• Awarded on: December 10, 1998

Karen Elizabeth Gracie, LaSalle, Que.
Governor General's Caring Canadian Award

In the eleven years since Karen Gracie started the LaSalle Welfare Rights Community Organization, she has helped thousands of people understand their rights and responsibilities. She has protected people with intellectual handicaps and has devoted countless hours to help people who are poor, immigrants unable to speak English, and senior citizens from LaSalle and the surrounding communities. No place is too far for her to travel if someone is in need of help, and no one is turned away. She has even prevented suicides just by being there when she was needed.