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Governor General announces 18 Caring Canadian AwardsAugust 30, 2006 OTTAWA—Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, announced today the names of 18 recipients of the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award. This year, the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Created in 1996 by the Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc, the award is presented to individuals and groups whose unpaid, voluntary contributions provide extraordinary help or care to people in the community. Recipients have served over a number of years and normally have not been recognized previously by a national or provincial honour. The names and citations of the recipients follow. The award consists of a framed certificate and a lapel pin for everyday wear. The award symbol represents Canadians who selflessly give of their time and energy to others. Presentations will be made at a later date by the Governor General herself, in communities across Canada as her travels permit, or by a designate. Additional information about this award can be found at www.gg.ca/honours/awards/cca/index_e.asp . Media information Public Information GOVERNOR GENERAL’S CARING CANADIAN AWARDS
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Laila Adassi, Ottawa, Ontario Laila Adassi has shown exceptional leadership at a young age through her successful fundraising efforts on behalf of numerous local and national charities. In the last four years, she has devoted hundreds of hours outside of school working on events such as the Hillcrest High School’s Annual Cancer Drive. She has also taken on great responsibility, such as directing approximately 500 volunteers at a time and deciding how best to invest donations for the development of new community projects. She has sacrificed numerous weekends and evenings to pursue volunteer initiatives and has worked as a peer tutor and student trustee. Ms. Adassi’s community involvement, combined with her dedication to helping others, is an inspiration to people of all ages. Annette Alarie, Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Quebec In 1940, Annette Alarie established a local Cercle de Fermières to promote family and cultural heritage within her community and parish. A seamstress by trade, Ms. Alarie has taught sewing, millinery, quilting, knitting and cooking at Cercle meetings for 28 years and has brought women together in the spirit of friendship and unity. Since its formation and because of her efforts, the Cercle has tripled in size and has become an integral part of Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines. Ms. Alarie has also acted as an advisor and member of the Comité régional de la Fédération 16 for many years and currently acts as a leisure counsellor for the Résidence des Moissons. Always active and ready to lend a helping hand or to offer sound advice, she is an example of courage and kindness. Wendy Anderson, Tilston, Manitoba Wendy Anderson has given 21 years of dedicated service to the Melita and Area Ambulance Service. A registered nurse by profession, Ms. Anderson volunteered as an ambulance attendant in a community of about 3,500 residents, often working regular on-call shifts in the evening and on weekends. Despite working full-time at the Melita Hospital and raising a family, she has faithfully shared her knowledge and expertise with volunteer ambulance students and has assisted countless patients. Now retired, this community-minded individual is an active participant in her rural congregation, where she provides both spiritual and physical care to those in need. Roland Babin, Caplan, Quebec There is no taxi service or public transportation available in the village of Caplan, Quebec. Whenever a person needs to get to a hospital, but is unable to drive because of illness, Roland Babin is there to help. For over 25 years, Mr. Babin has been driving ailing residents of Caplan to medical appointments or to the hospital and to communities outside the village. He often drives more than 100 km to accommodate his senior passengers. In addition, Mr. Babin has, for several years, participated in all fundraising activities of the Œuvre des Terrains de Jeux, and devotes 20 to 30 hours each week working with youth and seniors. An active member of the Caplan Club de l’âge d’or, Mr. Babin continues to serve his community with vigour, energy and dedication. Glenda Brading, Reston, Manitoba Glenda Brading has provided 21 years of essential emergency service to the remote areas of Melita and Reston, Manitoba. An advocate of community health issues and self-help initiatives, Mrs. Brading has taught emergency medical services to residents in numerous communities. In 1996, following her transfer from Reston to Melita, she became the local emergency services instructor and examiner. This involved training and recruiting emergency medical volunteers in addition to her regular duties of providing on-call emergency care. Her 21-year commitment to emergency services has made her a much-admired and respected member of the communities of