Media advisory

For immediate release

Lieutenant Governor to honour 40 Ontarians with Caring Canadian Awards

Toronto, February 18, 2014. On behalf of His Excellency the Rt. Hon. David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, the Hon. David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, will present the Governor Generals Caring Canadian Award to 40 Ontarians. The award presentations will take place on Wednesday, February 19 during two separate ceremonies (10am and 2pm) held in the Lieutenant Governors Suite at Queens Park. Receptions for honourees and invited guests will follow. Created in 1995, the Governor Generals Caring Canadian Award recognizes living Canadians and permanent residents who have made a significant, sustained, unpaid contribution to their community, in Canada or abroad. Often working behind the scenes, these individuals volunteer their time and efforts to help their fellow citizens. From time to time, the Lieutenant Governor presents the award on behalf of the Governor General.

Who: What: Where: When:

Media opportunity The Hon. David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Award recipients (see attached list) Governor Generals Caring Canadian Award ceremonies Lieutenant Governors Suite, Queens Park, Toronto Wednesday, February 19, 2014 Morning ceremony: 10am11.30am Afternoon ceremony: 2pm3.30pm

Media are asked to arrive at the west entrance of Queens Park 15 minutes in advance of the above times. Follow LGDavidOnley on Facebook and Twitter. Contact: Mr. Tom Connelly Office of the Lieutenant Governor 416-325-7789 www.lgontario.ca

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Governor Generals Caring Canadian Award Recipients Morning ceremony Farhan Asrar Mississauga For his work in the medical community supporting new Canadians and in particular youth at risk. Cynthia Brooks Toronto For her support of many charities in the Toronto area, by mobilizing the GTARollergirls roller derby league that she founded. Florence Carter Toronto For her contributions to the welfare of blind and visually impaired Canadians, notably as a volunteer and as the author of the first braille text in Canada, which is now a standard resource. Mary Judith Chalmers Owen Sound For her contributions to her community, notably in support of those living with Alzheimers and in the integration of immigrants to their new home. William Frederick (Bill) Crothers Markham For his many contributions promoting healthy living and amateur sport, notably track and field at the provincial and national levels. Anna DeBartolo Woodbridge For promoting self-esteem and academic engagement in high school students, notably as the founder of Maples Closet, which provides clothes to students who could not otherwise afford to attend their graduation. Evelyn Fitzakerley Scarborough For her sustained commitment to bringing music to her community, notably through the Wexford Residences Warblers Choir. Jacqueline Forget Oshawa For her contributions to youth and scouting, notably as the founder of the Flat Beaver program, which gives children the opportunity to learn about their country. Orland Clare French Belleville For his contribution to the preservation of our heritage, notably as president of the Hastings County Historical Society. Rita Marie Gallant Aurora For her warm gift of comfort to the young and the ill, notably by knitting three thousand hats and mittens for newborns and blankets for those in long-term care. Ce document est disponible en franais sur demande. www.lgontario.ca

Joyce Lyn Geddes Marmora For her sustained contributions to the welfare of our veterans, notably those who are homeless or in ill-health. Scott William Grondin Courtice For volunteering and fundraising for Variety Village to make a difference in the lives of those living with disabilities. Williamina (Mina) Heinbecker Hamilton For her sustained voluntarism and civic engagement over a period of more than sixty years. Kenny Hotz Toronto For his sustained and inspirational support of survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Ruth Illman Kenora, formerly Lambton Shores For her voluntarism in support of health initiatives in her community and her involvement in environmental causes, notably those related to forests. Abbas Jahangiri Toronto For his nightly outreach to the homeless, delivering food and warm drinks to those in need. Louise Jarvis Sudbury For her work as a co-founder of the Chosen Soldier Project, reaching out with the comforts of everyday life to Canadian Armed Forces personnel serving abroad. Peter (Piotr) Jassem Toronto For his work to keep alive the lessons of humanity and tolerance learned from Holocaust survivors. Governor Generals Caring Canadian Award Recipients Afternoon ceremony Sheila Duke and Gerry Steinberg Windsor For their contribution to seniors well-being in their community as teachers of Tai Chi and meditation, as well as their involvement in local food co-op and crisis counselling centres. Andrew Kojelis Brantford For his outreach to the people of South Sudan, notably through his annual Save Sudan Benefit Birthday event. Laura Konkel Toronto For her contribution towards global childrens charities and her founding of the Ontario Change the World Challenge. Ce document est disponible en franais sur demande. www.lgontario.ca

Nancy Marshall Toronto For her voluntarism from a young age, notably in support of women and children in crisis. Carol Ann McLean Woodstock As a craftswoman, for her guild leadership and her generous use of her talents in quilting and leather craft in support of wounded soldiers and women at risk. Cindy Ross Pedersen Toronto For her innovative contributions to making volunteering more accessible to others, and her own gifts of self, notably as a mentor to youth. Heather Pelky Algoma Mills For her support of many charities and her community engagement, notably through Algoma Mills Community Police Advisory Committee and the Catholic Womens League, where she has volunteered for almost four decades. Nicola Allison Pizzirusso Toronto For her support of Ronald McDonald House and Distress Centres Survivor Support Program, as well as fundraising for cancer research. John A. Reeve-Newson Toronto For his dedication to animal welfare, notably through the founding of the Companion Animal Wellness Foundation and the Pet Trust. Vivien Rogers Port Carling For her sustained engagement in her community, notably by preserving family histories and through her many performances with The Minettones choir. Robert Stewart Scott Cobourg For his committed efforts, through Rotary International, towards eradicating polio worldwide. Anne Siemens St. Catharines For her work with the Grace Mennonite Ladies Society, whose quilts have been sent as a tangible comfort to those in Syria, Russia, Romania and Haiti. Narine Dat Sookram Kitchener For his long involvement in the Caribbean community, notably through sharing its culture with the wider Kitchener community, and his support of childrens education in Guyana. Barbara Ann Tahir Toronto For her active involvement in youth outreach and crime prevention in Toronto neighbourhoods.

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Martin Teplitsky Toronto For founding the Lawyers Feed the Hungry program, which provides meals for the homeless in downtown Toronto. Susanne Thomas North York For her long involvement with crafting Christmas care packages for members of the Canadian Armed Forces. James (Jim) Thompson Cobourg For his dedicated support of abandoned children in India and Nepal, notably by founding Street Keepers International. Frank and Elisabeth Verwey Ajax For their many contributions to the well-being of their community, supporting their hospital, their hockey teams, and neighbours who are in need. Bethany-Rose Wilson Cambridge For her sustained support of the homeless and of youth at risk, as well as her volunteer work in Central America. Sarah Zankar Barrie Pour ses initiatives qui engagent les jeunes envers des causes sociales, telles la cration du comit Leaders de demain contre la faim au sein de son cole, et le projet Lettre aux ains qui permet de tisser des liens avec les personnes ges du foyer Roberta Place.

Ce document est disponible en franais sur demande.

www.lgontario.ca