September 14, 2004 OTTAWA – Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, and His Excellency John Ralston Saul will spend five days in Vancouver, from September 18 to 22, 2004. This will be the last in a series of six visits focused on cities. The Governor General and John Ralston Saul will engage the people of Vancouver in a series of dialogues designed to explore innovative approaches, initiatives, solutions and current projects that make Vancouver a good place to live for all its residents. "We've been spending time in cities to find out why people want to live there, how the process of community-building is going, where the challenges lie, and what is working to make their city a good one," said the Governor General. "Much of our national strength—inventiveness, social change, optimism, an awareness of the wider world—lies in leading cities and the municipalities that surround them." To underline the two main themes of the visit—citizenship and civic engagement—the Governor General will begin her visit by swearing in 20 new Canadian citizens and presenting 16 Governor General's Caring Canadian Awards to British Columbia residents who have made outstanding contributions to their communities. This public event will take place on Saturday, September 18, at the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre, at 2:30 p.m. Public education will be the focus of a speech to be delivered by His Excellency John Ralston Saul at the Magee Secondary School on September 20, at 7:00 p.m. The event, hosted by the Vancouver School Board, will be followed by a question and answer period. On September 21, Governor General Clarkson and John Ralston Saul––accompanied by Mayor Larry Campbell and City Councillor Jim Green––will spend the day in the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood and visit several sites during a walking tour. They will end the day by meeting with the residents of Downtown Eastside, Gastown, Chinatown and Strathcona at a community celebration at 4:30 p.m. at the Lord Strathcona Elementary School. Everyone is invited to attend. The visit will culminate with the Governor General's Dialogue on the Good City on Wednesday, September 22, at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Simon Fraser University, at 7:30 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend and share their thoughts on what makes Vancouver a good place to live for all its residents. Please visit www.sfu.ca/dialogue/events.htm for more information. The objective of the series of visits to urban centres is to assemble people in an open atmosphere to talk about their communities and the realities of their lives, to discover what makes a city liveable, a place in which people can take pride, and a place where they feel they can participate. In addition to Vancouver, the series of urban visits has brought the Governor General to Calgary, Quebec City, Saskatoon, Saint John and Toronto. A detailed itinerary of the Governor General's visit to Vancouver will be released tomorrow. Citations for the Caring Canadian Award recipients are attached (Annex). For more information on the Governor General's Caring Canadian Awards, please click on http://www.gg.ca/honours/caring_e.asp . -30- Media information Lucie Brosseau Rideau Hall Press Office (613) 998-0287 www.gg.ca Randy Mylyk Press Secretary to the Governor General (613) 993-8167 Annex Citations for the Caring Canadian Award recipients Master Seaman Robin Peter Bärr, Victoria, British Columbia Governor General's Caring Canadian Award A member of the Naval Reserve, Robin Peter Bärr has devoted himself to community service since the late 1980s. His focus has been on helping troubled young people, first in Toronto, later in Halifax and Victoria, and now nationwide through the charitable organization he formed. The goal of Baron's Organization and Involvement Society (BOI) is to raise funds in support of youth programs and other youth charity groups. In 2002, Master Seaman Bärr founded the Base Volunteer Services Club at CFB Esquimalt to promote community volunteering by members of the military. Other Canadian Forces bases across the country are now considering setting up clubs based on this model. Dorothy Sarah Brandon, Victoria, British Columbia Governor General's Caring Canadian Award Throughout a long and active life, Dorothy Brandon has selflessly cared for people around her. Within her own family, she nursed several members through terminal illness. In the 1950s, she volunteered in an orphanage and a seniors' home, cutting residents' hair and helping wherever needed. Since 1970, she has engaged in fundraising to aid cancer patients through activities such as making and raffling dollhouses. Through her work with the Order of the Eastern Star and Rebekah Lodge, she raised money and set up a bursary for children with special needs. A faithful friend and church parishioner, she has found opportunities for generosity, helping those in difficulty and