Melita, Pierson, Waskada, Medora, Tilston and Napinka. Norman Cheyne, Melita, Manitoba For more than 36 years, Norman Cheyne has been a volunteer, teacher and mentor for the Melita and Area Ambulance Service. He has worked active on-call rotation and provided emergency medical care and transportation, travelling sometimes for many miles to Brandon or Winnipeg to secure medical assistance because of the remote location. He has volunteered with the Melita Fire Protection Board for 40 years and continues to participate in fundraising activities on its behalf. In addition, Mr. Cheyne offers assistance to seniors by taping local programs for them and by delivering Meals on Wheels. He also shares his talent for music by performing at benefits for charitable organizations. A community leader and builder, Mr. Cheyne has touched and influenced the lives of many Melita residents. Kim S. Dixon, Victoria, British Columbia Since her early teens, Kim Dixon has aspired to work with seniors and to support her community with selfless dedication. She is a passionate advocate for seniors and has spent 7 years on the Target Theatre board of directors, using her background knowledge to educate the public about the aging process through the use of drama. In addition, for the past 10 years, she has volunteered with the James Bay Day Committee and has been instrumental to the success of this annual community event. She has worked on behalf of military families by offering them support services and was also involved in the establishment of the first Military Family Resource Centre in Cold Lake, Alberta. Her leadership and genuine caring for the members of her community confirm her commitment to helping those in need. William H.D. Fairbank, Vancouver, British Columbia Since his arrival in Canada in 1952, William Fairbank has generously given of his time and talents to many people. As a Big Brother for 18 years, he has greatly influenced the lives of many young boys. From 1976 to 1995, Dr. Fairbank also taught swimming and boating every summer at a youth camp for the Diocese of Westminster. For 10 years, he volunteered his expertise at a hospital in Haiti, where there was an acute shortage of medical care. Since retiring from general practice in 1994, he has visited several nursing homes to entertain residents with chamber music and choir singing. Having gone beyond the call of duty as a general practitioner, Dr. Fairbank continues to inspire by his ongoing community participation. Lorne Grant Gelowitz, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan For 30 years, Lorne Gelowitz has been a member of the Saskatchewan Referees Association as an on-ice official, instructor, supervisor and mentor to young athletes. His additional volunteer work with the Special Olympics has brought international recognition to the province of Saskatchewan. As a police officer, Sgt. Gelowitz supplemented his regular duties by assisting in the launch of the annual Saskatchewan Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics in 1988 and, later, forming the Law Enforcement Guardians of the Flame charity organization. He has also organized successful fundraising events on behalf of the conservation group Ducks Unlimited and the Kidney Foundation. Through his many hours of volunteer work, Sgt. Gelowitz has exemplified community leadership and the desire to make a difference. Murray E. Green, Napinka, Manitoba Murray Green’s unwavering commitment to the remote community of Melita began in 1969 as a volunteer first-aid attendant and ambulance driver for the Melita and Area Ambulance Service. For 35 years, he has demonstrated tremendous skill and compassion under challenging circumstances during long, critical trips. In 1971, he joined the Melita Fire Board, drawing on his experience as a firefighter with the Navy during the Second World War. Mr. Green served 32 years as an active firefighter, community liaison officer and governing board member and, in his retirement, remains an active member of the Fire Board. Through the years, Mr. Green has dedicated countless hours to the safety and protection of his fellow community members. Wayne Anthony Hutmacher, Red Deer, Alberta A retired RCMP officer, Wayne Hutmacher believes in putting service above self. From 1982 to 1986, he set in motion three programs that provide valuable assistance to the Red Deer community, including a suicide prevention help line and a directory service for volunteer resources. Throughout his postings in Alberta and the Northwest Territories, Mr. Hutmacher has worked to establish police community programs such as Crime Stoppers, Neighbourhood Watch and school visitation programs. He has devoted more than 100 hours as a driver with the Red Deer Regional Hospital Volunteer Driver program and chaired the fundraising campaign to build a hospice for palliative care. A truly upstanding person, Mr. Hutmacher’s care and respect for others are well recognized in the community. Louis Jeffries (posthumous), Gananoque, Ontario For 50 years, Louis Jeffries was a coach, manager, executive member and representative of minor and junior hockey associations. His unfailing