2011 mayor's honour list – mayor mike bradley - City of Sarnia

2011 MAYOR’S HONOUR LIST – MAYOR MIKE BRADLEY
CLARKE ATKINSON
In 1996, Mr. Atkinson, at age 80, received the Meritorious Service Medal, the
highest honour presented by Branch 62 of the Royal Canadian Legion, for his
more than 30 years of community service. His work included involvement on
numerous committees, most notably as Treasurer of the annual poppy fund
and as auditor for the local army cadets corps; Ladies Auxiliary at Sarnia and
Petrolia Legions, and WANNA Branch 515. He also served as a Board Member
at Devine Street United Church and performing other volunteer work, donating
his financial expertise as a retired chartered accountant. Mr. Atkinson
continued his volunteer work with the Legion Poppy Fund and the army cadets
until 2011 when, at age 95, he retired from volunteer work.
JOHN BARKER
In 2011 Mr. Barker received one of the highest honours that can be given to a
volunteer in Scouting—the Silver Acorn—in recognition of his leadership for 25
years with the 23 rd Sarnia Scout Troop. Under Mr. Barker’s direction the troop
has participated in Jamborees in various provinces and is involved in
community services with the Salvation Army, Inn of the Good Shepherd and
Community Girls’ Home. Approximately 100 of the Scouts in this troop have
earned their Chief Scout Award, the highest award in Scouting, during his 25
years with 23 rd Sarnia Scout Troop. Recipients of the Silver Acorn are selected
by a review panel from Scouts Canada’s national office in Ottawa. Nominees
must show distinguished service to Scouting within their own group, as well as
area, council and national levels. Mr. Barker has been described as someone
who is “a foundation of knowledge, always willing to help, always has great
suggestions, always has a positive attitude.”
PETER AND COLLEEN BUCKLEY
Peter and Colleen, owner/operators of the local McDonald’s restaurants, have
made an enormous contribution to the lives of so many people in Sarnia,
especially those who face physical or intellectual challenges. For ten years
they have been committed to all of the goals of Community Living Ontario
which includes providing every person the opportunity to feel valued, respected
and to live in a state of dignity while working at real jobs for real pay. Colleen
offers her personal time and attention in providing people with physical or
intellectual challenges training in order to search for and obtain employment.
In 2011 the Buckleys created the Ronald McDonald House

Community Suite at the RBC Centre to provide local charities with
opportunities to use it to raise funds for their own organizations while donating
half of any proceeds to RMHCC of Southwestern Ontario. They are or have
been very much involved in fundraising campaigns for the Inn of the Good
Shepherd; new hospital; annual Santa Claus Parade; sponsors of countless
sports teams, tournaments and organizations all over Sarnia-Lambton.
Colleen and Peter served as Board Members at Family Counselling Centre and
were actively involved through sponsorship and participation in five annual
fundraising galas. “Colleen and Peter are deserving of this award for they truly
exemplify its purpose to honour those who have improved the quality of life or
made significant contribution to our community.”
STACY CATTRAN AND LEAH NIELSEN
Three years ago Stacy and Leah watched their father die an agonizing death,
suffering from mesothelioma, due to asbestos exposure decades earlier. They
organized a walk—“A Walk To Remember Victims of Asbestos” in Centennial
Park this past October to lobby government and demand an end to Canadian
asbestos production and exportation. Over 500 participated in the walk on a
cold and rainy day and the event galvanized local, national, and international
activists to a much higher level of engagement to end this hideous export of
death to countries around the world.
CENTRAL FORUM
In 2011 the Central Forum celebrated its 30 th Anniversary, serving the
community with guest speakers on a variety of subjects, drawing record
attendance from seniors in the City and County.
PAUL GAGNE
Mr. Gagne has volunteered his time as a member of the Bayfest Board of
Directors and volunteers his time months in advance of Bayfest to help plan
the event. He has also been a long time board member and volunteer for
Harmony for Youth, organizing annual fundraisers while assisting in the
development of youth programmes. Paul is unwavering when it comes to a
challenge and will put in the time and dedication needed for each
project/organization. He also serves as a Scout Leader and has previously
been involved with the Canadian Cancer Society, Sarnia Block Parents, St.
Helen’s School Parent Council and Cystic Fibrosis Canada. “He is continually
thinking of others before himself.”

