Wendy Belcher from Oakville was recognized yesterday with a June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism.
The awards were presented at a ceremony held in Toronto. Ms. Belcher was recognized for spearheading her church’s Committee for Social Justice, which supports our local women’s shelter, food bank, youth detention centre, and settlement organizations for new immigrants. She is also a long-standing volunteer with the Oakville Historical Society, Chair and co-founder of the Oakville chapter of Amnesty International, and Chair of Bronte Grandmothers for Africa.
The award celebrates dedicated non-profit organizations and individuals who, like the late June Callwood, have made a lasting and meaningful contribution to their communities or have provided significant support to volunteer activities.
“The outstanding efforts, commitment and generosity displayed by this year’s award recipients make a real difference in many people’s lives, and are an inspiration for others to follow their lead and give back to their communities. These amazing volunteers truly honour the memory of June Callwood and the impact she had on our province, which still resonates to this day," stated Michael Chan, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade.
Recognizing Ontario’s volunteers is part of the government’s economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes investing in talent and skills, including helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history and investing in a lowcarbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.
QUICK FACTS
- Late journalist, author and Order of Ontario recipient June Callwood was one of Canada’s
- most well-known social activists, founding or co-founding more than 50 Canadian social
- action organizations.
- A total of 11 people and eight organizations from across the province received a June
- Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award this year as part of National Volunteer Week
- (April 10-16).
- Other Ontario recognition programs for volunteering include the Ontario Medal for YoungVolunteers and the Volunteer Service Awards.
- Since 2009, 150 individuals and groups have received the June Callwood Award
- Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism.