The Government of Canada announces recipients of the 2024 Canada’s Volunteer Awards

March 13, 2025              (Ottawa, Ontario)              Employment and Social Development Canada

Volunteers impact Canadians’ lives in countless ways. By supporting social services and social enterprises, from arts and culture to sports and recreation, volunteers foster stronger and more inclusive communities. Through Canada’s Volunteer Awards, the Government of Canada is proud to highlight some of the country’s most inspiring volunteers. 

Today, the Honourable Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced the recipients of the 2024 Canada’s Volunteer Awards. The 21 recipients were selected for their outstanding dedication to enriching their communities through education, youth leadership, diversity and inclusion, environmental sustainability, and much more.

This year’s recipients made positive change across the country. They contributed to promoting cultural enrichment in the North, combatting homelessness in Quebec, advancing multiculturalism in Atlantic Canada, fostering literacy in Ontario, and protecting botanical sustainability in the Prairies. Together, these 21 recipients made Canada a better place.

Each recipient will get to choose a not-for-profit organization to receive a grant of either $10,000 (for the Thérèse Casgrain Lifelong Achievement award) or $5,000 (for the regional awards and the special mention). Canada’s Volunteer Awards recipients will be honoured at a celebratory ceremony.

The 2025 call for nominations is currently open, providing an opportunity to recognize a new cohort of Canadians who are making a difference.

The 2024 Canada’s Volunteer Awards recipients are below:

National Awards

Thérèse Casgrain Lifelong Achievement

• Udlu Hanson (Iqaluit, Nunavut)

Thérèse Casgrain Lifelong Achievement - Special Mention

• James Peter (Jim) Mulcahy (Antigonish, NS)

Regional Awards

Business Leader
Quebec: Loto-Québec (Montreal, QC)
Ontario: Meridian Credit Union (Toronto, ON)
Prairies: Waste Logic (Edmonton, AB)
British Colombia and the North: Coast Capital Savings Federal Credit Union (Surrey, BC)

Community Leader
Atlantic: Constantine Passaris (Fredericton, NB)
Quebec: Catherine Duclos (Montreal, QC)
Ontario: Nancy Dewar-Stenning (Callander, ON)
Prairies: Botanical Gardens of Silver Springs Community of Volunteers (Calgary, AB)
British Colombia and the North: Kelly Pearce (Hope, BC)

Emerging Leader
Atlantic: Ophélie Chiasson (Dieppe, NB)
Quebec: Michael Lecchino (LaSalle, QC)
Ontario: Vickram Bachan (Toronto, ON)
Prairies: Priscilla Ojomu (Calgary, AB)
British Colombia and the North: Vedanshi Vala (Richmond, BC)

Social Innovator
Atlantic: Thrive CYN St. John's Inc. (St. John’s, NL)
Quebec: Le Groupe communautaire L'Itinéraire (Montreal, QC)
Ontario: York Region Educational Services (Markham, ON)
Prairies: Congress of Black Women of Canada, Edmonton Chapter (Edmonton, AB)
British Colombia and the North: The Running on Faith Project (Surrey, BC)