Annual Volunteer Awards Presented

Today, over 130 volunteers attended the Annual Volunteer Week reception in the Foran/Greene room at City Hall, an annual event hosted by the City of St. John’s in partnership with the Memorial University Student Volunteer Bureau.

“Although volunteers do not give their time for accolades and recognition, it is important to show appreciation and support to the individuals and groups who strengthen our community,” said Deputy Mayor Ron Ellsworth, Chair of Community Services Standing Committee.

The Building Healthy Communities award is presented annually to an individual or group in St. John’s who are helping to create vibrant communities and enhance the quality of life for citizens through delivering leisure programs and services. This year three Building Healthy Communities awards were presented to recipients: Jim Hurley, Bob Osbourne, and the Physical Literacy Ambassadors from Holy Heart High School.

The Alice Noseworthy Memorial Senior Volunteer of the Year award, donated twelve years ago by Alice’s family, recognizes outstanding volunteerism with the City of St. John’s Seniors Outreach Program. This year’s recipient is Lossie Trask.

The Building Healthy Communities at Memorial award recognizes individuals or groups who promote recreation and leisure opportunities within the Memorial University St. John’s campus. This year’s recipient is the MUN Mentors Group.

The Memorial University Student Group of the Year award is presented to one of the over 200 ratified clubs, societies or resource centres active at Memorial which is deemed to have made an exceptional contribution to campus and community life through the volunteer efforts of its members over the past year. This year’s recipients are the Muslim Student’s Association.

The Volunteer Residence of the Year award is presented to a residence at Memorial who has made exceptional contributions to campus and community life through their volunteer efforts during the past year. This year’s recipient is Rothermere House.

The Faculty Volunteer of the Year Award award is presented to a faculty member at Memorial who has made exceptional contributions to the community of Memorial, locally, provincially, or globally, through their volunteer efforts during the past year. This year’s recipient is Nadeem Saqlain.

The Student Volunteer of the year award is presented to an undergraduate or graduate student at Memorial who has made exceptional contributions to the community of Memorial, locally, provincially, or globally, through their volunteer efforts during the past year. This year’s recipient is Kyle Keeping.

The David Kirkland Student Leadership Award is presented to a student who has made exceptional contributions to the Memorial community through leadership and volunteer efforts during the past year. This year’s recipient is Ahmed Khawer.

The Glenn Roy Blundon Award recognizes an individual or a group for excellence in disability accommodation at Memorial University’s St. John’s campus. This year’s recipient is Dr. Luke Beranek.

Information about today’s winners are contained in the backgrounder attached.

April 23 to 29, 2017 is National Volunteer Week in Canada and the provincial theme this year is ‘Volunteering Shapes Lives.’

Media Contact:
Kelly Maguire
Media Relations
City of St. John's
709-576-8491
kmaguire@stjohns.ca