It was a night to celebrate “the heart and soul of our community, our volunteers, our champions, our everyday heroes.”
The annual City of Greater Sudbury Civic Awards were held May 1 at the Falconbridge Recreation Centre. Honoured were 12 individuals and seven groups who were nominated for meritorious service, voluntary contributions, personal efforts and exemplary community development.
Hosted by city staff Jessica Watts and Shelley Walushka, the evening was kicked off with remarks from Lefevbre, who spoke of the award winners as the people who have made “inspiring and lasting contributions to our neighborhoods, our neighbors, the future generations.”
The location of the awards is changing each year as well, with the ceremony being held at the Michael Vagnini Hall in the T.M. Davies Community Centre in Lively in 2024. Lefevbre said this was an opportunity for all to get out and explore the city, to see the smaller pockets that make up the whole.
Each volunteer awarded was nominated by a Sudburian, and then chosen by a selection committee. The criteria considered during the selection process for the awards included length of volunteer service “enrichment of spirit, lasting legacy, leadership and exceptional service, said a release from the city when the nomination period was opened. This year's civic awards intake garnered 17 group and 23 individual nominations.
And in addition to a framed certificate of their award given to them by Lefevbre, each individual and group received a professional photograph to remember the occasion.
“Earlier today, I had the opportunity to deliver the State of the City to the business community for the Chamber of Commerce; but tonight I have the privilege of speaking to you, the people who give so much, not for the profit or the recognition, but out of love for the city,” said Lefevbre in his opening remarks.
“Together, your actions create a safer, more inclusive, compassionate city for us all.”
You can find all the winners below.
Individual
- Carolyn Cattapan, volunteer and advocate with L’Arche Sudbury
- Craig Fielding, animal rescue champion
- Crystal Richer, outreach services for homeless people in Capreol
- Denis Gauthier, Rayside Balfour community volunteer
- Jessica Montgomery, averages 400 per year across community endeavours
- Leslee Salo, educator, culture and heritage advocate
- Marie Ntganda, development of French culture and language services
- Paul Schutt, Canadian veteran and coach of Lasalle Secondary School football team
- Father Ronald Perron, celebrating 50 years as priest in Sudbury
- Randy Baldelli, fundraising and volunteering with vulnerable populations
- Stephen Costello, more than 1,000 hours volunteering in hockey
- Tanrang Ingle, grouping the sport of cricket in Greater Sudbury
Groups
- Beaver Lake Sports and Cultural Club
- Centre de Santé Communautaire du Grand Sudbury
- Organizers behind New Sudbury Days
- PetSave
- SWC (formerly Sudbury Women’s Centre)
- United Way Community Volunteer Income Tax Program
- Wahnapitae Community Centre
Jenny Lamothe is a reporter with Sudbury.com