Toronto, April 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toronto is recognizing 25 individuals from across the city with Legacy Awards for their exceptional contributions as volunteers. The Legacy Awards are hosted by Volunteer Toronto, Canada’s largest volunteer centre, and correspond with National Volunteer Week, held from April 15-21, 2018.
Recipients of the 2018 Legacy Awards include:
- Andrew Greaves, who within a few weeks of his arrival as a gay refugee claimant, started volunteering to help other LGBQT+ newcomers. He’s the creative force behind a newcomer-led cooking program and has trained as a peer support volunteer, accompanying newcomers to appointments across the city.
- Doug Hodge who helps bring the joys of fishing to youth who typically wouldn’t ever get the chance. For the annual Gone Fishin’ event he helps coordinate and fill a local pool with trout, standing by to help kids reel them in.
- Katie Heggtveit, one of the youngest recipients at only 21, founded an initiative to support at-risk youth through bootcamps hosted at shelters across the city. Her bootcamps focus on physical and mental health and are now scaling across Canada with local postsecondary institutions supporting the expansion.
“The impact of volunteers in Canada is exceptional—the equivalent of one million full-time jobs a year,” says Camara Chambers, Executive Director of Volunteer Toronto. “Volunteers are part of the fabric of Toronto, and we must recognize how truly meaningful their contributions are—from helping provide a meal to someone in need to fundraising thousands for non-profits—every volunteer makes a special impact in our community.”
Quick Facts
- The 2018 Legacy Awards will be the sixth annual volunteer recognition event in Toronto.
- More than 100 nominations were submitted for the Legacy Awards, tapping into a strong network of non-profits in Toronto who put-forth volunteers that have gone above and beyond.
- Since 2011, 80 Torontonians have been recognized with Volunteer Toronto Legacy Awards.
- The 2018 Legacy Awards will be presented on April 19, 2018 at 7:00 p.m., Francis D’Souza of CityNews Toronto will be the host of the ceremony.
- Volunteer Toronto is a charity funded by the City of Toronto, the Province of Ontario, and the United Way.
Background Information
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