Seeker Editor, Julia Lucio, honoured with a Volunteer Service Award alongside other Ontarians.

TORONTO – The Ontario government is recognizing 4,555 Ontarians with a Volunteer Service Award, an annual award honouring the exceptional contributions of individuals providing dedicated service to a single organization. Recipients of the award were celebrated at a virtual ceremony yesterday and will receive a personalized certificate and lapel pin to acknowledge their years of service.

“I want to thank the Optimist Club of Cornwall for putting forward my name for this great honour,” said Lucio. “It is humbling to find my name on a list of so many deserving volunteers, some of which have been serving their community for over 60 years! I can only aspire to do more to better serve mine.”

“Every day thousands of volunteers from all over the province dedicate their time and talents to make Ontario a better place,” said Premier Doug Ford. “As Premier, I want to thank each and every volunteer for the efforts they make and the examples they set for the next generation of Ontarians. We could not ask for better role models and we are so grateful to them all.”

Recipients of the 2022 Ontario Volunteer Service Award support a wide range of organizations and causes, including those serving families, children and youth, vulnerable people, hospitals, senior centres and food security programs. These volunteers also help as board members, in fundraising, in promoting the arts and promoting the different cultures that make Ontario unique.

“Volunteers are the backbones of our communities and embody the best of the Ontario spirit. They have shown — through their commitment, dedication and selfless service — that we can achieve anything and overcome any challenge when we come together as Team Ontario,” said Michael Ford, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. “I want to thank these incredible leaders, changemakers and everyday heroes for the incredible work they do to make our communities and our province a stronger and better place to live, work and succeed.”

For more information about the program or to submit a nomination, please visit the Ontario Volunteer Service Award webpage.