Subjects: AWD, NPT, CFG
Government of Canada marks International Volunteer Day with celebration of Canada's Volunteer Awards
OTTAWA, Dec. 5, 2018 /CNW/ - Volunteering is the foundation of Canada's increasingly diverse and inclusive communities. Every year, Canada's top volunteers are celebrated for their passion and commitment to make a difference in communities throughout Canada. Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos recognized the significant contributions of 21 recipients at the Canada's Volunteer Awards ceremony held in Ottawa.
These exceptional individuals, businesses and not-for profit organizations actively work to ensure their communities thrive. Each recipient has identified an eligible not-for-profit organization which will receive a grant for either $5,000 or $10,000, depending on the award category.
With over 40 percent of Canadians volunteering annually, their passion, hard-work and commitment is essential to the well-being of communities and Canadian society as a whole.
Volunteers, not-for profit organizations and businesses alike are motivated towards building stronger, more sustainable, enriching and inclusive communities. By recognizing their work, the Government of Canada is encouraging the very best in our collective efforts towards a more diverse and inclusive Canada.
Quotes
"It's an honour to be amongst Canada's most passionate volunteers and to recognize the significant contributions each of them has made to their communities. Volunteers are the heart of our communities and are pivotal in supporting the social needs of Canadians. Canada's Volunteer Awards are only a small token to show that we appreciate, honour and thank volunteers for the difference they make everyday."
? The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
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Backgrounder
Canada's Volunteer Awards 2018 Recipients
Complete biographies of the Award winners can be found at Canada's Volunteer Awards Program.
National awards
Harold L. Empey ? Thérèse Casgrain Lifelong Achievement
Regional awards
Business Leader
PEI Credit Unions ? Business Leader for Atlantic Region
Marché Ferdous Inc. ? Business Leader for Quebec Region
Tangerine Bank ? Business Leader for the Ontario Region
ENMAX Corporation ? Business Leader for the Prairies Region
Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-operative Ltd. ? Business Leader for British Columbia and the North
Emerging Leader
Sue Duguay ? Emerging Leader for Atlantic Region
Sébastien Verger Leboeuf ? Emerging Leader for Quebec
Gerald Mak ? Emerging Leader for Ontario
Kaleb Ryland Dahlgren ? Emerging Leader for the Prairies
Sukhmeet Singh Sachal ? Emerging Leader for British Columbia and the North
Community Leader
David G. Bradley ? Community Leader for Atlantic Region
Audrey Burt ? Community Leader for Quebec Region
Paul Nguyen ? Community Leader for the Ontario Region
Oswald R.D. Sawh ? Community Leader for the Prairies Region
Cornelis Zandbergen ? Community Leader for British Columbia and the North
Social Innovator
Choices for Youth ? Social Innovator Leader for Atlantic Region
Accueil Bonneau ? Social Innovator Leader for Quebec Region
David McAntony Gibson Foundation ? GlobalMedic ? Social Innovator Leader for Ontario Region
Arusha Centre Society ? Social Innovator for the Prairies Region
The Japanese Community Volunteers Association (Tonari Gumi) ? Social Innovator for British Columbia and the North
Canada's Volunteer Awards
The Government of Canada is committed to recognizing the innovative contributions volunteers make to Canada. Canada's Volunteer Awards complement other government activities that engage individuals at the community level to promote partnerships and lever resources across sectors to address persistent social problems.
The objective of Canada's Volunteer Awards is to recognize annually and bring national prominence to the enormous contributions individuals, not-for-profit organizations and businesses make to their communities through volunteer contributions. This aligns with the Government of Canada's interest in promoting innovative solutions to local social problems.
There are a total of 21 awards, at both the regional and the national levels:
There are 20 regional awards, including four for each of the five regions across Canada (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Prairies and British Columbia and the North):
- Emerging Leader (youth 18 to 30);
- Community Leader (for individual volunteers or groups of volunteers);
- Business Leader (for businesses); and
- Social Innovator (for not-for-profit organizations).
There is also one national award:
- Thérèse Casgrain Lifelong Achievement Award (for those who have volunteered for at least 20 years).
Recipients are selected through a three-step assessment process:
- Department officials screen nominations to ensure that they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Regional Reviewers (volunteer representatives from across the country) assess eligible nominations based on the assessment criteria and develop a list of top?ranked nominations for the National Advisory Committee.
- The National Advisory Committee, comprising of volunteer members from various regions of Canada and selected by the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development assesses the top-ranked nominations and advises the Minister on final decisions.
The Government of Canada and its role in supporting volunteering:
As the lead department for volunteering, Employment and Social Development Canada supports a number of initiatives including Canada's Volunteer Awards, Statistics Canada's General Social Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating and the New Horizons for Seniors Program which encourages seniors to engage in volunteerism. The Social Development Partnerships Program also includes projects that address volunteerism as a way of increasing the sustainability of community organizations.
Recognition package for recipients:
The award recipients are invited to attend a ceremony where they are recognized by the Government of Canada. In addition, regional award recipients are eligible to identify a not-for-profit organization to receive a $5,000 grant. The national award recipient is eligible to identify a not-for-profit organization to receive a $10,000 grant.
Associated Links
Canada's Volunteer Awards Program
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
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