Community Spirit Awards Nominees

As a long-time director of the Oakville Historical Society (OHS), Andrea Stewart has worked hard to promote quality of life in Oakville. She is a volunteer interpreter at the Thomas House Museum, appears in OHS videos, served as the membership coordinator, delivered books, organized refreshments, writes newsletter articles and has conducted guided walks.

Andrea is an all-round ambassador for the OHS. She willingly takes on any job from greeting, to making tea or re-writing the scripts for the walking tours. Thanks largely to Andrea's efforts, the OHS YouTube channel has well over 50 videos on a range of topics including life in early Oakville, the characters that make it unique and historic churches. Her newsletter articles reach hundreds and help them gain interest in the history of Oakville.

With over 35 years of experience as an artist, Dominique Prevost generously shares her wealth of knowledge and diverse experiences with artists residing in Oakville. Above all, her willingness to sacrifice her time to assist artists who may be physically challenged or of advanced age is truly commendable and serves as an inspiration to everyone.

Moreover, Dominique exhibits active leadership by sharing her expertise in exhibition planning and curatorial skills with many artists, organizing exhibitions, and forming councils. She engages in various volunteer activities across different fields, striving to contribute to the development of the local community.

Dominique played a pivotal role during the 'Together' Show in 2023 and 2024, organizing exhibitions featuring eight Canadian artists, eight Korean artists, and an art competition for 80 amateurs and youth. Serving as a bridge for all activities, she volunteered to coordinate exhibition schedules, facilitate communication between display artists, and mediate discussions.

Marg Catley has demonstrated their dedication in supporting the town’s efforts to beautify our public open spaces by donating their time in transplanting close to 90,000 annuals from seedling trays to finished planting trays within five weeks! They have an established record of supporting the Municipal Greenhouses in preparing our parks displays, Business Improvement Area planters and hanging baskets annually. Marg has contributed many hours of seasonal service during this key time of the year with a narrow window of activity to perform specific tasks that will result in a suitable product.

Marie Decker generously donated their time and worked within the Municipal Greenhouses' schedule for the specific task of transplanting close to 90,000 annuals from seedling trays to finished planting trays within five weeks! For many years, they have supported the need for additional help at a time where other priorities occupy town staff. The tasks they perform support the Municipal Greenhouses' annual production goals in providing suitable plants for our annual parks displays, Business Improvement Area planters and hanging baskets.

Oakville Festivals of Film & Art (OFFA) is a nonprofit organization that has engaged more than 45 community groups and partners, raised thousands for local nonprofits and charities, and collaborated with local businesses. They exhibit leadership in the arts and film with proven experience running successful film festivals and year-round programming. OFFA brings people together, celebrates diversity, is rooted in inclusion and accessibility, and, provides meaningful volunteer opportunities. They also engage aspiring film makers by showcasing student films and through their Industry Summit, a very powerful way for aspiring filmmakers to network with other industry sector professionals.

OFFA consistently gives back to the community. Over the last 11 years, OFFA has created an impact by fundraising for and collaborating with organizations and businesses, as well as helping families and students to attend their events through free or sponsored tickets. They connect film, art, and cultural organizations with community nonprofits in an innovate way to create change. For example, with the screening of a mental health-related film, OFFA engaged in a partnership with Victim Services and Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). For the recent International Women's Day, OFFA engaged an Indigenous organization for a drumming performance and raised $1000 for Halton Women's Centre.

Rachel Williams founded the Oakville community-based arts initiative Art in My Garden (AIMG) in 2021. The idea was to collaborate with residents in Old Oakville who offer up their front gardens in an inclusive and equitable opportunity for Oakville-based artists of all levels of experience.

This curated one-day event breaks barriers by offering free admission, ensuring accessibility, and providing ease of viewing for all attendees. With no restrictions on who can visit, she has effectively elevated Oakville's status as a hub of culture and the arts. AIMG serves as a beacon of vibrancy within the community, igniting curiosity about our heritage, history, and ongoing contributions to the land.

Through AIMG, Rachel has orchestrated a harmonious convergence of artists, retailers, host residents, and visitors, uniting them in a collective celebration of the arts. This collaborative effort not only showcases the diverse talents of Oakville's creative community but also fosters a sense of camaraderie and mutual support among all participants.

Rick Snelling has contributed many years of seasonal service supporting the town’s efforts to beautify our public open spaces. Donating their time transplanting close to 90,000 annuals from seedling trays to finished planting trays within five weeks at the Municipal Greenhouse makes an appreciative difference in maintaining our schedules and achieving our production goals.

Sunny has been running Rainbow Studio for almost a decade, bringing artists and art appreciation together. Hosted at her gallery in Oakville for two years now, her Together show draws people from all across the GTA to enjoy the town.

