Scouts Canada |
| Megan McLaren | Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council, Community 25, Lanark |
| Barbara Moon | Brockville General Volunteer Association |
| Patricia Phillips | Beverley Senior Citizen’s Club |
| Carolyn Webster | Brockville General Volunteer Association |
25 Years of Service
| Marian Byrd | Seniors’ Community Services |
| Valerie Doyle | Lower Beverley Lake Park Management Board |
| Jean Hartjes | Seniors’ Community Services |
| Victoria Lynch-Grier | Brockville General Volunteer Association |
30 Years of Service
| Brian Hart | Delta Agricultural Society |
| Anne Nichols | Delta Agricultural Society |
| Sherron White | Delta Agricultural Society |
35 Years of Service
| Alicia Ferdinand | Athletics Ontario Officials Council – East Region |
| Charles Nichols | Delta Agricultural Society |
40 Years of Service
| Pat Watson | Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council – Community 25 Central Kingston |
45 Years of Service
| Bonnie Gaylord | Grenville County Historical Society |
“Every day thousands of volunteers from all over the province dedicate their time and talents to make Ontario a better place,” said Premier Doug Ford. “As Premier, I want to thank each and every volunteer for the efforts they make and the examples they set for the next generation of Ontarians. We could not ask for better role models and we are so grateful to them all.”
“Volunteers are the backbones of our communities. The incredible volunteers in Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes have embodied the best of the Ontario spirit and have shown – through their commitment, dedication and selfless service – that we can achieve anything when we come together as Team Ontario,” said Michael Ford, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. “Our government thanks these incredible leaders, changemakers and everyday heroes for the incredible work they do to make our communities and our province a stronger and better place to live, work and succeed.”
For more information about the program or to submit a nomination, please visit the Ontario Volunteer Service Award webpage.
QUICK FACTS
- Since 1986, more than 250,000 volunteers have been recognized through the Ontario Volunteer Service Award.
- Adult volunteers are recognized for five to 65+ years of continuous service in five- year increments.
- Youth volunteers are recognized for two or more years of continuous service.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Erin Merkley, 613-342-9522 | |
Office of Steve Clark, MPP
Leeds-Grenville Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes