News Release

1996-43
June 14, 1996

23 Canadians to receive Canada Volunteer Award

OTTAWA - Health Minister David Dingwall will present Canada Volunteer Award Certificates and Medals of Honour to 23 outstanding Canadian volunteers at a ceremony in Ottawa on June 18, 1996.

The Canada Volunteer Award recognizes and encourages the efforts of Canadian volunteers who have made exemplary contributions to the health and social well-being of their communities.

In praising the Canada Volunteer Award recipients for their commitment and caring, Mr. Dingwall confirmed the importance of voluntarism in Canadian society. "The people we are recognizing with this award have dedicated their time and energy to such causes as breast cancer, nutrition, family violence, seniors, veterans, and children and adults with mental and physical disabilities. Their contributions to their communities are an example to all of us, and a reminder that one individual can make a difference."

Since the Canada Volunteer Award was created in 1977, nearly 500 Canadians have received Canada Volunteer Award Certificates and Medals of Honour.

A list of 1996 recipients is attached.

Editors please note: The Canada Volunteer Award Ceremony will take place at 12 p.m., June 18, 1996 in Room 200, West Block, House of Commons. Media invited.

List of 1996 Canada Volunteer Award Recipients

Blankenberg, Brian
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Undaunted by growing up blind in South Africa, Brian Blankenberg successfully taught physiotherapy in England, and moved to Canada where he waged a personal battle to integrate blind and visually-impaired students into the field of physiotherapy at the university level. He has been a volunteer with the CNIB since 1986, serving as a member of the CNIB's National Council, its National Client Services Committee, and its Sight Enhancement Enterprise Committee.

Bui, Lan Duc
Winnipeg, Manitoba

A Vietnamese refugee, Lan Bui became involved in the health and well being of the new Vietnamese community that was forming in Winnipeg. Since 1985 he has been an advisor, an educator and a volunteer consultant for a variety of immigrant and Vietnamese programmes and agencies. Through his efforts, Winnipeg's Vietnamese Housing Project built a 52-unit apartment block to serve his community. Mr. Bui is a member of the Winnipeg Vietnamese Seniors Group and the Multicultural and New Immigrants Education Advisory Committee.

Ernst, Catharan Margaret
Waterloo, Ontario

In 1973, Catharan Ernst turned 18 years of dedication to her son's health condition into the creation of the Celiac Sprue Association of Waterloo Region, the first self-help group for Celiacs in Canada. (Sprue was later changed to Disease). She developed a brochure explaining Celiac disease, and worked for better availability of gluten-free food. Thanks to Mrs. Ernst's fund-raising skills, more chapters were established and the first national meeting of the Canadian Celiac Association was held in 1982. Twenty-three years and 24 Canadian chapters later, Catharan Ernst is still a volunteer.

Essenburg, Herb
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

In the past 32 years, Herb Essenburg has volunteered with the Nutana Lions Club, the Saskatoon United Way and the Lutheran Care Society. He has also taken part in every CNIB White Cane Week for 15 years. He belongs to the Sunshine Group, musicians who perform at seniors' functions, cycles with the Saskatoon Cycling Club, and, as one of the founders of Saskatoon Blind Skiers, edits their newsletter, The Snowflake. Since 1993, he has been on the Division Board of Management of the CNIB, helping to raise over $370,000 in Saskatchewan. He participates in all fund-raising events, including walk-a-thons, fashion shows and bingos.

Frederickson, Elinore Grace
Whitehorse, Yukon

Elinore Frederickson has been a volunteer for 30 years. She joined the Learning Disabilities Association of Yukon (LDAY) in 1985, becoming President of the Learning Disability Association of Canada (LDAC) in 1992. Her volunteer activities include organizing Christmas contributions to the Salvation Army, founding a Women's Wellness program and a food cooperative, co-founding a Women's Studies Program at Yukon College, and canvassing for the Cancer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Ms. Frederickson has also coached girls' sports, founded the Leaf Rapids Public School Library, delivered Meals on Wheels, worked with both the elderly and children, and started a neighbourhood fitness program.