Sunny demonstrates inclusivity by involving a range of students from all backgrounds and ages, holding a yearly exhibition of Oakville's artistic talents at QEPCCC. This event celebrates the Canadian and Korean relations and hosts her students' art and professional art from all backgrounds. Sunny always prioritizes access of art for all, engages the community to support local artists, and empowers her students and staff to make their name known in the world and take a piece of Oakville with them.

Colin Delevante is passionate about the environment. At just 15 years old, his efforts as a volunteer with Oakvillegreen, the Oakville Community Centre for Peace, Ecology and Human Rights and the Town of Oakville's Urban Forest Health Monitoring program have helped to protect and restore the ecological functions of local lands and waters, creating a more resilient and healthy community.

Since 2022 he has been involved with Oakvillegreen Conservation Association as a volunteer at three separate tree planting events and an Earth Day clean up at Buttonbush Woods Park. As a volunteer in Oakvillegreen's partnership with Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre, he also aided in the creation of the first mini forest in Oakville. This past summer Colin was an active volunteer involved in urban forest health monitoring with the Town of Oakville as a Forest Health Ambassador. He monitored neighbourhood street trees for invasive insects, disease and other issues related to forest health.

Every single time Colin has volunteered in any capacity, he has acted as a leader in gathering other youth from Oakville to join him to support these worthy endeavours and organizations. In turn, Colin and the young people he enlists are able to develop and enhance a variety of skills such as collaboration and teamwork.

Gweneth Arumainayagam recognizes that when it comes to saving our planet, it takes a diverse set of actions throughout one's life to make a difference. She integrates it into her personal and school life and is always encouraging those around her to make positive changes to be a part of the solution as well.

She spends her free time picking up garbage and picking the invasive plant garlic mustard to stop the spread throughout the city. She has become a vegetarian to help with the climate issue for our planet as a whole and introduced her family to an app called "Too Good to Go", where users can buy and save food that stores and restaurants would be throwing out, reducing the amount of food waste created in our community – it's a great way to support local businesses too.

Gweneth also participates in her schools eco club to organize events and initiatives within her school. She was featured in the ETFO Voice elementary school teacher's magazine as a young climate leader, sharing her insights and tips for change. On their podcast, she helped spread the word on how teachers and schools can be a part of the solution as well.

Srilatha Jujaray passionately devotes her weekends to community service, actively engaging in projects and campaigns combating climate change. Her collaborative leadership fosters teamwork, empowering others to assume leadership roles and contribute to the community.

She has spearheaded impactful initiatives, including tree planting campaigns like the Public Tree Campaign at Nautical Park, Oakville Food Forest, HEN, and many others, promoting biodiversity and combating deforestation. She actively participates in community activities, organizing clean-ups, educating Oakvillians on sustainability, and attending environmental webinars. She initiates weed removal and litter clean-up efforts, fostering community cohesion. She encouraged water conservation through leak repairs and rainwater harvesting workshops. She volunteered for Save Soil to promote awareness of soil erosion. Additionally, she has implemented neighbourhood carpooling and composting programs, reducing carbon footprints.

Srilatha tackles several challenges related to climate change, striving to make a meaningful impact in Oakville. One significant challenge she addresses is the loss of tree cover and deforestation. By actively participating in tree planting initiatives, she contributed to the restoration of forests, helping to mitigate the adverse effects of deforestation & preserve biodiversity. Another challenge she confronts is environmental pollution, particularly in lakes, trails and parks. of Oakville. Through her involvement in community cleanups, she works to remove litter and pollution, safeguarding local ecosystems and promoting cleaner, healthier environments for both wildlife and residents.

From spring to winter, you can see Chuck Yaeck busy along the street helping the elderly people or people who are out, mowing lawns, watering plants, raking leaves, shovelling snow, even though he is over 70 years old. He always chats with different neighbours, finds out their needs and takes the initiative to find solutions. When we moved in, he introduced a boy from another new moved family to my son, the two kids became good friends, which made them very happy.

He measured and custom-made a tempered glass for my dining table. He gave my daughter pinwheels to make her giggle and my son a soccer ball to kick with friends. He handed us a better tool when he saw that we were changing tires. He took our trash to the landfill when it wasn't picked up. There are too many things I can't list, but I know that he tried to help anyone he thought might need help. It would be impossible to do this consistently without a kind and helpful heart. Chuck is the best neighbour I have ever had.

Chuck's selflessness not only alleviates burdens for individual residents but also strengthens community bonds. Beyond practical assistance, he actively fosters a welcoming and inclusive environment, building meaningful relationships with neighbours. Chuck's dedication to fostering a strong sense of community spirit makes him a true asset to our neighbourhood, inspiring us all to embody the values of kindness and supportiveness.

