Region acknowledges exemplary citizens in Waterloo Region

Waterloo Region - This evening at Regional Council, several individuals will be recognized for their dedicated and tireless contributions that make a real difference in Waterloo Region.

"We are very fortunate to have such dedicated citizens in our community who give so much of their time to the community in which we live,” said Ken Seiling, Regional Chair. “It is with great pride that we acknowledge the following citizens and their contributions at Regional Council tonight.”

June Callwood Award - Peter Gray, Co-chair Waterloo Wellington Children’s Groundwater Festival was honoured in Toronto on April 14, 2015 with the prestigious June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award. Peter had a vision to educate youth about the importance of conserving and preserving our water resources. He has been a dedicated and active volunteer in seeing this concept grow from a local idea, into a province-wide endeavor. Peter has dedicated countless hours to this program over the last 20 years. His vision, commitment and passion have been instrumental to the successful goals of both the Waterloo-Wellington Children’s Groundwater Festival and the Children’s Water Education Council. The local festival is committed to empowering children to become environmental stewards. Peter is especially proud when the children who participated in the program go on to become catalysts for change by taking new found respect back to their own environments.

Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award Life Time Achievement Award – Patricia (Pat) Rosebrugh, Pat Rosebrugh has been a leader in local heritage conservation since the late 1960s. In the beginning, Pat and five other original members formed a heritage advocacy committee, which became the local branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO). Heritage Cambridge, now ACO Cambridge, plays a critical role in distributing information on the value of cultural heritage resources, and building and voicing the community’s support for heritage conservation. As a Regional volunteer, Pat was one of the original members of the Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation (WRHF), founded in 1973. Pat served as the Heritage Cambridge representative on the WRHF for 10 years, sitting as Chair during 1981 and 1982. In her role as Chair, Pat helped to oversee the restoration of and officially open the Joseph Schneider Haus living history museum. Pat was also central to the recognition and restoration of McDougall Cottage. Ms. Rosebrugh has been recognized with an Award of Excellence by the Waterloo Region Heritage Foundation in 2004; and was inducted into the Cambridge Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Waterloo Region Hall of Fame as part of Heritage Cambridge, also in 2014.

(* Ms. Rosebrugh will be recognized at the August 19, 2015 meeting of Council).

2014 Ontario Senior of the Year Award – Chris Sheppard, has made an incredible difference in the lives of the residents at Sunnyside Seniors’ Services. He began volunteering in 2012, since then has contributed more than 700 hours of his time. Chris has visited one on one with countless male residents over the last two years. What stands out is the way he gets to know each person he visits and tailors his visits to their interests. Besides his weekly visits, he has planned and co-hosted the Christmas lights drive for the residents, accompanied residents to medical appointments and encourages residents to vote during elections. Chris is one of the driving forces behind the horticultural committee and hopes to label all the plants in the wildflower gardens and walkways at the residence. Chris has truly made a difference with the Sunnyside community.

Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation Award of Excellence - The Friends of the Joseph Schneider Haus is an independent group of heritage-minded volunteers that support and raise funds for the projects and programs of the Joseph Schneider Haus (JSH) Museum. The Friends group emerged over 25 years ago at a time when the continuing success of the Haus was in jeopardy, and over the years have helped the Haus develop into a cornerstone of cultural life in the Region of Waterloo. Special projects supported by the group include the museum and research wing of the Haus, constructed in 1987/1988; the Folk Artist-in-Residence program; the annual Quilt Block Contest; and the Edna Staebler Research Fellowship Award. The Friends also played a significant role in the Joseph Schneider Haus’ successful application for National Historic Site (NHS) status, which was granted in 2000. The JSH is indebted to this wonderful group of volunteers “who have freely given their time, expertise and support.

Ontario heritage Trust Award: Youth Achievement Award - Norwell District Secondary School, Each year the Waterloo Wellington Children’s Groundwater Festival aims to educate more than 5,000 students in grades two to five about the importance of water in their daily lives. The weeklong festival requires the help of more than 500 volunteers to deliver this message. Since 2006, the students at Norwell District High School, located in Palmerston, Wellington County, have volunteered at the Waterloo Wellington Children’s Groundwater Festival. Michael Hendrik and a group of high school students help animate the 50 hands on, interactive learning centres. The high school students educate younger students about the importance of water by delivering several key messages: use water wisely, protect your water, examine the relationship between water and technology, and celebrate the role of water in the ecosystem. The students take their role very seriously and spend a great deal of time and effort preparing for the festival.

The June Callwood Award recognizes dedicated individuals and non-profit organizations that, like the late June Callwood, have made a lasting and meaningful contribution to their communities or have provided significant support to volunteer activities.

The Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement is program that recognizes volunteers for contributions to heritage conservation over a period of 25 years or more.

The Ontario Senior of the Year Award gives each municipality in Ontario the opportunity to honour one outstanding local Ontarian who after the age of 65 has enriched the social, cultural or civic life of his or her community.

The Waterloo Region Heritage Foundation Award of Excellence - The Awards of Excellence, inaugurated in 1983, are intended to recognize outstanding contributions by individuals, institutions and organizations to heritage preservation in Waterloo Region, in such areas as archaeology, archives, culture, education, genealogy, history, literature, media, natural history and others.

Ontario Heritage Trust Award: Youth Achievement Award – The Ontario Heritage Trust Youth Achievement Award recognizes young volunteers who have also made important contributions to conserving Ontario’s heritage.

 -30-

For more information, please contact:

Tom Reitz, Manager/Curator, Planning, Development and Legislative Services , 519-575-4530 x3270, TReitz@regionofwaterloo.ca