Local Volunteers Recognized at the 2023 Ontario Volunteer Service Awards

During a recognition ceremony held in Barrie yesterday evening, several local volunteers were recognized for their outstanding contributions and years of service toward different community organizations.

Congratulations to the following Ontario Volunteer Service Award recipients, recognized for their years of service and for playing an instrumental role in their respective community organization:

• Bill Jermyn, Chase Pickard (youth award recipient), Cyndie Pasquarella, Grace Wittig, John Blake, Park Pickard (youth award recipient), and Susan Cooper: volunteers of the Helping Hand Foodbank.

• Diana Aird, Jean Caulder, and Nancy Bell: volunteers of the Tec-We-Gwill Women’s Institute.

• Garry Fry, Mark Burchell, Peggy Ferrier, and Peter Ellis: volunteers of the Newton Robinson United Church Cemetery Board.

• Jennifer Pegg and Liz Pegg: volunteers of the Santa Claus Parade planning committee.

• Mike Giovanetti: volunteer of the Royal Canadian Legion Bradford Branch (Branch 521).

"On behalf of BWG Council, I extend heartfelt congratulations to all of our local recipients of a 2023 Ontario Volunteer Service Award. Your many years of dedication to your community is inspiring and admirable. We are thrilled to have this prestigious opportunity to recognize your ongoing commitment to BWG and are proud to have residents like yourselves as community stewards." – Mayor James Leduc

The Ontario Volunteer Service Awards recognizes adult and youth volunteers for their outstanding contributions and years of continuous service at organizations. The ceremony was one of several local award recognition ceremonies hosted by the provincial government between August and October 2023.

“I was honoured to nominate some of our amazing community volunteers for this provincial award. They have done and continue to do so much to serve others in town and the ceremony was a special way to celebrate and recognize their work.” – Councillor Jonathan Scott

“As a Board Member of the Helping Hand Foodbank, it was an honour to see many of our volunteers recognized during last night’s ceremony. Volunteers are the keystone of community organizations like our local Helping Hand Foodbank and it was an incredible experience to see them being recognized for that!” – Councillor Cheraldean Duhaney

More information on the 2023 Ontario Volunteer Service Awards can be found at: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1003411/ontario-honours-the-outstanding-contributions-of-volunteers