BAINSVILLE, ON – In the spirit of National Volunteer Week, Roy and Cher’s Rescue Farm celebrated its volunteers at its annual volunteer appreciation event held April 30 at Nativity Lanes in Cornwall. Every year the charity recognizes its volunteers who went above and beyond for animals in 2016. This year Roy and Cher’s handed out seven awards. The following were recognized: Joelle Comtois (Cornwall), Lily Hicks (Long Sault) and Leah Parker (Ottawa) were recognized as outstanding youth volunteers. South Lancaster’s Ruth Filiatreault and Cornwall’s Maureen Dunn were both recognized as outstanding volunteers. Ruth is active with TNR (trap-neuter-return) for feral cats, vet runs, fundraisers and adoption events. Maureen has been a volunteer with Roy and Cher’s Animal Rescue since 2013. She assists with fundraisers and adoption events. Bainsville resident Anastasia Nikolakakis was recognized as 2016 Most Dedicated Volunteer. Anastasia joined Roy and Cher’s Animal Rescue Team September 2014 and since then she has assisted over 20 feral and stray cats through Roy and Cher’s Spay & Neuter Program. She also assists with feral cat relocation, successfully relocating a colony of 10+ feral cats to a farm. She has also been a cat foster and has helped with numerous adoption days and fundraisers. Cornwall’s Mary Jane Hill was name 2016 Cindy Ladouceur Memorial Volunteer of the Year. Mary Jane joined Roy and Cher’s Animal Rescue Team two years ago. Since then she has assisted over 30 feral and stray cats through Roy and Cher’s Spay & Neuter Program. Her efforts are an asset to the organization. She actively seeks out barns for feral cat relocation; she builds shelters for feral and stray cats and distributes them to those who feed the cats throughout the city of Cornwall; she does vet runs; she follows up with cat relocation and with those who care for the feral and stray cats; and she assists with fundraisers and adoption events. The Volunteer of the Year award is named after Cornwall resident Cindy Ladouceur who was Roy and Cher’s 2014 Volunteer of the Year. Cindy had a huge heart and cared greatly for the feral cats that lived on her street. She helped find homes for numerous kittens and strays. Cindy passed away in 2016. Roy and Cher’s Rescue Farm has over 30 volunteers who donate their time to a variety of activities including fundraising, fostering, administration, vet runs, community outreach and horse care.

Roy and Cher’s Rescue Farm was founded July 2103 has since assisted almost 300 animals. For more information about Roy and Cher’s Rescue Farm, visit the website www.royandcher.org. Roy and Cher’s Rescue farm is governed by a board of directors: Angela Parker (Director), Chantal Comtois (Vice President), Sean Herridge-Berry (Treasurer), Sheri Couchman (Secretary), and Rita Asangarani (Executive Director). Roy and Cher’s Rescue Farm is currently looking for barns for relocating feral colonies from cities. All cats will be spayed, neutered and vaccinated. Please contact Angie at [email protected] if you are interested in hosting a feral colony. The charity is always looking for volunteers to assist with the development and coordination of its programs. The charity particularly needs a volunteer coordinator, TNR coordinator, and website blogger and content writer, as well as volunteers for vet transportation and to assist with TNR. Please email Angie at [email protected] if you are interested in volunteering.

Upcoming Fundraisers: Paint Night Friday, May 12, 7 pm – 10 pm Knights of Columbus Hall 205 Amelia St., Cornwall, Ontario For tickets contact Chantal Comtois at 613-362-9134

5th Annual Book & Bake Sale Saturday, July 15, 8 am – 3 pm 4 Spruce St., Lancaster, Ontario Once again, the Book & Bake Sale will run in conjunction with Lancaster’s Annual Village Yard Sale. For more information in regards to Roy and Cher’s Rescue Farm or to respond to this press release, please contact Angela Parker at 613-662-7162 or [email protected]