DR. TONY HANLON
Retired Lambton College President is being recognized for his outstanding
leadership outside of his success as President of Lambton College over the last
decade. Tony believes in community engagement and has been very heavily
involved in serving on the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce Board;
Sarnia Lambton Economic Partnership; the University of Western Ontario
Research Park Board and also providing leadership on social issues that are of
great concern to the community, including youth mental health issues.
CAROLINE HUMMELL
Caroline, a grade 10 student at St. Christopher’s School, was a member of
Team Ontario Provincial U15 girls’ basketball team. Caroline was honoured to
have helped her team bring home the gold medal from the National in Winnipeg
this past summer. She also won a silver medal at the OFSSA for shot put.
Caroline gives back to her community with her talents volunteering at
numerous basketball camps for the youth throughout the year. She has also
worked with local law enforcement in Sarnia, raising money for the Special
Olympics Torch Run by collecting “tolls” at various businesses. Even with her
busy schedule she is a focussed student, maintaining a 93% school average.
TARA JEFFREY
Tara, a reporter with The Sarnia Observer, received national recognition this
past year at the National Newspaper Awards in Ottawa as runner-up in the
Local Reporting Category with her series of stories on youth mental illness and
suicide. Her stories were found to be “well researched, documented and
complemented through new media.” The judges commented that Tara’s
intuition and initiative uncovered a great tragedy and brought about important
changes in attitudes and practices. Each year in Canada many young
promising lives are lost due to youth mental illness and Tara’s stories shone
the spotlight on the dark side of the issues and educated people about suicide
prevention and helped develop a community-based response to one of the
leading causes of death for young people in Canada.
GRANT JONES
Mr. Jones, who celebrated his 80 th birthday in 2011, is a daily avid and
grateful volunteer at Bluewater Health and has been for many years. He is
referred to “as an Ambassador” to the community and other volunteers.

JORDYN KNOWLES
Jordyn is a very compassionate 11 year old who became involved in
fundraising for the St. Joseph’s Hospice while attending the Illness Support
Programme—a programme for children who know someone who has terminal
cancer—in this case Jordyn’s late mother, 38 year old Carolynn Anne Knowles.
On Jordyn’s third visit to the Hospice she asked about the bracelets and
scarves for sale and was told it was fundraising to raise money to keep the
Hospice operating. Immediately she set up a spread sheet on her home
computer and set out in the neighbourhood to raise money—receiving $60.00.
She then decided to make bracelets and key chains. While continuing to visit
the Hospice and her Mom each week, the amount of money she raised
increased. Her Dad said he would match any amount she raised. When she
got to $2,000 she commented “He thought I’d only raise 100 bucks.” Jordyn
now attends the Bereavement Group and the Grief Camp through the Hospice
and continues to raise money. This past October Jordyn, her Dad and her
sisters presented a cheque for $8,000 to the Hospice. Even though 2011 will
be a sad year in her life, Jordyn’s accomplishment is extraordinary. “This is
what kind of young people we have in our community.”
GEORGE LUDGATE
George was the founder of the Sarnia Historical Society which came about from
his efforts to preserve the home in which a former Prime Minister of Canada
resided. He also served his community as President of the Sarnia Softball
Association, President of the Sarnia Imperial/Golden Bear Quarterback Club;
Member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce; initiated the sports “Time Out”
radio show.
HOPE MORRITT
Ms. Morritt, at age 91, recently published her sixth book “When I Put Out To
Sea” a collection of 14 short stories she has written throughout her lifetime, 63
years after her first book “Sarah” was published in 1948. For 72 years the
award-winning local storyteller has also worked as a reporter at various
newspapers, including The Edmonton Journal, The London Free Press and The
Sarnia Observer. Ms. Morritt is a regular participant at the “Spoken Word”—a
monthly information-speaking event which features storytelling, humour and
poetry reading by professionals and amateur writers. She also co-founded an
authors’ group locally years ago and it developed into the current Writers in
Transition which hosts The Spoken Word.