enriching the lives of many. Kenneth Channon, Vancouver, British Columbia Governor General's Caring Canadian Award Kenneth Channon is the longest-serving volunteer for the Vancouver Meals Society, which does business as A Loving Spoonful, a volunteer-based organization that provides regular meals to approximately 200 people living with HIV/AIDS in the Greater Vancouver Area. He has served the organization as a driver and delivery person, then as a member of fundraising and human resources committees, as well as treasurer of the board of directors. A diligent and enthusiastic worker, he is always willing to take on less glamorous tasks, including taking tickets at the door and cleaning up after fundraising events. George L. Hobson (posthumous) and Margaret S. Hobson, Courtenay, British Columbia Governor General's Caring Canadian Award George and Margaret Hobson have been actively involved in their community for 50 years. Mr. Hobson volunteered with several sports associations and served as president of the Comox Valley Summer Games and of the B.C. Seniors Games Society. Mrs. Hobson has volunteered many years with St. Joseph's Hospital Auxiliary and its Sunshine committee. She also visits shut-ins and people who are isolated from friends and family in their homes and in nursing homes. Mr. and Mrs. Hobson co-founded the Courtenay Recreational Association and remained active members since 1946. Whether supporting amateur sport or comforting the sick in hospital and in their homes, Mr. and Mrs. Hobson have worked diligently most of their lives to help improve the quality of life for residents of Courtenay. Evelyn R. Jaarsma, Houston, British Columbia Governor General's Caring Canadian Award Community service has been a constant in the life of Evelyn Jaarsma. At her church, she has helped out as organist for 40 years, and has been a Sunday school teacher, girls' club leader and librarian. She also cooks for special events, and visits the sick, elderly and shut-ins. She is active in the Houston Hospice Society, and has raised funds for it, as well as for the Arthritis Society and other health-related charities. She is the longest-serving volunteer at the Houston Public Library and, since 1970, she has been coming in every week to process and shelve books and help keep the collection in order. She has been a faithful canvasser for the Arthritis Society for 20 years. With her compassion, dedication and commitment, she is an inspiration for all. Maria Jol, Coquitlam, British Columbia Governor General's Caring Canadian Award For nearly 25 years, Maria Jol has been working to help people with developmental disabilities. She leads a friendship class for them at her church, and coordinates workshop services involving the general congregation. She volunteers as a companion, caregiver and counsellor with an organization that runs homes and summer camps for developmentally challenged persons. All this is part of a broader commitment to her community, which has included helping refugee families in the late 1970s, visiting the elderly, performing church work and being willing to support anyone in need. To these tasks she brings respect, friendliness and an uplifting spirit. Doreen Klassen and Gerald Klassen, Burns Lake, British Columbia Governor General's Caring Canadian Award For the past 12 years, Doreen and Gerald Klassen have served the Mennonite Disaster Service, a non-profit disaster relief agency. Together they have participated in 11 terms of service, each term two to three months long, in cities across the United States. They work with local city councils and humanitarian organizations to assist victims of earthquakes, hurricanes and floods in rebuilding their damaged homes. Mr. Klassen also volunteers more than 200 hours a year with the RCMP Auxiliary, with duties including responding to reports of violence and substance abuse. Living in trailers, churches and camps for months at a time, Mr. and Mrs. Klassen have sacrificed time, energy and personal comfort in order to help victims of disasters reconstruct their homes and their lives. Henriette Marie Moreau, Victoria, British Columbia Governor General's Caring Canadian Award Since 1970, Henriette Marie Moreau has volunteered as a reviser, translator and board member with the Société francophone de Victoria. She has also been a member of numerous francophone organizations in the region. She has organized countless celebrations in her community, including, for the past ten years, a Christmas party for some 50 francophone children. Always happy to lend her soprano voice to the festivities and to promote the history of her province's francophone community, Mrs. Moreau has served since 1956 in promoting the vitality of the French language and the interests of British Columbia's francophones. William Lawrie Neish, Saltspring Island, British Columbia Governor General's Caring Canadian Award Since the 1970s, Lawrie Neish has made extensive contributions to the artistic life of