Awarded on: 2007-06-11
Marilyn Benoit, Ottawa, Ontario (posthumous)
Governor General's Caring Canadian Award
For almost 25 years, Marilyn Benoit helped women at risk and the elderly through her volunteer work with the Amethyst Women's Addiction Centre of Ottawa, and as director of the South East Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community. However, her true passion was animal therapy, which involved regular visits with her dog to acute- and chronic- care hospitals, in order to assist patients with pain management, injuries, anxiety or depression. With the creation of Ottawa Therapy Dogs in 1999, she and her team of dog handlers promoted healing and brought comfort to hundreds of people, simply by offering the companionship of a furry friend.