efforts brought about the opening of a new skating rink. He also raised money to increase seating capacity and to purchase a Zamboni machine. In addition, Mr. Jeffries volunteered with the fire service for 27 years and participated in fundraising events, fire prevention activities and parades. A dedicated member of the Royal Canadian Legion, he initiated youth programs and helped establish and maintain beautiful Legion Park on the shores of the Gananoque River. Germaine Lalonde, Alexandria, Ontario For more than 30 years, Germaine Lalonde has been involved with the Canadian Cancer Society. She has helped ensure that cancer patients in her community receive treatment by coordinating a daily transportation service to Ottawa, Kingston and Montreal. She has been involved in the organization of annual events such as the Daffodil Days sales campaign and Curl for Cancer, and she has solicited funds door-to-door for cancer treatment. This active and compassionate woman has also opened her home to students looking for temporary shelter as well as to friends and family seeking tranquillity in their final moments. Delmar Floyd Loucks, Melita, Manitoba Delmar Floyd Loucks has answered the call of duty and inspired many residents in the community of Melita to do volunteer work. For more than 37 years, he has been involved in community projects such as the construction and maintenance of housing and recreational facilities. He has volunteered his time with the Melita and Area Arena for 30 years. With his help, the community has been blessed with a new arena, a swimming pool and a seniors’ residence. Since 1968, he has served, with kindness and efficiency, as a first-aid attendant and as an ambulance driver, responding to emergencies and working on-call rotations. A community builder and leader, Mr. Loucks has worked his whole life to make Melita a better place in which to live and raise a family. William Russell Medland, Haliburton, Ontario William Russell Medland’s inspiring influence has made a difference in the lives of over 200 young people in his village. In 1994, he formed a juvenile marching band called the Haliburton Highlands Silver Flutes in an effort to create a constructive learning environment for young people. Thanks to his leadership and genuine concern for youth, many teenagers in Haliburton, some underprivileged or at-risk, have learned to play an instrument. They have benefited from the experience of participating in events such as Oktoberfest in Kitchener-Waterloo and the Toronto Santa Clause Parade. Under Mr. Medland’s guidance, they have become ambassadors for the county and are celebrated within the province. Taleeb Farouk Noormohamed, Vancouver, British Columbia A hard-working and natural leader, Taleeb Noormohamed has demonstrated concern for young people everywhere he goes. He redesigned a mentorship program for Covenant House in Vancouver, which provides help to homeless runaways and at-risk youth, planning every step in its development and operation. He has served the Leukemia Research Fund of Canada as a member of its board of directors, sharing his communications and marketing skills to better establish and promote this charity. He has also played a vital role in the development of the Racing Towards a Cure initiative, a public awareness program for leukemia research, and he continues to devote himself to finding new and exciting ways of improving the world. Joan Smedley-Landry, L’Étang-du-Nord, Quebec Since her arrival in the Magdalen Islands in 1946, Joan Smedley-Landry has embraced her new home and neighbours with open arms and has found a special place in the lives of everyone that she has met. She was the first woman to serve on the board of the Caisse populaire Desjardins de Lavernière and has also been a member of the board of the Coopérative La Sociale for 9 years. She has served 20 years with the Royal Canadian Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary and has assisted in the opening of a regional branch of the Legion and in launching the first volunteer program for the local hospital. Her many volunteer activities, including the creation of a mobile library service and her work as a volunteer translator, are evidence of her dedication and love for her community. Anna Van Barneveld, Duncan, British Columbia For more than 35 years, Anna Van Barneveld has generously donated her knitting projects to various organizations on the East Coast, including shelters for street youth and various Halifax inner-city schools and, more recently, to the Duncan District Hospital and Maternity Ward in British Columbia. In addition, her hand-knit clothing has been included in food hampers at Christmas and distributed to children and refugees in war-torn countries. At the Canadian Red Cross Society in Duncan, she has dedicated 40 years to directing the loan-equipment service as well as the tracing-and-reunion section. She has also tended to parents and their children at numerous immunization clinics in British Columbia. Mrs. Van Barneveld’s gifts and generosity have helped make life a little easier for people, particularly children, at home and abroad. |
