Do you wish to thank a volunteer?

For Immediate Release:
January 3, 2011

Do you know a person in the community who is worthy of recognition for their volunteer efforts?

The Ontario Volunteer Service Award program is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2011. Since it was launched in 1986, more than 150,000 volunteers were recognized through Volunteer Service Awards. The program honours the thousands of volunteers who donate their time to multiple good causes across the province.

Locally, the awards will be presented on June 1 at the Vittoria District Community Centre.

This program is designed to honour those who have volunteered. Volunteers are recognized in both adult and youth categories. The youth category is open to those under 24 years of age who volunteered with a group for two years. In the adult category, the minimum volunteer time for the awards is five years. Other categories are for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30-plus, 40-plus, 50-plus and 60-plus years of volunteering.

Anyone nominated must not have received payment for their volunteer work, must have volunteered beyond simple membership and must not have performed the services as part of their job. Examples of some of the volunteer groups that are eligible include: non-profit organizations, co-operatives, boards and commissions, businesses, government agencies, municipalities, long-term care facilities, hospitals, arts, educational and correctional facilities.

Details on the nomination process are available online at www.ontario.ca/honoursandawards The deadline for nominations is Jan. 25.

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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at
(519) 428-0446 or (905)-765-8413, 1-800-903-8629