• Awarded on: November 14, 2002

John De Boer, Toronto, Ontario
Governor General's Caring Canadian Award

A Willowdale Rotary Club member for over 30 years, John De Boer co-founded the Smiles Foundation in the Dominican Republic, a charity that has provided free dental care and preventative health education to over a million children and adults since 1987. He has raised funds for the project, acted as treasurer and provides international transportation and storage of donated equipment. He has also visited Haiti at least twice a year during the past 15 years, distributing food and milk powder and overseeing the construction of a school, a number of wells and over 100 homes. He is a lay member of his church and a sponsor of many international exchange students. Mr. De Boer's open-heartedness has benefited people in his community and beyond.