Recipients of the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers
Cathy Mary Bach
Surrey, British Columbia
Cathy Bach began volunteering with the cadet movement in 2002, as chair of the parents’ committee of the 2812 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps, which she helped expand to become the largest corps in the province. She was both vice-president and president of the Army Cadet League of Canada BC Branch, where she successfully promoted the program throughout the province, and was recently elected as the League’s national president.
Irois J. Breau
Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, New Brunswick
Irois Breau has been donating his time to the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program since 2000, first in the Moncton area and then in the broader Kent County when the program was expanded. He has also served as the parish bookkeeper for 30 years, as well as on the boards of various charitable organizations.
W. E. Gary Campbell
New Maryland, New Brunswick
Since 1998, Gary Campbell has been serving in volunteer and executive positions with both the Royal Canadian Legion and the York-Sunbury Historical Society. His efforts have helped ensure that veterans receive the military honours they have earned, that local heritage matters receive proper oversight and that the community’s history is not forgotten.
Carolyn Cockram
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Carolyn Cockram joined Girl Guides of Canada in 2007, and became a Girls First champion when the new girl-focused and girl-led program was introduced in 2018. She has also been involved in many camps at the district, area and provincial levels, and has encouraged girls to explore the outdoors and try new things.
Lisette Leblanc Landry
Louiseville, Quebec
Lisette Leblanc Landry has been a dedicated member of Les Filles d’Isabelle du cercle Blanche de Castille for over 60 years, including serving on the board of directors, organizing the annual commemorative mass and visiting the sick. A singer with several choirs since the age of five, she founded the Choeur des Saisons choir. She is well known in the community for her generous spirit, and for driving and accompanying seniors to medical appointments.
George Linton
Toronto, Ontario
With his guitar in his hands, George Linton has spent decades bringing joy through music to patients in Toronto-area hospitals. Admired by patients and staff alike, he is noted for his broad repertoire of songs and his willingness to learn any song a patient wishes to hear.
Duane L. MacEwen
New Dominion, Prince Edward Island
Since 2008, Duane MacEwen has been supporting the Royal Canadian Legion in leadership roles at the national and provincial levels, and as an active event organizer at his local branch in New Haven, Prince Edward Island. He has also been a kidney cancer patient advisor since 2001, and plans an annual community roadside cleanup.
Jennie MacKenzie
Halifax, Nova Scotia
An active volunteer in her community for more than 40 years, Jennie MacKenzie has helped support the local food bank, sporting events for youth, and various service organizations. Most significantly her leadership of youth through the Nova Scotia Girl Guides of Canada has helped girls of all ages discover and develop their own potential.
Jack Marshall
Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia
For over 15 years, Jack Marshall has applied the skills he gained from his career with the Canada Revenue Agency to assist those in need through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program. He also serves with the Sheet Harbour Ground Search and Rescue and as treasurer of the Anglican Parish of Tangier.
Luis Meira Vilarinho
Toronto, Ontario
As a member of Scouts Canada's MedVent Program, Luis Meira Vilarinho responds to and supervises medical emergencies at special events. He has also been involved in school safety, mental health and anti-bullying initiatives.
Janis Monture
Brantford, Ontario
Since 2005, Janis Monture has been an active member of the Six Nations of the Grand River community, serving on the executive boards of numerous foundations dedicated to promoting and protecting Indigenous heritage in the Greater Toronto Area. She is also an avid promoter of Indigenous arts, and volunteers with the Kaha:wi Dance Theatre and Planet IndigenUS.
Gérard Oudar
Québec, Quebec
Gérard Oudar and Simone Pietri volunteered several days a week for 30 years with people with intellectual disabilities living in the L’Arche l’Étoile de Québec. They also volunteered at the L’Arche community home in Jacksonville, Florida. The couple’s unconditional caring and support for the residents helped to make each of them feel recognized with dignity and respect.
Simone Pietri
Québec, Quebec
Gérard Oudar and Simone Pietri volunteered several days a week for 30 years with people with intellectual disabilities living in the L’Arche l’Étoile de Québec. They also volunteered at the L’Arche community home in Jacksonville, Florida. The couple’s unconditional caring and support for the residents helped to make each of them feel recognized with dignity and respect.
Joseph Poirier
Bellegarde, Saskatchewan
Joseph Poirier has dedicated nearly 20 years to the preservation of French-Canadian heritage in Bellegarde, for which he previously served as elected representative at the Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise. As a spokesperson for Francophones in the province, he also currently serves as a board trustee for the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises where he ensures that the educational needs of Francophone students are met.
Barb Relton Di Nardo
Toronto, Ontario
An energetic contributor to the rugby landscape in Ontario, Barb Relton Di Nardo tirelessly provides opportunities for both women and youth to access the sport in an effort to promote camaraderie and community involvement. In particular, she fostered the inclusion of at-risk youth in Toronto in the sport of rugby.
Bradley Ryckman
Greenwood, Nova Scotia
A dedicated volunteer within his community for 25 years, Bradley Ryckman has served as president of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association 107 Wing, where his efforts in coordinating annual Remembrance Day ceremonies for retirement homes allow residents to pay their respects safely. He is also a founding member of the 14 Wing Pipes and Drums band and has contributed nine years as a volunteer snare drummer.
Robert Saba
Montréal, Quebec
Over the past decade, Robert Saba has served as a troop leader of and mentor to the 246th Scouts group Bois-de-Boulogne. He has distinguished himself as a valued member of the troop through his continued involvement in the planning of activities, camps and fundraisers.
Sarah Savić Kallesøe
West Vancouver, British Columbia
Through her involvement with Scouts Canada since 2002, Sarah Savić Kallesøe has had a positive impact on many youth, teaching them essential health values and nature conservation techniques. She has also been involved in various community projects to address complex issues, such as hunger in homeless populations.
Ethan Dustin Kablutsiak Tassiuk
Arviat, Nunavut
Since 2012, Ethan Dustin Kablutsiak Tassiuk has been using film and television to combat systemic social concerns in his community. As a member of the Arviat Film Society, he has advocated for youth resilience and community engagement, and fostered open discussions on sexual health awareness and bullying.
Louise Thomson
Kapuskasing, Ontario
Over the past three decades, Louise Thomson has volunteered with and served on the executive of the Daughters of Isabella, the female auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus. Since 2001, she has been an active fundraiser with the Rotary Club of Kapuskasing; in 2013, she participated in a medical mission to the Dominican Republic to assist Haitian refugees.
Maria Thomson
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
For over a decade, Mar Thomson has been completing free income tax returns and has mentored dozens of new volunteers through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program. As a volunteer with Canadian Parents for French and Habitat for Humanity, she extends kindness and compassion to everyone she meets.
Bonnie Woloschuk
Edmonton, Alberta
Over the past decade, Bonnie Woloschuk has raised nearly $200,000 for both Diabetes Canada and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. Her efforts developing fundraising networks, coaching other volunteers and running in numerous marathons have helped in the fight against these illnesses.
Karl Zhu
Windsor, Ontario
Karl Zhu has established himself as a young community leader through his involvement with more than 15 organizations, including the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association and the Chinese Association of Greater Windsor. With a passion for technology, he created and organized Border City Hacks, an annual event that provides students with an opportunity to learn the basics of computer science.