Milly Baino of Community Foundations of Canada and Ottawa Community Foundation Board Chair, Brian Toller, among 2013 recipients

June 11, 2013 (Ottawa, ON) – Two Ottawa citizens of the Community Foundation movement were among the twelve recipients who received the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award, presented by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, at last week’s Community Foundations of Canada 2013 Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

“Volunteers are integral to community vitality, and these individuals exemplify the energy, enthusiasm and commitment witnessed on a daily basis by those of us involved with community foundations,” says Ian Bird, President and CEO, Community Foundations of Canada (CFC).

Bird congratulated all the recipients, which included CFC staffer Milly Baino. “Milly has been with CFC since its inception and has given so much of her time to our organization and to individual community foundations that we weren’t surprised to learn that her volunteer life is just as rich and rewarding. Milly’s first-hand experience building a new life in Canada is a tremendous asset to Immigrant Women Services Ottawa and we congratulate her on this honour.”

“It is so fitting that our Board Chair, Brian Toller, be recognized with this particular award at this time and in this setting,” said Barbara McInnes, President & CEO of the Ottawa Community Foundation (CFO). “His dedicated volunteer service to a variety of organizations over the years adds up to an impressive contribution to our community at large, and his leadership in developing and implementing the Foundation’s Responsible Investing Strategy, and helping us to become a signatory to the UNPRI (United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment), have allowed us to leverage our investments to ensure they have an enduring impact on communities while honouring the values we wish to uphold as a philanthropic organization.”

Caring Canadian Award Recipients and Citations – Community Foundations of Canada 2013 Conference (June 6, 2013):