his community, which led to important economic benefits for the region. His drive and determination led to the establishment of Artspring, a 270-seat theatre and gallery, and of Artcraft, a fundraising enterprise and a showcase of Gulf Islands arts and crafts. For over 20 years, he has coordinated Artcraft's four-month show and sale. In addition to his involvement in the arts, in the 1970s, he helped refurbish toys for disadvantaged children and, as a high school teacher, he mentored troubled youth through an extracurricular program, helping many to stay in school. Mr. Neish has given of his considerable talents and skills, his time and his money to many individuals and organizations. David Allan Paterson, Victoria, British Columbia Governor General's Caring Canadian Award David Paterson is known for more than his cheerful outlook and ever-present sense of humour. For almost 30 years, he has given countless hours to support programs for children, youth and their families, including volunteering his skills as a chartered accountant. The Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children and the United Way of Greater Victoria are among several organizations that have received significant support from Mr. Paterson, in both administrative and hands-on capacities. With Meals on Wheels, he supported staff and volunteers, and worked to increase community awareness of the service. An active Rotary member, he exemplifies its motto: "Service Above Self". Helen Lucile Simpson, Victoria, British Columbia Governor General's Caring Canadian Award Helen Lucile Simpson was a leader of Canadian Girls in Training, taught Sunday school and participated in the planning and operation of summer youth camps. She played a key role in the establishment of the Victoria Family Caregivers Network and, in collaboration with the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, identified issues and needs of seniors in the urban, off-reserve First Nations population. For 12 years, she co-facilitated a caregiver support group, all the while acting as a caregiver for several family members. In a hands-on capacity, she has supported many organizations involved in issues affecting the elderly, including the Victoria Gerontology Association, the Caregivers Association of B.C. and the South Island Seniors Advocacy Society. Mrs. Simpson has drawn on her legendary warmth, humour and her experience with issues surrounding caregiving to make her community a better place. Carrol Tonkin, Nanaimo, British Columbia Governor General's Caring Canadian Award For 25 years, Carrol Tonkin has shown deep commitment to issues affecting youth. She is a founding member of the McCreary Centre Society, a non-profit organization for youth with health issues. She has raised funds and promoted the Society's projects, and remains a source of continuing energy and guidance. For many years, she coordinated a special summer camp for adolescents with eating disorders and volunteered as the secretary of the International Association for Adolescent Health. She has been on numerous boards and committees, in Vancouver and on Gabriola Island. With an innate warmth and helpfulness, Mrs. Tonkin listens and gives generously of her time and energy to those who reside in her community. Don B. Urquhart, Richmond, British Columbia Governor General's Caring Canadian Award Since 1990, Don Urquhart has taught English language conversation and Canadian culture to hundreds of senior Chinese immigrants in the Thompson area. For the past 12 years, he has volunteered 20 hours a month for the Green Coats program at Vancouver International Airport, drawing on his fluency in Cantonese to provide assistance to travellers arriving from China. A past president of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada, he supported the development of scholarships for Korean students and the Grandfather Program, which made penpals of veterans and young Koreans. Mr. Urquhart gives generously of his time to allow veterans to connect with the next generation of Koreans, and to provide a friendly reception and continued support to newly arrived immigrants. Ida Gerarda Weisse, Victoria, British Columbia Governor General's Caring Canadian Award Ida Weisse has volunteered for almost 30 years with USC Canada (formerly the Unitarian Service Committee of Canada), an organization that supports community-level projects in Africa, Asia and Central America. Initially, she sorted and repaired clothing to be shipped overseas. She later introduced the idea of fundraising and, among other activities, she and other members of the organization knit sweaters to sell in local malls. Thanks to her dedication and leadership, the Victoria group raises more funds than any other USC group in the country. Since 1976, she has also taught weaving to people with mental disabilities through the Laurel House program. It is her belief in social justice that keeps her working hard to help others at home and abroad.
