Ontario Celebrates the Outstanding Contributions of Volunteers in Markham-Stouffville
December 8, 2022
Stouffville, ON – The Ontario government is recognizing 59 Ontarians in Markham-Stouffville with a Volunteer Service Award, an annual award honouring the exceptional contributions of individuals providing dedicated service to a single organization.
Recipients of the award were recognized at a virtual ceremony held on November 29 and will receive a personalized certificate and lapel pin to acknowledge and thank them for their years of service.
“Looking after our neighbours and community has never been more important, and I am grateful to see so many volunteers continue to selflessly step up and embody the best of the Ontario spirit,” said Paul Calandra, MPP for Markham-Stouffville. “I want to thank and express my deepest gratitude to these incredible Ontarians receiving this year’s Volunteer Service Award for helping to make our community strong and vibrant.”
The 4,555 recipients of the 2022 Ontario Volunteer Service Award, from across the province, support a wide range of organizations and causes, including those serving families, children and youth, vulnerable people, hospitals, senior centres and food security programs. These volunteers also help as board members, in fundraising, in promoting the arts and showcasing the different cultures that make Ontario unique.
The 2022 Ontario Volunteer Service Awards recipients from Markham-Stouffville include:
Youth Volunteer Service Awards – 2 to 4 Years of Service
- Isabella Deng, Centre for Immigrant and Community Services
- Sophie Jin, Centre for Immigrant and Community Services
- Tsz Ue Diana Lam Centre for Immigrant and Community Services
- Allison Law, Centre for Immigrant and Community Services
- Maya Lekhi, Project 5K
- Jia Feng Calvin Li, Centre for Immigrant and Community Services
- Natalie Ma, Community Association for Riders with Disabilities
- Mackenzie Maskery, Kingston Health Sciences Centre
- Caitie Sardo, Food Allergy Canada
- Brunthavaasini Sureshkumar, Centre for Immigrant and Community Services
- Blair Xing, Tianjin Association of Canada
- Qing Yue Catherine Zhu, Centre for Immigrant and Community Services
5 Years of Service
- Lorean Arasaratnam, Tamil Centre for Performing Arts (Canada)
- Anita Chadha, Victim Services of York Region
- Jan Chung, Scouts Canada
- Sheila Ducheck, York 4-H
- Grayson Lew, Support Enhance Access Services Centre
- Ing Lilly, Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron
- Melinda Manlapaz, Philippine Independence Day Council
- Ann Nakatsu, Toronto Japanese Garden Club
- Leon Racine, Kindred Spirits Organization
- Edmund Tam, Across U-hub
- Wai Wan Vivian Tam, Across U-hub
- Nathan Tse, Scouts Canada
- Nathan Walker, CMHA York Region and South Simcoe
- Xiaolin Wang, Optimisitc Me to We Cultural Organization
- Lilin Ye, Education & Multi-Culture Alliance of Canada
10 Years of Service
- Muhammed Ali, Olive Tree Foundation
- Sarah Carrick, Inn From The Cold
- Kee Kwong Chan, Hong Kei Fitness & Dance Club Parkway Forest Center
- Elsa Kam Chow Chan, Hong Kei Fitness & Dance Club Parkway Forest Center
- Theodora Chan, Carefirst Seniors & Community Services Association
- Thivaharan Kulasingam, Association of Sri Lankan Graduates of Canada
- Zuleika Leung, Scouts Canada
- Ian Oliver, Markham Lions Club
- Senthamari Santhanagopalan, Society for the Aid of Community Empowerment
- Naeem Siddiqi, Olive Tree Foundation
- Carolyn Stephenson, Markham Lions Club
- Paul Tse, Scouts Canada
- Vannie Wu, Hong Kei Fitness & Dance Club Splendid China Center
- Eric Yip Tat Chung, Victim Services of York Region
15 Years of Service
- John Bell, Markham Lions Club
- Karen Hung Lin Chan, Hong Kei Fitness & Dance Club South Unionville Square Center
- Chun Yip Jacky Lau, Across U-hub
- Lynn Sloan, IODE Dr. Innis Mary MacDonald Chapter
- Alan Yip, Scouts Canada
20 Years of Service
- Theodora Chan, Scouts Canada
- Eva Cheung, Hong Kei Fitness & Dance Club New Kennedy Square Center
- Elsa Kit Sum Choi, Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care – Ho Lai Oi Wan Centre
- Sandy Lai Fong Kwong Ip, Yee Hong Chinese Evergreen Non-Profit Homes
- Anne Neuman, United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada
- Lai Yee Ng, Carefirst Seniors & Community Services Association
- Laura Pickle, IODE Dr. Innis Mary MacDonald Chapter
- Catherine Steele, IODE Dr. Innis Mary MacDonald Chapter
25 Years of Service
- Josanie Yeung, Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care
35 Years of Service
- Dave Galloway, Markham Lions Club
- David MacInnis, Markham Lions Club
- Roxanne Phillips, North York General Hospital
45 Years of Service
- William Wong, Scouts Canada
“Every day thousands of volunteers from all over the province dedicate their time and talents to make Ontario a better place,” said Premier Doug Ford. “As Premier, I want to thank each and every volunteer for the efforts they make and the examples they set for the next generation of Ontarians. We could not ask for better role models and we are so grateful to them all.”
“Volunteers are the backbones of our communities. The incredible volunteers in Markham-Stouffville have embodied the best of the Ontario spirit and have shown – through their commitment, dedication and selfless service – that we can achieve anything when we come together as Team Ontario,” said Michael Ford, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. “Our government thanks these incredible leaders, changemakers and everyday heroes for the incredible work they do to make our communities and our province a stronger and better place to live, work and succeed.”
For more information about the program or to submit a nomination, please visit the Ontario Volunteer Service Award webpage.
QUICK FACTS
- Since 1986, more than 250,000 volunteers have been recognized through the Ontario Volunteer Service Award.
- Adult volunteers are recognized for five to 65+ years of continuous service in five- year increments.
- Youth volunteers are recognized for two or more years of continuous service.
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