On Tuesday, June 1, Capital Ward residents honoured community volunteers at the 7th annual Whitton Awards Ceremony. The Whitton Awards are named after Ottawa’s first female mayor and former alderman for Capital Ward, Charlotte Whitton.
Community Activism
Mitchell Beer was recognized for his effort to maintain quality education. He has served as Lady Evelyn representative, Vice Chair to the Alternative Schools Advisory Committee, coordinated a province-wide conference on the decline in provincial funding for older schools and the School Budget Project among many others.
Brian Carroll has been a devoted worker on behalf of the Dows Lake Resident Association. As a long-standing Membership Chair, he has organized annual membership drives, recruiting both for Dows Lake Resident’s Association and Glebe Community Association. Brian is on the steering committee for the Airport Parkway Extended Traffic Impact Study and was an effective facilitator at community workshops on solutions for Bronson Traffic.
Since Reg Charette was elected School Council Chair of St. Margaret-Mary School, he has worked successfully to unite parents, clergy and community to keep a valuable Catholic elementary school in the heart of Old Ottawa South and save Bytown Daycare housed at the school.
Beverly Davis, an active member of the Heron Park North Community Association for 10 years, organized a successful attempt to prevent inappropriate development. She is also active on issues of community safety, recruiting new members for the Heron Park North Community Association as well as making Executive functions more manageable for the already busy volunteers.
John Kane, immediate past President of the Glebe Community Association, has been involved in many community issues such as traffic on Bronson, school closures, Lansdowne Park “Revitalization” and parks and recreation issues.
Ottawa East resident Nancy MacDonald has been distribution manager of the Mainstreeter for 10 years, contributor of numerous articles on community issues and a major driving force in ensuring continuation of the Mainstreeter. Nancy was also an organizer of the successful campaign to save what is now Legget Park on Main Street.
For the past decade, Deirdre McQuillan has, as Executive Director, been an integral part of the Old Ottawa South Community Association, providing continuity to the Board of Directors and various committees. Deirdre’s role as liaison between OSCA and the Ottawa South Community Centre staff contributes enormously to the success of both. Last year, when no one volunteered to coordinate the children’s soccer program, Deirdre took it on with great success.
Donna Silver volunteers at the Sandy Hill Housing Co-Operative as Director and Chair of Communications and Maintenance Committees. She is president of the Heron Park North Community Association and served on the Zone 4 Community Working Group dealing with school closures.
Active in many OSCA activities, President Doug Stickley works with Board members, local residents and others to solve problems in the community. As treasurer for OSCA, he significantly improved fiscal reporting and helped generate a sizable surplus. He has shown special leadership abilities by holding and maintaining respect of all Board members, regardless of emotional attachments or polarization.
Ryan Ward, third-year political science student at Carleton, has been active in the Carleton community since 1993, especially Carleton University Students’ Association and has volunteered in the Carlton Disability Awareness Centre, Carleton’s Foot Patrol, the Carleton Liberal Club and the Carleton Law Society.
Sports & Recreation
Tony and Paula Clark are recognized for their joint contribution to Capital Ward minor hockey. Tony has been President of the OCMHA for an unprecedented three consecutive seasons. He works hard to keep the OCMHA open to everyone, forging relationships with other hockey associations and executives. Paula has been involved with his OCMHA work, ensuring that daily tasks were done and messages and information kept flowing.
A life long resident of Old Ottawa South, Bob Simpson has been Treasurer of Glebe Little League for 8 years as well as keeping track of all books, equipment, diamond rentals, district and insurance fees, umpires, trophies, registration and refunds for every division from Rookies to Girls Softball.
Tom Sloat has been active in the Heron Park North Community Association as organizer, supporter and currently, treasurer. A key volunteer with the rink program, Tom also helps with community clean-ups, summer carnivals and tree planting, as well as being an active volunteer at his son’s school.
Arts & Culture
Second term member of Ottawa South Community Association’s Board of Directors, Peter Wells has made a special cultural contribution by coordinating a project initially designed for new residents and young families to learn about Old Ottawa South’s many resources. The Essential Guide to Old Ottawa South represents a tremendous contribution toward promotion and expression of cultural identity of the community. Peter also spearheaded a drive to restore the Old Firehall, the Community Centre and a designated Heritage Building.
Business & Commerce
Boomerang Kids owners Lyne Burton and Joan Garvey have great sense of community involvement and activism. They have sponsored the entire Ottawa South Soccer League (15 teams) since 1996, a team in the Ottawa Centre Minor Hockey Association and participate in the Big Sisters Christmas Tree Fundraiser.
Joan and Lyne are founding members of the Old Ottawa South Business Group. Twice a week, Maison D’Amitié, a shelter for battered women and the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa-Carleton arrive and fill their vehicles with donations of used clothing, toys and baby equipment. Joan and Lyne approached the Children’s Wish Foundation and hosted the NCC’S First Annual Strollerthon on Sunday May 30.
Environment
Both winners work closely together. Veteran OSCA Board members Mike Loewen and Michael Lascelles have initiated and lead a wide variety of local volunteer projects. This past year, they secured a Millennium grant to enhance the Rideau habitat, matching funds from the Mayor’s Task Force for replacement of local trees damaged by the ice storm and a major Regional reforestation project for tree planting on Bronson. They organised co-operative environmental projects in conjunction with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, the Region of Ottawa-Carleton, Canadian Museum of Nature, Carleton University, Algonquin College, Canadian Wildlife Service and many community groups.