In 2023, after 70 years at its Spruce Street location in Oakville, the congregation of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church made the difficult decision to dissolve and sell its property. Over $2 million of the sale proceeds was donated to the following 10 Oakville or Halton charities:

• Fare Share Food Bank
• Habitat for Humanity
• Halton Women's Place
• Kerr Street Mission
• Oakville Hospital Foundation
• OakvilleGreen
• SafetyNet
• Sleeping Children Around the World
• Support House
• Townsend Smith Foundation Hospice

The congregation hopes that through these donations, the charities can further their missions for years to come.

Jasvinder Manku makes being a good neighbour a priority in her life whether she is walking down the street smiling at people, visiting people in the hospital trying to make their lives more meaningful and having an open heart for everyone she meets. She truly desires to be there for others and is always very positive.

As we know, walking into a new environment by yourself is very intimidating. Link2Wellbeing Ambassadors help the individual meet other members in the program to help make them feel more comfortable quickly. Jasvinder has been a huge advocate for this program and goes above and beyond to help each one of the clients. She has a welcoming personality and loves to see people included in the activities that they enjoy.

Jasvinder is enhancing the quality of life for many people in her community. In addition to her volunteer work at Queen Elizabeth Park Older Adults Centre and Sir John Colborne Recreation Centre for Seniors, Jasvinder has been a volunteer at the Oakville hospital for years and helps with the Hospital Elder Life Program. Each Tuesday she goes to the hospital to spend time talking with patients who need someone to listen and care for what they are going through.

Jen Bourikas created a neighbourhood Facebook page so that community members can connect with each other and keep updated on current developments. She posts reminders and also uses this platform to promote new businesses and neighbours.

Jen is deserving of this award as she is an inspiration to others and has been a solid contributor as a neighbour and supporter of the community spirit.

Lyn Wilson has been a driver for Oakville Meals on Wheels for over 20 years. Once a week, she delivers meals to those most vulnerable in the Oakville community. Meal delivery is more than just food; it is also an informal wellness check to make sure people are thriving while continuing to live independently. This also enhances the quality of life for clients by ensuring social interaction and reducing isolation. Sometimes our drivers are the only people client see/interact with on a daily basis.

For many years, she was a member of the Oakville Meals on Wheels volunteer Board of Directors in a leadership role helping to shape our operations and policy. Until recently, Lyn was also a weekly meal packer, ensuring all drivers on Wednesday had their meals ready to go. She often goes above and beyond for her clients and has established relationships with some of them that extends beyond a weekly meal delivery.

Before retirement, Lyn was a teacher, preparing our youngest citizens for the world ahead. She left that position early to care for an elderly parent facing terminal health issues. She is an active member in her church. Her diverse contributions have made a lasting and steadfast impact to the Oakville community at large.

Sixteen-year-old Marcus Moschella is always seeking ways in which he can demonstrate to our younger generation what it is to be a motivated and service driven leader. His continued assistance with The Best Buddies Program at his school helps to raise awareness and inclusion with special needs students sharing time, fostering healthy friendships and helping his younger peers see the significance that can be made on a daily basis. Along with this, Marcus has been a driving volunteer member in the Breakfast Club program preparing and providing morning meals to those in need in order to help fuel their mind and body at school.

His focus in The Challenge and Conquest program amongst our youth has given him the opportunity to lead by example. Marcus is helping children of all ages foster a strong belief in themselves through integrated sports activities involving students aged nine to eighteen years followed by an opportunity to examine their hopes, goals and struggles through group discussions and guidance in formulating a stronger more inclusive community of compassionate youth.

The weekly Friendship Luncheon Program at the Colborne Centre combines lunch with a social outing for seniors who live alone. It provides a sense of purpose and quality of life for participants who look forward to spending time together each week. Margaret Hogervorst consistently coordinates the volunteer drivers to pick up the Clients from their home, take them to the centre for lunch and an activity, and back home again.

Margaret also volunteers her time as a Friendly Visitor with Acclaim Health, serving isolated adults by providing conversation and friendship. She leads the Pathfinders Turtle Group at the Colborne Centre, organizing and planning the trail routes each week. Always providing a warm and welcoming environment for new members, Margaret’s dedication has ensured the sustainability of the program.

Margaret’s dedication to her volunteer role as a friendly visitor makes a valuable difference in the lives of the people she sees. Her warm smile and kind words provide the necessary comfort and friendship imperative to the clients involved in this program. Margaret’s attention to detail and organization of the hiking program offers participants the chance to enjoy a walk along the trails of Oakville. The friendships and conversation that develop on these walks are a direct result of her efforts.

