SUDBURY—The Province of Ontario has recognized nine Manitoulin Island residents for their volunteering efforts, receiving volunteer service awards on May 22 at a ceremony held in Sudbury.
“The Ontario government awards programs recognize outstanding achievement in education, health care, business, science and medicine, community service, the arts, and many other fields,” a release notes. “Volunteer award programs recognize the contributions of volunteers of every age, from seniors to youth and recognize them for their continuous years of commitment and dedicated service to an organization.”
The awards recognize volunteer adults for between five and 60 plus years of continuous service. Youth under the age of 24 are recognized for two or more years of continuous service.
A total of nine Manitoulin Island volunteers were recognized with volunteer service awards. They include Phyllis Smith of Gore Bay for 20 years volunteering at the Manitoulin Lodge; Carmen Walker of Gore Bay for 20 years with the Manitoulin Lodge; Bill Baker of Gore Bay for 15 years with Manitoulin Lodge; Eldene Longhurst of Gore Bay for 15 years with the Manitoulin Lodge; Ingrid Belenson of Spring Bay for 10 years with Manitoulin Lodge; Aline Marois of Gore Bay for 10 years with Manitoulin Lodge, Sharon Stephens of Providence Bay for 10 years with Warmhearts Palliative Care; Michael Erskine of Little Current for five years with the Ontario Trillium Foundation; and Lisa Corbiere-Addison of M’Chigeeng for five years with the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
The assistant Deputy Minister of the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Culture, Marsha Barnes presented the awards on behalf of the Government of Ontario.