Godel, Raylene
Toronto, Ontario

Since 1982, breast cancer survivor Raylene Godel has educated and inspired others through the Canadian Cancer Society, especially the Reach To Recovery Program. Her efforts have given Ontario patients and families a voice in cancer care decisions. Ms. Godel has participated in international cancer conferences, is involved in planning the Ontario Breast Screening Program at Toronto Centre, and is a regional contact for the Canadian Breast Cancer Network. She helped revise the booklet "What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer" and works with Breast Cancer Action, Ottawa, to help distribute information on lymphedema. She also continues to visit newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in her own community.

Grunberg, Frances
Vancouver, British Columbia

In her various executive roles in the Society for Children and Youth (SCY), Frances Grunberg helped implement the Feeling Yes, Feeling No program within the Vancouver School Board. She chaired the Planning Committee for the UN Convention Project, helped develop a volunteer training program for youth organizations, served on the board of Kidsafe, founded the Red Cross Child Abuse Prevention Program and chaired the National Advisory Committee for the Institute for Child Abuse Prevention. She has been involved with a number of organizations dedicated to preventing child abuse and family violence, including serving on the board of the Canadian Council on Children and Youth. She has also advised on videos about dating violence, child sexual abuse, and family violence.

Ralph Jamieson, Jacki
West Vancouver, British Columbia

Three cancer episodes since 1990 qualified singer Jacki Ralph Jamieson as the Canadian Cancer Society's national spokesperson for Breast Health Awareness Month. Deciding to capitalize on her contacts, she invited Canada's top female recording artists to donate tracks for a compilation recording and worked with 22 of them to produce "In Between Dances". One month after its release, Jacki presented the Canadian Cancer Society with a cheque for $250,000. Headed by Jacki's own "Hold on Heart", the recording by "Canadian Artists in Aid of Breast Cancer Research" is still near the top of the charts and the target of raising $5 million for breast cancer research is closer than ever.

Kotyk, Randy James
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Despite losing a leg in a childhood accident and using a wheelchair to get around, Randy Kotyk helps those who are unable to get to a local Winnipeg food bank themselves. With filled hampers strapped to his head and the back of his chair, he travels up to 30 kilometres a day to deliver food to approximately 50 shut-ins each week. A daily sight on Winnipeg streets, even at -30oC, Mr. Kotyk sometimes cooks and cleans for his clients or stops by for a friendly visit. At the warehouse of the Winnipeg Harvest food bank where he first began volunteering, Randy unloaded delivery trucks, often hoisting 22 kilogram sacks of potatoes onto platforms, and sorted and redirected food.

Laberge, Lauréat
Sainte-Foy, Québec

Lauréat Laberge volunteers for his fellow veterans in the Québec City area through the Royal Canadian Legion. One group he helped create regularly visits hospitalized veterans and their families offering friendship, day trips, and practical assistance. Another group visits funeral homes to pay their respects to deceased comrades. Newly involved in Remembrance Day ceremonies, Mr. Laberge also helped organize 50th anniversary commemorative events in 1994 and 1995, as well as honouring the war dead interred at St. Charles Cemetery. He ensures that Christmas gift baskets reach the most needy veterans and distributes presents to elderly and hospitalized veterans with the Royal 22nd Regiment (the Vandoos). A former president of both the General Vanier Foundation and the Royal 22nd Regiment Association, Mr. Laberge also volunteers at the Regimental Museum.

Laflamme, Jean
Chicoutimi, Quebec

Jean Laflamme has volunteered for the Chicoutimi Hospital since 1969, serving on the board of directors, as secretary of the hospital corporation, and on various committees and subcommittees until becoming board president. Since 1973, he has been president of the Hospital's real holdings corporation, helping to establish the Hospital Foundation which has raised over $6 million since 1980. Over the past 28 years, Mr. Laflamme has also been involved with virtually every organization in his community from the Caisse d'entraide économique de Chicoutimi to the Jeux du Québec à Chicoutimi, the provincial Conseil supérieur du tourisme, the regional Chamber of Commerce and the Fondation de l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi. Mr. Laflamme holds numerous directorships in regional and national organizations and still finds time to volunteer with several community groups.

