Thaddeus (Ted) Dreher Wins Senior of the Year Award
The City of St. John's is pleased to announce that Thaddeus (Ted) Dreher is the winner of the second annual Senior of the Year Award.
The award, which is a partnership with Kenny's Pond Retirement Residence, honours a local senior who has made significant contributions to the City through service to the community or by improving the quality of life for citizens through community involvement.
Thaddeus (Ted) Dreher was nominated for the award by Dr. Kim Hong for his hard work and dedication to multiculturalism.
Mr. Dreher, fondly known as 'Mr. Multiculturalism' came to Canada from Poland after the Second World War and eventually to Newfoundland with Fenco Engineering in 1959 where he retired 20 years later after a successful and distinguished career.
"Thaddeus Dreher and his wife Suree have been involved with multiculturalism affairs here in St. John's since the late 60's. He became our event coordinator in the Newfoundland and Labrador Multicultural and Folk Arts Council in 1981," states his nomination form. "Because of his dedication and efforts in multiculturalism he has been elected as president every two years in the Council since 1987."
The Mayor's Advisory Committee on Seniors, who reviewed all of the nominations and selected a winner for the award, had a difficult decision given the exceptional quality of the nominations submitted.
"We are pleased and encouraged by the public's interest in recognizing the amazing contributions our seniors have made," says Allan Miller, Chair of the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Seniors. "We are proud to announce that Thaddeus Dreher is our winner and his commitment to our community makes him an exemplary example to all St. John's."
At 93 years of age, Thaddeus Dreher is an energetic and compassionate man dedicated to helping people of all races and promoting multiculturalism through cultural festivals and participation in federal, provincial and local events.
For his endless hard work and dedication over the past 30 years, he has received numerous awards including the 125th Canadian Anniversary Medal and the Governor General Caring Canadian Award.
"Mr. Dreher is a worthy recipient of this award for all he has done for the City of St. John's," says Councillor at Large Tom Hann, Council representative on the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Seniors. "His relentless promotion of multiculturalism has helped foster a community that is better educated, tolerant, understanding and compassionate."
The City is delighted that Kenny's Pond Retirement Residence came onboard again this to sponsor the award and we look forward to a continued relationship with them on the Senior of the Year Award program.
"We are very excited to have the opportunity to join the City of St. John's again this year to honour and celebrate the work of our senior volunteers," says Mary Davis, Marketing Manager at Kenny's Pond Retirement Residence. "Mr. Dreher's active participation in volunteerism and his commitment to multiculturalism underpins community wellbeing and fosters strong, inclusive communities. This recognition presents a great opportunity for our community to strengthen senior volunteering and create an age friendly city."
For further information:
Jennifer Mills
Communications Officer
City of St. John's
Phone: (709) 570-2037
Cell: (709) 690-7586
E-mail: jmills@stjohns.ca
Allan Miller
Chair
Mayor's Advisory Committee on Seniors
City of St. John's
Phone: (709) 739-1011
E-mail: allan.miller@nf.sympatico.ca
Tom Hann
Councillor At Large
Mayor's Advisory Committee on Seniors
City of St. John's
Phone: (709) 576-8219
E-mail: thann@stjohns.ca
Mary Davis
Marketing and Community Relations
Kenny's Pond Retirement Residence
135 Macdonald Drive, St. John's, NL A1A 0E4
Phone: (709) 738-1611
Fax: (709) 579-2933
E-mail: mary@kennyspondresidence.com