If you do a search of any community Facebook page, you will see Medhat Mahm's name mentioned HUNDREDS of times. He is always recommended by the community and SO many people speak so highly of him. He is not just a pharmacist but a pillar of our neighbourhood.

Medhat's commitment goes beyond dispensing medication. He leads by example, setting unparalleled standards for patient care. With an astounding ability to remember every patron by name, alongside the details of their family members and their medical histories, he fosters a level of personal care and trust that is both rare and invaluable.

He passionately educates and encourages the community on the importance of vaccinations, playing a critical role in keeping us all safe and healthy. Through his extraordinary memory, attention to detail, and genuine care for every individual, Medhat has significantly enhanced the quality of life for our community members.

Molly Copping can be counted on in a pinch to help wherever she is needed. She has a can-do spirit and brings joy to all around her. Molly understands that people may not feel included or able to participate due to limitations such as vision, financial constraints, health or transportation. Molly is a good neighbour in that she is always willing to say yes to an opportunity, especially if it will bring a smile to the face of an older adult.

Molly has been a long-time dedicated volunteer with the Friendship Luncheon program at the Colborne Centre. She is committed to ensuring quality of life for older adults and neighbours in her community by driving people to the program every week and supporting those clients privately for personal errands. Molly is an organizer who ensures everyone has an opportunity to participate in social activities and engagement despite ability or access.

Molly dresses up each year as Queen Victoria to help older adults celebrate Canada Day at the seniors centre and as Mrs. Claus at Christmastime. Molly has personally made both of the costumes down to the finite details of the crown, gloves and brooch as well as the faux fur trimmed cape and reading specs Mrs. Claus wears. When Queen Victoria makes her grand entrance the joy on the seniors' faces is incredible to see. She even goes as far as to offer her hand for a kiss by her loyal patrons! Mrs. Claus is also a sight to see. She hands out candy canes, distributes hugs and smiles, and reminisces about the seniors' youth as well as the joy of Christmas.

Over the past 12 years, Ruth Perkins’s passion and dedication to providing warm winter clothing for those in need has grown and she is now the lynch pin that keeps the group of over 25 volunteers coming back to assist. Under Ruth’s leadership, volunteers collect gently-used winter attire year-round, culminating in distribution on the annual October Giveaway Day. Collection and demand have grown steadily, with about 1,500 items being distributed to over 600 people (individuals and families) in 2023.

Being a firm believer in recycling, Ruth is doing her part. With her team of volunteers, the Bronte Coat Drive is thriving with financial contributions obtained through local businesses and churches. When the original storage provider was no longer able to assist, Ruth made a presentation to the Oakville Hydro Board resulting in the current long-standing supportive relationship. To promote the Coat Drive, Ruth donned four coats and headed into a July church service to appeal to the congregation for donations. in helping to repurpose gently-used winter clothing.

Ruth is a tireless worker for others. She led her church's volunteer outreach committee, helping seniors through an annual tax clinic, cooking and serving at the Lighthouse Shelter, distributing Fresh Food Boxes and supporting Wesley Ministries (for the homeless) in Hamilton. She's a wonderful human being who goes about helping wherever there is a need, without looking for any return.

Catherine Ross is a tireless dedicated volunteer of Oakville organizations and a committed advocate for seniors. She has taken an active role in championing and educating the community on many fronts:

• contributing her time and enthusiasm since her retirement in 2015 as a member of the Sir John Colborne Recreation Centre for Seniors, and serving on their Operations Committee
• becoming a weekly presence in the Oakville Celtic Fiddle Orchestra when she took the instrument up a few years ago, eventually teaching preschoolers at the orchestra director’s Academy of Music
• singing as a member of the Tempus Choral Society and organizing the children’s choir – Tempus4Us.
• performing sing-alongs within the community for seniors and others as a valued member of the Colborne Guitgang, a volunteer group of seniors who practise twice weekly
• planning and organizing weekly performances through the year and convening the Interlink Choir (40 plus members)

As an integral part of The Spectacular Cabaret – an annual variety show that provides talented amateur senior entertainers the opportunity to perform onstage with professional sound, lighting and direction, Catherine is on the committee that organizes the show, a featured performer, conducts The Showcase Academy (an ensemble she created for first-time performers, develops the acts – content, music – even lyrics & choreography, while coaching these novices.

Olamidotun Votu-Obada is worthy of the Community Spirit Award for her dedication to teaching valuable principles to the most significant members of our society, children. The world around her and Oakville has been profoundly impacted by her My Inspire Books and readings, as she has opened up the eyes of children to possibilities and a bright future. The reach of her books is international and benefits children in and out of Oakville and Africa.

She has happily read these books in schools in the Halton District. Watching her freely inspire children with her books about African heroes and picture books on self-love and improving self-image has been a pleasure. Her audience benefits regardless of race, colour or age.

