United Way Waterloo Region Communities’ 3rd Annual Virtual Spirit Awards
Waterloo Region - United Way Waterloo Region Communities (UWWRC) is pleased to invite community members to join in celebrating and honouring this year’s Virtual Spirit Award winners.
“Although we could not celebrate in person this year, our Spirit Awards are more important than ever,” says CEO Joan Fisk. “Without these generous people in our community we could not support all the frontline services and programs that play such a critical role in Waterloo Region. The pandemic has taught us that we are stronger together and it is only because of the support from workplaces, individuals and agencies in our community that we are able to react when needed and provide critical funds like our COVID-19 Response Fund. That is just one example of why it is still so important to recognize everyone’s dedication and compassion. We are facing issues we have never faced before and all our nominees and winners embody the spirit it will take for Waterloo Region to recover and build a strong future for us all.”
Without the exemplary dedication and commitment of donors and volunteers, United Way Waterloo Region Communities could not continue to do what needs to be done. “Our donors, agencies and volunteers are the heart of our community”, says United Way Waterloo Region Communities’ Board of Directors Chair, Samson Ling. “We have all experienced unprecedented challenges lately and we must make sure we are there when needed for the most vulnerable and support those that are doing the extremely challenging work on the frontlines.”
UWWRC is also proud to announce Mike Murray as the winner of the 2nd annual Ken Seiling Community Leader Award. This award recognizes an exemplary public leader who, through extraordinary contributions and outstanding commitment, has driven the spirit of community through personal involvement and initiative.
2020 Spirit Award Nominees and Winners
Rising Star: Adam Lauder (City of Waterloo) Lisa Armstrong & Brittany Kulchar (Carizon) Brenda Jacobs & Jeff Hunter (Langs) LCBO Team Winner: Wilfrid Laurier University
Labour Community Partnership: Unifor Kitchener Regional Office United Steelworkers Local 4610 Waterloo Region Labour Council Winner: Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, Waterloo Region
Spirit of Community: Sydney Atwood, Conestoga College Student Engagement Committee Carizon Family & Community Service EY Tracy Elop Tom Galloway KW Counselling Mike Murray Pearle Group Anne Tinker The partnership of Sleep Country Canada, Region of Waterloo, Mill Creek Motor Freight, Argus Residence and UWWRC Donate a Bed Program University of Waterloo Campaign Committee Linda Zensner Winner: Energy+
Outstanding Workplace Campaign (Large Organization): Clarion Medical Technologies Equitable Life Sun Life Financial Wilfrid Laurier University Winner: Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada
Outstanding Workplace Campaign (Small to Mid-Size Organization) BMO Financial Group Carizon Family & Community Services McCarter Grespan Toyota Tsusho Virtek Winner: Gowling WLG
Outstanding Volunteer Contribution Bill Conway, Rockwell Automation Veronica Chapman (KPMG) Citizens for Cambridge Lisamaree Cormier (Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region) Robert Correll (UWWRC Cabinet Member) Kristen Dansen Lynn Hall Steve Jennings Lisa MacArthur (TLG) Kim McLeod (City of Cambridge) Ian Miles & Jane Hale- McDonald (Energy +) Tammy Robinson – Simmons Donald Paddock Paul Rossi (KW Counselling Services) Sunlife Campaign Committee University of Waterloo Campaign Committee Winner: EY Waterloo
Outstanding Agency Cambridge Self Help FoodBank Carizon Family & Community Services CJI Kinbridge Community Association KW Counselling The Literacy Group oneROOF The Working Centre Winner: Carizon Family & Community Services