Lay, Joan F.
Shelburne, Nova Scotia

Joan Lay chairs the Roseway Hospital Board of Trustees, belongs to the Primary Health Care Task Force, and co-founded of the Gerontological Nurses Association of Nova Scotia. In 1990, she represented the South Shore Region on the Provincial Elder Abuse Committee. She chairs the Living Wills Committee and hosts a local television show "Choices for Seniors". As well as holding executive positions in several seniors' groups, she is Vice-president of the National Board of the Canadian Pensioners Concerned, and a member of the "One Voice" National Board Committee. Ms. Lay spearheaded the Shelburne County Seniors' Information Line, promotes seniors' issues in the local high schools, belongs to the IODE and Women's Institute of Nova Scotia, organizes the Meals on Wheels program and is a member of the "Singing Grannies" group.

Levers, Mary
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

As a founding board member of the Saskatoon Council on Aging in 1990, she established monthly blood-pressure clinics, recently adding a weekly program for isolated seniors. Mary Levers is a longtime community volunteer whose family experience with MS led her to visit MS patients and other special care patients at the Sherbrooke Community Centre. First she took Centre residents to her summer cottage; then she introduced them to a pet therapy program with the help of Jessie, a small dog she adopted from the Humane Society. Her participation in WISE, a volunteer program to promote wellness clinics for seniors, grew into a Wellness Manual. Mrs. Levers also volunteers at Royal University Hospital Division of Medical Genetics library.

Myre, Jacqueline
Scotstown, Quebec

Ms. Myre is a key volunteer in the municipality of Haut St-François. A board member of the local volunteer centre since 1992, she has served as administrator, vice-chair and chair. Ms. Myre participates in several working groups, chairs the committee for seniors' autonomy, and has created eight self-help networks and four natural helpers groups. She also chairs the Conseil régional de l'Age d'Or. She develops fitness activities for seniors as part of a regional structure for the Active Living program and chairs a project to increase awareness of elder violence. Ms. Myre not only obtains grants for her projects, but she has negotiated a seniors' discount program with more than 150 area businesses.

O'Callaghan, Doreen M.
Edmonton, Alberta

Doreen O'Callaghan joined the Edmonton Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association when her husband was diagnosed with Celiac disease. The Anti-Panic Sessions she developed were incorporated into the Canadian Celiac Association National Education Program in 1993, and are now part of a video project. A paper she wrote, The Gluten-free Diet and the Clinical Dietitian (a counselling guide), is part of the Association's Dietitian's Kit. She has also written a cook book featuring delicious gluten-free soups. As Chair of the Education Committee she visits hospitals and health clinics to ensure that accurate information is available.

Rodgerson, Eva Elizabeth
O'Leary, Prince Edward Island

Eva Rodgerson has been part of the O'Leary Canadian Red Cross Water Safety Program for over 25 years, currently as Chair. She volunteers at her local church and helps seniors with their income tax returns and social assistance application forms. In the field of health, Mrs. Rodgerson has served as Chair for the West Prince Health Board and represented the region on the Provincial Health Agency. A member of the Community Hospital Board of Directors for seven years, she was deeply involved in planning O'Leary's new hospital. Today she is Treasurer of both the Community Hospital Ladies Auxiliary and the hospital board. She has also been a member of the Community Ladies Aid for over 20 years, and canvasses for many charities.

Shapiro, Dan
Toronto, Ontario

Having a son and daughter with inflammatory bowel disease led Mr. Shapiro to volunteer with the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada 20 years ago. In 1982 he launched the Annual Awards Dinner, which has since contributed over $2,000,000 for medical research. Mr. Shapiro not only oversees the event, but also personally sells over 1,000 tickets. As Senior Vice-President of Loblaws Companies, he has involved senior food industry executives in his volunteer work to help less fortunate Canadians. Twelve years ago, Mr. Shapiro began to sell Christmas cakes as a fund-raiser for the Foundation, raising $1.5 million for research so far. He is a major contributor to the Foundation's golf tournament in Toronto and volunteers at the annual Loblaws Bowlerama for the "Kids, You Can Count On Us" charitable projects, the Lyndhurst Foundation, Variety Village and Ronald McDonald House.