During Black History Month 2024, she kindly held a book launch that facilitated the sharing of African history and inspiring lifestyles among people of all races and colors. A number of people, including the mayor of Oakville and a couple of MPs from Oakville, were present at the book launch. It was a great and impactful event for children and adults alike.

Bella Onay believes in the power of thinking global and acting local. She is a board member of Oakvillegreen Conservation Association, a volunteer in Kerr Street Mission – Cobs Bread end-of day bread giving program, and a mentor for the Women Entrepreneurship Hub (We-Hub) in partnership with Toronto Metropolitan University’s Diversity Institute.

With her International Banking background, Bella is a business leader, a trusted advisor, and a community-builder in Oakville. Bella has been leading MOM2MOM BIZ since 2017 that connects hundreds of women entrepreneurs in Oakville, helping them grow their businesses through meaningful connections, referrals and collaborations. Currently, the MOM2MOM BIZ Facebook Community has 4,200 members who come from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Clothing and food drives, silent auctions, fundraisers, tree planting events are some of the ways MOM2MOM BIZ gives back to Oakville. Since 2017, MOM2MOM BIZ members have collectively supported Halton Women’s Place, Girls Inc. of Halton, Oakville-Milton Humane Society, SafetyNet, Oakvillegreen Association and Rotary Club of Oakville raising more than $20,000 and planting 260 trees.

Volunteering to establish and maintain a big event is a very large commitment of one's personal time, but David Hamon led a very small organizing committee to establish the Ken Bradwell Soccer Tournament. Teams come from Oakville, Burlington, Mississauga and even Ajax to raise funds for Oakville Trafalgar Hospital, Joseph Brant Hospital and the Juravinski Regional Cancer Centre.

He demonstrated great leadership and practical skills and, supported by Debbie Hawley, put in many hours to plan and execute the required activities, as well as finding sponsors and encouraging his friends and colleagues to participate. Although he has now resigned from the organizing committee, David has served as Tournament Director and Treasurer. David and Debbie continue to come out to support the event and still help out at the social which follows the football tournament.

Both have contributed many, many thousands of dollars in personal donations to Oakville Trafalgar Hospital through the Ken Bradwell Foundation. This combination of volunteerism, leadership and philanthropy has been of enormous benefit to the hospital and Oakville community.

For over ten years, Don Croucher has been a strong supporter of Oakville's holiday traditions, particularly the Oakville Santa Claus Parade, making these events cherished memories for the community. Whether it was taking on new roles and responsibilities through virtual holiday events, dedicating additional time and commitment to his role, or enduring hours of harsh weather conditions at the Oakville PFFA Toy Drive, Don has done so under his personal commitment to Oakville's residents, both young and old.

Over the last four years, Don's dedication to the community has been an inspiration and motivator to both staff and community members. The Oakville Santa Claus Parade was in jeopardy in 2020 when public gatherings were not permitted. Staff proposed a unique solution of pivoting the event to be virtual. Regardless of the time or effort that was required, Don gave us an immediate and unwavering "yes", ensuring that the holiday spirit remained alive for Oakville's children, youth and families. Don's commitment allowed the community to come together in ways that were inclusive, far-reaching, and special to community members. When the town pivoted yet again to offer a new drive-thru donation event with the Oakville PFFA, Don did not hesitate to offer his time.

As the parade enters its 76th year, such an event relies heavily on the individuals who can see and feel the positive impact it has on Oakville's community. It is undeniable that Don brings the magic that these events have.

Duran Place for Kids is an innovative, interactive group for kids which is fantastic for the community. Tina and Claudio are both so amazing at their craft and you can tell they care deeply for the parents and children who attend their weekly programs. They are warm, welcoming, and provide a unique experience for their members. Having them at our home has been a pleasure! They make sure everyone in their group is comfortable, feel welcome, and has a great time!

Tina and Claudio at Duran Place for Kids are what makes communities great. They want nothing more than to provide the best experience for their groups. They go above and beyond to create unique experiences for their members and do it with such love and warmth. They are constantly thinking of the needs of their members and it reflects in the amazing services they offer.

Heena Desai has been an integral part of the local neighbourhood in Joshua Creek, as well as Oakville in general. She always has a kind word people, welcomes newcomers and initiates meaningful events around her core interests - health, wellbeing and sustainability. Whether an event at the local organic small business Source Bulk Foods, or teaching local children Hindi and Gujrati, or participating in the library, Heena has the energy to bring new ideas to life and includes everyone in the process.

