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HSN Foundation chair honoured with national union award

Alex Patterson receives the USW District 6 Jefferson Award
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Alex Patterson, seen in this 2017 file photo, was given the District 6 Jefferson Award. (File)

When Alex Patterson's son, Carson, was born in 2000, he had issues with breathing and needed urgent care that wasn't available in Sudbury at the time.

The Pattersons had to travel to the Children's Pediatric Critical Care Unit in London, and they experienced what it was like to be away from family, including Carson's older brother (three years old).

That's when Patterson decided to take matters into his own hands and start raising funds to help the hospital here purchase medical equipment for young children. He wanted other families going through similar experiences to stay together during treatment.

Patterson joined the hospital foundation's board of directors in 2004 in order to do so, and has spent the past 15 years raising money for its many projects. While the foundation has evolved over the years, he's still as passionate about raising funds for medical needs in Greater Sudbury.

He is currently chair of the board, serving his second term in that position, and it's his commitment to public service that has garnered him a District 6 Jefferson Award.

Patterson is a full-time employee at Vale. He was nominated for the Jefferson Award by his union, United Steelworkers Local 6500. Since 2015, the USW has partnered with the Jefferson Awards Foundation, recently renamed Multiplying Good, to celebrate Steelworkers who do amazing works of community service. Multiplying Good is a national nonprofit focused on elevating public service as the means to empower individuals.

Recipients, like Patterson, are ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition, said Multiplying Good in a press release. The receive a medal in recognition of their efforts.

"Over the past four decades, the list of Jefferson Award recipients is unparalleled," said the organization on its website. "They include hundreds of national figures, both public and private, more than 63,000 unsung heroes, and tens of thousands of employees and young people in communities across the country. These individuals represent the good that is happening all around us, in every community across the nation. It is our mission to elevate them and exponentially increase their acts of service."

“When you receive awards like this, it's one person's name on it, but there are so many other people working towards the success of the Health Sciences North Foundation,” Patterson said. “A lot of great people have served on this board, and will be there after me to continue toward its success.”

He said he's humbled to be a recipient.

Unfortunately, inclement weather prevented Patterson from travelling to Pittsburgh to receive the award, and while he said it was a bit disappointing that he wasn't able to participate in the ceremony, he looks forward to getting the award soon.

Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas took some time in the legislature on Dec. 14 to recognize Patterson as an award recipient.

“I want to personally thank Mr. Patterson for everything he has done for our community and our hospital,” Gélinas said. “I have attended many of his fundraisers for the hospital foundation, and I know how much works goes into those events. I am so proud of you Alex, you deserve the Jefferson Award and more.”


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Arron Pickard

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