Empress MacDowell
O'Leary, Prince Edward Island
Empress MacDowell has been volunteering in her community for over 70 years. A life member of the Knutsford Women's Institute, she is also actively involved in her church. For the past 16 years, she has driven herself every day to the Margaret Stewart Ellis nursing home, where she helps to prepare meals, tidies up, socializes and plays cards with the residents. In the seniors community where she lives, she acts as a first responder to medical alert "lifeline" calls, and checks in daily with her neighbours to make sure they are well.