Heena is a single mom who works hard to be the best role model for her daughters, to be an inspiration for them. She now owns her own flourishing business as an Ayurvedic coach, holistic skin therapist, yoga Pranayam teacher and practices sound meditation. She shares her knowledge and expertise so that others can improve their health, inside and out. Heena has been inclusive to the online and in-person community. She is innovative, using different mediums to educate from Instagram to in-home cooking classes. She has given talks on the panel of Women of Excellence in Oakville and in numerous workshops at various businesses in Oakville inspiring members of the community to have healthier lifestyles and better mental health.

To their CNIB Envision Peer Group, Joe Berkmanns and Ruth Sheridan are kind, considerate, always there was a supportive word and a suggestion if need be... They go above and beyond their duties to ensure that the group and other low vision/blind members of the community have a quality of life in Oakville that is on par with their sighted counterparts.

Even before Joe was a volunteer, he was connecting with the group to offer any assistance he could, whether it was going for walks along paths they might not have gotten to without sighted guide, helping with technology issues, or just sitting down for coffee with someone. Ruth, outside of her CNIB volunteer role, is active with other organizations, always searching for information, research, resources, etc.

Both Joe and Ruth continue to be a source of inspiration. They rally the troops to attend community discussions, like the recent transportation meeting. They wanted to ensure that members of the Oakville public were there to express their concerns on how this will affect the blind/low vision community because transportation and street crossings for the low vision/blind community is extremely important to their independence.

Pamela Strachan is one of the key reasons Iroquois Ridge Older Adult Centre (IROAC) is thriving after COVID. She steps in whenever needed for special events, youth events, grabbing supplies, doing laundry etc. without ever being asked or taking "no" as an answer.

Pamela has been assisting in fighting the isolation of so many seniors. From our clients at our Friendship Luncheon program to the volunteers and to Seniors Services members at IROAC, Pamela always makes sure people are acknowledged and taken care of. She will take the time to bring in special gifts for volunteers and friendship luncheon clinics. She will go visit senior members in hospital. As the Chair and past secretary of the Advisory Committee at the IROAC, she likes to ensure everyone is included and everything is fair.

Rabbi Stephen Wise has worked at Shaarei Beth El Synagogue since 2007 and has been a huge contributor to the Town of Oakville. He is always open to innovative programming in the community. This past year alone the synagogue has held twice monthly programming for seniors of all backgrounds in our sanctuary, we have built and fostered Jewish-Indigenous relations in our community through specific programming and have held successful events with the Caribbean Association of Halton. In addition, Rabbi Wise is an active member of the Inter Faith Council of Halton. He believes strongly in uniting people of all backgrounds and faiths.

Since the events of October 7 in Israel and ongoing conflict, our community has found itself isolated and alone with very few people speaking out about the exponential increase in antisemitic acts occurring all over the world and Oakville. Our children at HDSB schools are now afraid to say they are Jewish and have been victims of hate-filled comments and acts at school. Our community as a whole feels threatened and afraid. Rabbi Wise has done a phenomenal job of creating opportunities for the Jewish community to come together and support one another. He is aware of the needs of our community and acts to ensure we are supported. Not only has he been inspirational to our community, but he has also maintained solid relationships with the general community, elected officials, the school board and the police to ensure our voices are heard.

I speak for all of the homeowners of the 72 homes on Gladacres Lane when I say that Tanya Moschella's community leadership and dedication to our town and its people are unlike anyone else. For 14 continuous years she has supported The Gift of Giving through the voices of the neighbourhood.

She formed The Angelic Gladacres Carolers. Each year she leads the children opening her door to all through rehearsals of Christmas music at her home. She then creates flyers and delivers them to each home and posts reminders on the mailboxes to encourage participation in giving and receiving the gift of music. As the young children sing at each of the 72 doors, Tanya gathers wagons to stock the canned goods which are always kindly donated to Kerr Street Mission. In providing the children with the opportunity to sing, Tanya is nurturing their innate desire to 'do good.' The message of selflessness, of compassion and involvement within our community is something which Tanya continues to teach the children. It is giving put into action.

Since the founding of Duran Place for Kids, Tina DiCrisci has been providing children with numerous opportunities of various forms of play and parents with her valuable knowledge of children. This mother of five and foster mother of many has always found ways to bring people together and to give back to the community.

To bring joy to children during Covid, she arranged for free socially distanced Easter Bunny visits. This has grown into a wonderful yearly free Easter Parade Event that benefits a local food bank. She inspires students, local bands, and local businesses to volunteer and participate in this giving event enjoyed by hundreds. As well she organizes free Toy Swap events for families that also benefits Dr. Simone's Canadian Food for Children. Flower enthusiasts of all ages enjoy the free yearly Community Plant Swamp.

Tina has made a most positive impact by bringing the Duran Place for Kids "Baby Days" into a number of Retirement Homes. Her events are a highlight of the week for many seniors who now have the opportunity to enjoy and interact with babies and toddlers who are learning through art, music, unstructured play, and interacting with animals. This cross-generational fun is definitely beneficial for both the babies and our valuable grand-friends.