  • Milly Baino (Orleans, ON) – an employee of Community Foundations of Canada since its inception 20 years ago, she is an advocate for newcomers to Canada, particularly families arriving from her home country of Uganda, and is a spokesperson for greater diversity within the community. She has long supported Immigrant Women Services Ottawa and has held the positions of board secretary, vice-chair and now chair of its board of directors. Milly Baino is dedicated to creating a better society for immigrant women and their children.
  • Stella Blackbird (Elphinstone, MB) – a healer and teacher of traditional medicine, respected for her ability to build trust and understanding across cultures and nations. Since 1995, she has served as Elder for the Urban Circle Training Centre, in Winnipeg’s North End, making it one of the most successful Aboriginal training centres in Canada. In 2005, Stella envisioned an intergenerational children’s centre where youth and families of Aboriginal students could follow the traditional Indigenous way of life and teachings on a daily basis. She has also served as resident Elder with the Ontario Native Education Counselling Association, in Sudbury, and provided mental health services based on traditional methods for the Ojibway Tribal Family Services Sacred Circle, in Kenora.
  • Raymond F. Currie (Winnipeg, MB) – works to make life’s journey better for others. Throughout his busy academic career in teaching, research and university administration, he remained dedicated to community service. He has been a board member with several organizations, including RESOLVE and the Prairieaction Foundation, both dedicated to preventing violence and abuse; Villa Rosa, a home for single mothers; the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Manitoba; and the Winnipeg Foundation.
  • Renate Davidson (Dundas, ON) – a volunteer in her community for over 20 years. She has been involved with the Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton, the Hamilton Community Foundation, the Zonta Club of Hamilton 1 (an organization dedicated to improving the life of women and girls), the United Way of Burlington & Greater Hamilton, and YWCA Hamilton. Renate Davidson has been recognized by her hometown and her province for serving as a mentor and model of selfless giving and compassion.
  • Stephen (Steve) D. McKerrell (Victoria, BC) – quietly and without fanfare, Steve McKerrell contributes to his community of Victoria in many different ways. From taking his dogs on visits to provide canine therapy to shut-in seniors, to supporting the SPCA wild animal rehabilitation centre; from working with Arts Sustainability Victoria, to participating in the Oak Bay Emergency Preparedness Committee, he has been at the heart of many community initiatives, giving freely of his time, talents and resources.
  • Sara Mudge (Saint John, NB) – even with a busy career, Sara Mudge has been involved with a number of community organizations. Notably, she served as a member of Engineers Without Borders, which creates sustainable development projects around the world with an emphasis on achievement through education. She has also served on the Fusion SAINT JOHN Board, an apolitical social and business movement for young adults aimed at fostering the city’s economic development and revitalization. She is a participant of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and has been a member of the Saint John Vital Signs Committee for seven years.
  • Strini Reddy (Winnipeg, MB) – born in South Africa, Strini Reddy volunteers on behalf of children and families experiencing poverty, discrimination and social injustice. A retired educator, he works with such community organizations as Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg, the Manitoba Healthy Child Advisory Committee, and the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg to improve education and combat child poverty. He is the co-founder of a summer learning program that is provided free to underprivileged children and leads projects supporting education in resource-poor African communities.
  • Deirdre Roberts (Victoria, BC) –known for her generous history of supporting philanthropy in the wider Victoria community. She has volunteered on the Board of the Victoria Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation and with the Aga Khan Foundation, Canada’s World Partnership Walk, the Friends of UVic Libraries and the Victoria Foundation. She is also well known for her work as an artist, notably as the Pacific Opera’s 2010 Artist in Residence, where she produced 18 behind-the-scenes paintings that were exhibited and sold to raise significant funding for the opera.
  • Sister Lesley Sacouman (Winnipeg, MB) – Sister Lesley Sacouman’s compassion and wisdom have given a voice to those living on the margins of society. Her special focus is on the Aboriginal community and on newcomers to Canada. In 2002, she decided to live with street people in a New York shelter. This life-changing experience gave birth to Holy Names House of Peace, in downtown Winnipeg: a transitional shelter for women from different countries, circumstances and faiths. This is her home as much as it is a workplace; as well as offering her time as the agency’s executive director, she also lives with its residents.
  • Brian Toller (Ottawa, ON) – Brian Toller’s community engagement and volunteer work go back many years. They include co-running the milk program at his sons’ school, coaching minor league hockey, supporting the Great Canadian Theatre Company, and working on fundraisers for various organizations. From 2006 to 2010, Mr. Toller was Chair of CFO’s Investment Committee, where he led an initiative to implement Responsible Investing at the foundation. In 2012, the Ottawa Community Foundation signed on to the UN Principles of Responsible Investment. Mr. Toller also led the creation of the Impact Investing program at CFO, a way of investing in local charities that both benefits the receiving organizations and allows for a financial return that can help support other charities in turn.
  • Erin Ward (Winnipeg, MB) – engaged in her community through the activities of the Winnipeg Foundation. As a student at St. Mary’s Academy, she participated in the Foundation’s Youth in Philanthropy (YiP) program, which allocates funds to local charities. She went on to become a founding member of the Young Philanthropists’ Network, a group of young professionals and post-secondary students dedicated to giving back to their community through grant funding. She also sits on the Foundation’s Nourishing Potential Committee, which provides grants to after-school nutrition programs in high-needs areas of Winnipeg.
  • Bonnie Yagar (Mississauga, ON) – understands the importance of philanthropy and civic engagement. She has been involved with Community Living Mississauga, which serves people with intellectual disabilities; Fair Share for Peel Task Force, which secures equity in provincial funding for social services; and Success by 6, which helps to ensure the healthy growth and development of young children.

About the Caring Canadian Award

Created in 1995, the Caring Canadian Award recognizes living Canadians and permanent residents who have made significant, sustained, unpaid contributions to their community, in Canada or abroad. Often working behind the scenes, these individuals volunteer their time and efforts and set an example with their compassion and engagement.

About the Ottawa Community Foundation

Established in 1987, the Ottawa Community Foundation is a public, non-profit organization created by and for the people of Ottawa. It connects donors who care with causes that matter and serves as a trusted resource for addressing issues and leveraging opportunities in the community. Since its inception, the Community Foundation has been enabling generous citizens to enhance the quality of life in their community and to achieve their own charitable objectives through permanent, well-managed endowments.

About Community Foundations of Canada

Community Foundations of Canada is the national network for Canada’s more than 190 community foundations, which help Canadians invest in building strong and resilient places to live, work, and play. Community foundations are one of the largest supporters of communities, providing more than $143 million in support of local priorities and organizations in 2012. To find out more visit www.communityfoundations.ca.

– 30 –

For further information and to schedule interviews, please contact:

Iona Green
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Ottawa Community Foundation
613-236-1616 X 232
igreen@cfo-fco.ca