GLORIA PENIASKO
Gloria is part of the “River City Team” who comes to The Inn of the Good
Shepherd every Monday to prepare and serve a meal at the Inn. In addition to
her volunteer work at the Inn, she also travels to the River City Community
Centre where twice a week she spends up to 5 hours a day preparing and
serving meals to those needing assistance. She has never been known to want
or ask for anything in return. Gloria feels a very deep love and need to perform
the things that she does.
DEVE PERSAD
In addition to Mr. Persad’s work as Pastor of Sarnia Evangelical Missionary
Church, he leads a team of volunteers to El Salvador each year to build houses
and minister to the people. Through his efforts a local eye doctor donates
glasses for an eye glass clinic for the people of El Salvador and a local business
provided sewing machines at a great discount so the women in El Salvador
could be trained to make their own quilts out of scrap material. Through Mr.
Persad’s assistance and goals he works with the Autism Parents Support
Group, their March Break and Summer Camps; is involved with Circles Poverty
Workshop; Neighbourlink; Sarnia Friendship Group. Deve has been described
as a man of outstanding integrity and character who inspires others to take up
the challenge.
MARIO AND DOLORES QUINTANILLA
Mario and Dolores lead a group called “Support of Lambton for Latin America”.
This year through the Quintanilla’s efforts they have been able to gather
enough used but still useful medical equipment from Bluewater Health’s
Mitton Street building to be shipped to hospitals in El Salvador. This is the 4 th
shipping container sent to El Salvador. Mario, from El Salvador and Dolores
from Mexico, arrived in Canada 20 years ago were blessed to live in this
country but surprised by the amount of equipment being thrown away. In
addition to sending medical equipment, wheelchairs and furniture to hospitals
in El Salvador, with the help of information technology students at Lambton
College, used computers were fixed and shipped to El Salvador for use in
kindergarten. The College, where Dolores is a teacher, also donated out dated
computers and they are now being used in an after-school programme in
Mexico. Sarnia Rotarians, college students and volunteers from St. Thomas
D’Aquin Church have helped pack donations for shipment to Latin America.
The Quintanillas are always taking donations for their programme.

ST. PATRICK HIGH SCHOOL & ST. CHRISTOPHER SECONDARY
SCHOOL SHARE LENT CHALLENGE – 2011 –
Lou Giancarlo – Teacher
Richard Whitney, Chaplain
Timothy Charette – Former Chaplain
The Development and Peace Share Lent Challenge was held once again
between St. Patrick High School and St. Christopher Secondary School with a
total of $7,300 collected. With St. Pat’s raising the most money, they were
treated to pizza by St. Christopher. Since 2002 the schools have raised over
$134,000. The Challenge has been won 5 times by St. Pat’s and 4 times by St.
Christopher’s. Money raised is distributed to various charities throughout
Canada and the world.
HERB AND MARY SCHWARZ
Mr. and Mrs. Schwarz have worked tirelessly over many years to help make
Sarnia a better community. For a number of years Mary served on the Sarnia
General Hospital Board and then Bluewater Health Board from 1990 to 2003.
She was the first woman to become a member of the Board and eventually
became Chairperson, leading the Board through the process and then
amalgamation between Sarnia General, St. Joseph’s Hospital and CEE Petrolia.
As well Mary has been an active member of the IODE, participating and
organizing a number of fundraising events. She also served as Chair of the
Communicable Diseases Subcommittee of the Ontario Public Health
Association and organized one of the largest conferences in Ontario on AIDS
prevention and education. Following Herb’s retirement he served on numerous
civic committees including The Waste Reduction Committee (1991-1997); the
Sarnia Transit Advisory Committee (1996-1997) as well as assisting with the
Lambton Drug Awareness Action Committee; United Way; Lambton Seniors’
Association; Sarnia Golden “K; and more recently has been involved with the
Rapids Family Clinic and participating on committees to establish other
community health initiatives.
ALEXANDRA ZUNIGA
Alexandra, an 18 year old former student at Northern Collegiate, was recently
award the “Lincoln Alexander Award” by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario,
The Honourable David Onley, for her work against racial discrimination. The
Provincial award is presented to two full-time high school students and one
community mentor. Along with the award there is a $5,000 prize. During her
four years at Northern she was Co-President of the Multi-cultural Awareness
Committee (MAC) and helped plan events including cultural awareness
presentation, ethnic food festivals and MAC Night where cultural celebrations
are open to the entire community. Alexandra, now studying at University of

Toronto at Mississauga, plans to continue raising awareness about racial
issues with the idea of starting a multicultural club at the University.
Alexandra hopes to educate people about the impact their actions have on
others.