Hamza Quadri volunteers with Halton Healthcare’s 3N CTC Recreational Therapy program and Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP), demonstrating exemplary leadership and excellence to improve the quality of life (QOL) of elderly patients. In the Recreation Therapy program, Hamza greets and transports patients, provides refreshments, and works with a team to plan and lead recreational activities to foster socialization, instil positivity into hospital visits, and improve cognition. In HELP, Hamza enhances patient’s QOL by conducting interventions assigned by Elder Life Specialist that aim to prevent delirium/functional decline. He reorients patients to their surroundings, provides feeding support, leads mobility/therapeutic activities, or engages patients in conversation.

Moreover, Hamza is a reliable team-player, stepping in when a volunteer is unavailable. Additionally at HELP, Hamza trained volunteers during shadows shifts, ensuring everyone was capable and confident to carry-out interventions independently. Through his efforts, Hamza connected with patients, diverted their attention away from their daily struggles, and contributed to making their hospital stays pleasant, improving recovery and morale. Hamza’s efforts contribute to improving patients cognitive, spiritual and physical well-being allowing the seamless transition from hospital to home or next transition for more support.

In addition to volunteering at Halton Healthcare, Hamza dedicates his non-working hours to another organization called ACE Learning that helps provide online learning to students in grades 1-8, residing in London, Oakville, and Hamilton.

As the artistic director of Oakville Improv Company (OIC), Amy McKenzie has strived to focus on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility for all students, performers, audience members, and the community. She has been instrumental in:

• setting up classes for people with disabilities
• developing flexible price plans for courses for people with low-income
• focusing on DEI in all class and show environments to ensure representation on the stage by all people, regardless of ethnicity, colour, gender/gender identity, etc.

Amy is a strong supporter of the arts in our community. Oakville Improv is always involved in the town’s culture days, and she has been involved with Arthouse Halton, bringing free improv to children who have little access to art programs in the community. She has worked in schools with kids who experience high anxiety and other social barriers. She sees improv as a way to help people feel empowered and reduce anxiety. She also served on the Special Education Advisory Committee for the Halton District School Board.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Amy offered the community an opportunity to escape the chaos and unknown in the world by facilitating free virtual improv workshops and shows. Her dedication to supporting her community through tough times is inspiring

Amy is putting the town of Oakville on the artistic map. With Toronto so close, most people look there when searching for comedy shows. Amy’s social connections, however, have brought big names out to Oakville, including Colin Mochrie, Gary Pearson, Geri Hall, and Lisa Merchant. Sold out shows at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre and Moonshine Cafe demonstrate the value the community places on having easy access to the performing arts.

Diana Berriman demonstrates her leadership qualities on a daily basis as the Program Director of Oakville Strokers for the past 15 years. She has made the town more inclusive for people with disabilities, including stroke survivors, and has significantly increased the quality of life for many.

Diana spends countless hours leading this group and making sure each participant and volunteer feels welcome. She is compassionate and helps lift the spirits of all participants. She goes the extra mile to ensure participants’ accessibility needs are met and that everyone feels safe in the pool. For example, securing aqua wheelchairs and recruiting enough volunteers to ensure the safety of each participant in the pool.

I am a stroke survivor and can say my life has improved because of Diana serving the community. Her dedication to ensuring Oakville Strokers runs smoothly takes countless hours of coordination. Diana is committed to ensuring that her fellow Oakville residents have physical, emotional and mental well-being. She is always there to listen and is a constant source of support to many.

Fatima Sultan is just 15 years old but, alongside her sister Amna, she is co-founder of Two Sisters on a Mission – a $500,000 dollar company with a mission to ‘Empower Every Girl To Live Her Best Life’. Fatima is passionate about using the power of technology and AI to create a better world and solve global challenges. She has launched businesses that have inspired and helped thousands of people around the world.

Through her story, products and ed-tech platform she and her sister have reached millions of people in Canada and around the world with a simple mission to inspire people to take action. She has spoken at various school boards to inspire youths to launch businesses to tackle the world's biggest problems. She has done many keynotes in schools on accelerating the journey as a changemaker, motivating more girls to enter the tech industry, and encouraging youths to build businesses that fight against climate change.

Fatima has organized library builds in First Nation Reserves, Mexico, Morocco, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and many others. Fatima and her sister were the youngest EVER exhibitors and speakers at the largest North American tech conference – Collision, came in the top 5 national finalist at IBM Tech for Good against thousands of competitors, won various awards from UN and Desjardin.

