Senior of the Year Award Recipients

For the past 16 years, Rose has provided client services for the Cancer Assistance Program (CAP) by supporting wig and mastectomy fittings for clients experiencing cancer diagnosis and treatment. She also helped to grow the wig and prosthesis program and genuinely cares for those she supports by providing a safe, welcoming and private space.

Approximately five years ago Rose and other CAP volunteers also established the “CAPitalizers”, a group that dedicates their time to fundraising, such as gift basket raffles to help support CAP’s overall fundraising efforts.

Rose is described by her nominator as having “a magnetic touch, flair for beauty; people come to her with sadness and leave with confidence.” 

Rose has been a member and volunteer of All Saints Church for 25 years where she coordinates the altar for weekly services, as well as being a Sunday school volunteer. 

Rose has also dedicated 20 years to the Church of the Resurrection where she is a volunteer for the annual rummage sale and is a famous meat pie baker who helps with fundraising for the church.

Wendy is an animal welfare role model who inspires commitment from others, contributing more than 4,000 hours in 10 years to the Hamilton Burlington SPCA. In this role, she helps with planning and facilitating events and fundraisers, provides customer service to donors and sponsors as well as administrative support and is a Board committee member. 

In 2022, Wendy was the recipient of the Dr. Jean Rumney Award, one of the first female veterinarians in Canada and the first female graduate from the Ontario Veterinary College. Wendy was recognized with this award for her outstanding commitment and dedication to animals in the community. Wendy also dedicates her time to fostering pets.

As shared by her nominator, “Wendy has a steadfast commitment to animals and their people.

For 13 years Robert has contributed countless hours in various roles to the Waterdown Legion, including coordinating several initiatives and events.

Currently, he is the lead to move Waterdown District High School's history museum to the Waterdown Legion. It will have a permanent display of the thousands of items donated by local veterans.  As past chair of the Poppy Committee, he coordinated the annual “Poppy” campaign, which included him visiting local schools wearing his veteran uniform and riding his vintage army motorcycle with the goal of helping children to understand the importance of Remembrance Day. 

Robert also established and is an active member of the Waterdown Legion Riders, a group that assists the local Legion and other community groups by raising funds to support veterans. He also created and continues to organize RED Friday (Remember Everyone Deployed), a free event dedicated to local veterans, military and first responders to give the community a chance to thank them for their service. 

 As the branch service and veteran officer, Robert helps veterans requiring financial assistance access support through the “Poppy” fund, Benevolent Fund and Veterans Affairs Canada.

For 30 years he’s volunteered for the Canadian Forces Military Police Academy, acting as a liaison with veterans and the academy by encouraging veterans to donate items of historical importance to be shared with future generations.

Additionally, close to five years of Robert's volunteer work with the Flamborough Archives has focused on researching people from the Flamborough area who served in WWI and WWII.

One of Robert’s references shares that he has an “infectious positivity, unparallel dedication and is the light that brings others together.”

Valentino has been a dedicated and valued member and volunteer of St. Margaret Mary Parish for 15 years as a greeter and usher at church services, as well as providing support for various church events. He also volunteers his time by driving seniors and those with disabilities to and from weekly church services.

He’s also volunteered for the Alpini Association of Hamilton, helping to facilitate events which help to raise funds for those less fortunate in the community. As a part of this work, he dedicates his time to visiting members who are in the hospital, supporting elementary school fundraisers like pancake breakfasts and assisting with first holy communion and confirmation celebrations.

Valentino’s nominator shares that, “his small acts of kindness make a big difference.”

Deborah has been a dedicated volunteer for Neighbour to Neighbour (N2N) for close to 10 years. She’s provided counselling and system navigation for vulnerable citizens, as well as delivered food boxes to those less fortunate in the community. She also leads the bingo program which raises $10,000 annually. She also leads the registration team for the annual “Walk-a-thon” fundraiser.  

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Deborah was one of the first to move from her regular volunteer roles to the Emergency Food Department as a Home Delivery Driver. She also continued to support vulnerable citizens through counselling and system navigation but pivoted to phone calls versus in-person visits.

Outside of this volunteer work, Deborah also contributes her time to the Women’s Centre of Hamilton where she virtually facilitates financial presentations to women who are experiencing violence. She has also supported women at both Mary’s Place and Martha House by preparing meals for them. 

One of her references shares that she is a “stern and steadfast advocate who puts the needs of others first.”

June has a history of dedicating her time to many organizations in the Hamilton area, some of which include Mission Thrift Store, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dundas Community Services, the Good Shepherd Men’s Adult Centre, St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, Dundas Salvation Army Food Bank, Ancaster Senior Achievement Centre and the City of Hamilton’s Senior Advisory Committee.

For 10 years, her time has been spent at both the YWCA Senior Active Living Centre and St. Joseph’s Urgent Care Centre in Stoney Creek. 

Five years of her time has also been dedicated to the Victorian Order of Nurses, making phone calls to isolated seniors experiencing chronic illness or injury. 

June has also been affectionately referred to as the “Famous Cake Lady”, baking and delivering numerous cakes to firefighters at the Dundas Fire Station as well as to the emergency services and nursing staff at the Urgent Care Centre on Main Street for the past two years.  

June’s nominator shares that she has an influence to “expand people’s capacity to get more from their own lives.”

Len was an integral part of the establishment of the Cancer Assistance Program (CAP) almost 25 years ago.

As a retired teacher, principal, superintendent and Director of Education, his expertise in leadership, financial management, fundraising, volunteer recruitment and human resources made him a valuable member of CAP as a Board President and committee member.

He has also participated in countless fundraising events, including 44 golf tournaments. As an educator, Len also exposed youth to the value of volunteering by creating the “Junior CAP Board” to give youth valuable governance experience.

As described by his nominator, “Len exemplifies innovative humble leadership that can help cancer victims lives with dignity”.

For the past 25 years, he has also been an Extra-Ordinary Minister for Sts. Peter and Paul’s Church, including his time as a choir member for 10 years.

For 19 years, he’s also committed his time to the Canadian Cancer Society as an executive committee member and canvasser.

As described by his nominator, “Len exemplifies innovative humble leadership that can help cancer victims lives with dignity”

In his spare time, Len has shared his passion for basketball, dedicating eight years to the Blessed Sacrament Elementary School basketball program and five years to Cathedral High School Boys basketball.