Simoneau, Elizabeth
Sainte-Foy, Quebec

For 22 years, Ms. Simoneau volunteers 12 to 15 hours a week at Hôpital Laval. She served on the board of directors of the Association des bénévoles de l'Hôpital Laval for more than 10 years as an adviser and vice-president. She established a service for accompanying clients, as well as a training program for volunteers dealing with patients whose medical condition will greatly handicap them for the rest of their lives. In 1994 Ms. Simoneau received the first Prix Charlotte-Martin-Métivier for her years of service in establishing the Association des bénévoles de l'Hôpital Laval in which she is still active.

Smillie, Carol
Halifax, Nova Scotia

For 25 years Carol Smillie has chaired committees and boards for the Canadian Cancer Society at local, provincial and national levels. She helped establish a Behaviour Research Satellite Centre in Halifax and an Atlantic Regional Research Centre. She co-developed a research proposal on women and tobacco use, developed methods to evaluate smoking prevention programs for elementary grades, co-developed a smoking cessation program and helped train Canadian Cancer Society volunteers. She has been Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Public Health Association of Nova Scotia and chaired numerous programs and conferences for the Canadian Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute of Canada. Having set up the Atlantic Breast Health Information Project that targets hard-to- reach women in the Atlantic Region, she recently proposed a provincial cancer control program.

Thompson, Rita
Olds, Alberta

Rita Thompson's volunteering began with Parents of Children with Learning Disabilities when her children were young. She also served on the board of the Foothills Academy, a school for people with disabilities. She has promoted Native education, was a founding member of Childspace Manufacturing Ltd., and advocated employment equity as a Senator at the University of Calgary from 1980 to 1991. Mrs. Thompson was a member of the Board of Directors of Mountain View Association for the Mentally Handicapped for six years, and has been President for the last three years. She currently chairs the Advisory Committee for Mental Health for the David Thompson Region and is President of the Alberta Association of Rehabilitation Centres. Her work for the Human Rights and Individual Protection Act, and the Alberta Advisory Council for Women's Issues have had an enormous impact on legislation.

Vokey, Myrle
St. John's, Newfoundland

Dr. Myrle Vokey's Red Cross volunteering began in 1968 in the Conception Bay North area and grew to include serving as Vice-President and President of various committees and administrative units as well as national President. Along with attending educational conferences and meetings around the world, he was part of the solidarity mission to Russia after the breakdown of the former Soviet Union, and also officially opened the first of seven Red Cross emergency shelters in China. Dr. Vokey has volunteered with the Church Lads Brigade since 1950; he started Bugle Bands in Corner Brook and Bay Roberts. His family's sponsorship of a destitute family at Christmas five years ago has grown to year-round assistance for a single mother and her 5 children. He has received a Canada 125 Medal, the Korean Red Cross Order of Tai Guk, and the Order of Red Cross (Officer Level).

Walker, Jason Matthew
Victoria, British Columbia

Jason Walker has logged 3,000 hours of volunteer community service with the St. John Ambulance Society, the Greater Victoria Hospital Society Medicycle Program, Royal Jubilee Hospital, Queen Alexandra Hospital for Children, and Victoria General Hospital's Oncology and Acute Care Wards. Since 1993 he has worked on several UN committees for children and youth including the 1994 International Year of the Family. He was on the Student Advisory Council and volunteered as a first-aid attendant at his school. In 1995, Jason co- directed the Canadian-Philippines Youth Leadership Program, was a member of the Volunteer Group Orientation at Victoria General Hospital and participated in the Provincial Emergency Program Volunteer Search and Rescue. He prepared a report on violence in his school, was a Canadian Youth Delegate at the World Health Assembly and was on the volunteer emergency medical team at the Commonwealth Games.

Wyse, Anne
Ottawa, Ontario

Anne Wyse's diagnosis with lupus in 1980 led her to found the Ottawa Chapter of the Ontario Lupus Association (OLA). Thanks to her, a unique regional lupus clinic has been operating for nearly 15 years, supported in part by the Lupus Association. Her efforts have generated media support and funding for a research assistant. She participates in teaching and public information sessions, promoting awareness of the OLA, and was instrumental in promoting a fertility and pregnancy specialty clinic for women with lupus. As well as heading the Ottawa lupus chapter, Mrs. Wyse has also served as Vice-President of the OLA and represented them at Lupus Canada since 1993. Since the OLA is a Specific Disease Group under the umbrella of the Arthritis Society, as a member of the board of that society, she also recruits key volunteers and canvassers for arthritis causes.