Frank Fisico has been a beacon of leadership in Oakville for 25 years, mentoring young baseball talents as head coach for the Oakville A’s. His dedication has led teams to victory in league competitions and tournaments like the Dave Dash. He's coached flag football for the Oakville Titans and supported MOHA hockey players' skills as a coach and trainer. Frank's commitment extends to non-parent coaching for U14 to U16 AA players and as a head trainer for U12 AA. Beyond sports, he supports young athletes' emotional, social, and academic needs, leaving a lasting positive impact on their development.

Frank also connects with Oakville seniors, delivering meals weekly and offering meaningful conversations as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Additionally, as a motorcycle instructor at Sheridan College, he instills confidence in Oakville's residents and augments road safety in our community. With dedication and compassion, Frank leaves an enduring imprint, inspiring excellence and generosity in all he does. He ensures both young and old have a caring role model to nurture their goals and overcome obstacles.

Marlene Bristol inspires and leads her peers in her many volunteer roles in Oakville. As a dedicated volunteer on Trafalgar Park Community Centre Seniors Services committees, she chairs and leads the volunteers through daily activities and supports the finances for the senior members. She understands exactly what is needed in the centre as she is involved in so many aspects.

As a program convener she promotes social engagement through the DVD lecture learnings. She helps isolated seniors by providing a hot lunch, social activities and a drive home if needed in our Friendship Luncheon program and is already inspiring change to improve this program. In the community, Marlene is a volunteer member of the Canadian Federation of University Women Oakville (CFUW) Oakville.

Marlene is a true leader in every sense and her remarkable innovated ways to get people involved in the community is outstanding. She is a dedicated volunteer who is compassionate, empathetic, and advocates for the well-being of the age 50+ members and the seniors in our community.

Mary Anne Semanyshyn has been volunteering her time with the Oakville Pickleball Association, first as the president and now, supporting the group with time and knowledge for several years. Through her involvement, she has seen to it that the town make many improvements to indoor and outdoor pickleball opportunities:

• she has worked with the town to significantly increase the number of drop-in programs for indoor pickleball play
• she is working with the town to get greatly needed windscreens at Fowley Park, something unprecedented within the town
• she is very involved with the planning of future pickleball facilities for the town

Mary Anne often talks with people at outdoor pickleball events, encouraging them and helping them to play better. She is also one to remind others to be inclusive of all players no matter what their level of play may be.

Pierce Lang exemplifies outstanding leadership through his proactive engagement in various community organizations, including the Oakville Soccer Club and the Knights of Columbus.

As a member of the Oakville Soccer Club's scholarship committee, he plays a vital role in selecting 10 deserving young residents to receive funds for their education.;

Serving as a member of the Executive Council and Recorder for the Knights of Columbus, Pierce brings a fresh perspective and boundless enthusiasm to the table, effectively bridging generational divides. His role involves not only administrative duties but also leading transformative initiatives like the Adopt-a-Road program, which underscores his commitment to promoting community stewardship and ensuring public safety.

Pierce's exceptional leadership in the community shines brightly through his unwavering commitment to fundraising for the SickKids Foundation via the Great Cycle Challenge. Throughout the month of August, Pierce embarked on a monumental journey, cycling an impressive average of approximately 40 kms each day, before and after his regular working hours. This incredible feat underscores his unwavering dedication to making a meaningful impact. By tirelessly pedaling through 1250 kms, Pierce not only raises vital funds but also raises awareness for children in need. His selfless actions exemplify the true spirit of community and serve as an inspiration to us all. Through his extraordinary efforts, including his commitment to fundraising, Pierce collected nearly $4000 in donations for the SickKids Foundation, demonstrating that with determination and compassion, we can all contribute to creating a brighter future for those in need.

Oakville Starz was founded by Sarina Wu and her friends.

Inspired when she and her grandmother were teaching each other piano and songs, Sarina and her friend contacted one senior home in 2018, starting a performance journey for eight neighbourhood kids. With an exciting way to getting together and practise music, Sarina and others decided to make it an organization to help youth have meaningful volunteer opportunities while giving seniors a chance to interact with the group and enjoy the performances.

With support from her vocal coach and parents, Oakville Starz developed into a choir with 28 kids. Sarina contributes many ideas for the choir while she works as a teaching assistant and coordinator. The choir has performed in community events, participated in competitions and won many awards including:

• 2022 New York Global Music Competition 1st in Choir
• 2023 CBC Musical Class Top 10
• 2024 Milton Musical Festival 1st in Choir

She has made over ten presentations in different communities and organized many events, including fundraising for Sick Kids and the Oakville Public Library, while teaching singing. Sarina has coordinated over 20 performances with senior homes since 2022. She developed a detailed procedure that makes the Starz not only musicians, but leaders in training. She manages program registration, program lists preparation, regular rehearsal plans, and live shows.