Waterloo Region – The Region honoured Young Heritage Leaders and the Ontario Senior of the Year at Regional Council Wednesday night.

“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 Regional Chair Ken Seiling.

Ontario Senior of the Year

James Brodie was presented with the Ontario Senior of the Year award. Jim retired from a long career in banking in 1999 and now volunteers for the Region helping low income residents complete their annual income tax returns. Jim has completed over 12,000 tax returns since he started volunteering in 2008. 

The Canadian income tax system has become an increasingly important source of financial support to low income individuals and families. The significance of filing taxes has become more important to residents so they can access these benefits. Jim’s work has helped ensure that many people in Waterloo Region obtain the benefits for which they are eligible.  

Jim has truly made our community a better place by volunteering his skills and services.

Ontario Heritage Trust Award – Young Heritage Leader

Chiara Power was the recipient of the Young Heritage Leader award. Chiara has been a volunteer with the Waterloo Region Museum for two years and had already contributed close to 200 hours of time. She has helped with both special events and the museum’s signature program, “Day in the Life” where Chiara dresses in historic costume and assists visitors with hands-on activities, and does demonstrations and presentations.

Chiara is well liked by the staff and visitors at the museum and she consistently performs beyond expectations. She has outstanding qualities that make her a wonderful young heritage leader.

Ontario Heritage Trust Award – Young Heritage Leaders (Group)

Eastwood Collegiate Institute (ECI) was presented with the group award for Young Heritage Leaders. Since 1998, various teachers and their students at ECI have volunteered at the Waterloo Wellington Children’s Groundwater Festival. Each year, teacher Ms. Wood and a group of high school students help animate the 50 hands-on, interactive learning centres.

The students make the activities interactive, interesting and entertaining for the young visitors. They challenge the children to consider the importance of water to themselves as individuals and to society at large. They teach the children to respect and conserve our valuable water resources, so they can become the water stewards of the future.

The students at Eastwood Collegiate Institute are wonderful role models and set a great example of youth making a difference in their community.

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Bryan Stortz, Director of Communications, 519-575-4408