• Awarded on: November 13, 2001

Ray Abernethy, Burnaby, British Columbia
Governor General's Caring Canadian Award

For more than ten years, Ray Abernethy has been picking up donated household items, from dishes and cutlery, to sofas, dressers and beds, which he redistributes free of charge to people in need. Not only does he collect these items, he also stores, cleans and repairs them at his own expense. He works with various agencies that refer people to him, one of them being a transition house for battered women and their children. He also stays in touch with these families until they have what they need. Mr. Abernethy devotes more than 30 hours a week to his community through his volunteer work.