Volunteer Award

Current winners

Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O'Leary, left, presents the Building Healthy Communities volunteer Award to Catherine Wells-Drodge

Catherine Wells-Drodge - Adult Category

Catherine exemplifies how to support healthy lifestyles and create a vibrant community through her volunteer work over the last three decades. We recognized Catherine for her dedicated contributions across each of the five pillars of our Healthy City Strategy, but specifically for her advocacy on city issues that lead to more informed, engaged and connected citizens.

Abby Pace, left, is presented with the Building Healthy Communities Volunteer Award in the Youth category

Abby Pace -
Youth category

We recognize Abby Pace for her volunteer work with The Gathering Place, Eastern Health, NLAA, Skate Canada and Special Olympics. Abby embodies the healthy community pillars of Inclusion, Environment and Healthy Neighborhoods and People, and helping to build inclusive communities with deep social and community connections.

Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O'Leary presents the Building Healthy Communities Volunteer Award in the Community Group category to Go Getters NL

Go Getters NL - Community Group category

Go Getters NL is a youth service initiative focused on increasing community service, civic engagement, and advocacy in young adults ages 19 – 30. From connecting with seniors at Cambridge Estates to hosting free gender-neutral clothing swaps supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+community, Go Getters NL are making a difference to the lives of many here in St. John's. They are recognized for their contributions to the healthy community pillars of Inclusion and Healthy Neighbourhoods and People.

Previous winners

2021 Award Winners

Charles Murphy - Adult category

Passionate volunteer for events, fundraising, and community supports. Charles is a co-facilitator for the local Pflag, a peer support group for 2SLGBTQIA+ members. He co-founded Raise Up Fundraising, an organization supporting unserved populations and helped raise $40,000+ for initiatives.

Hannah Murphy - Youth category

Hannah volunteers with the City’s Together in Movement and Exercise Program. She also volunteers in Dr. Michelle Ploughman's Recovery and Performance Laboratory, where research focuses on the effects of exercise on the brain challenged by disease. She organizes outreach events and is a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

2020 Award Winners

Barbara Albrechtsons - Adult category

Barbara Albrechtsons is a retired public health nurse. She volunteers with The Association for New Canadians (ANC). Along with the dedication of many other volunteers and staff, they created "Fresh Start", a breakfast program which takes place at the ANC Language School and serves refugee adults and their children

Jude Benoit - Youth category

Jude is a youth advocate for inclusivity, decolonization, and anti-racism in the community, particularly as a leader and mentor in the 2SLGBTQ community. Jude is being awarded the Building Healthy Communities Volunteer Award for building neighbourhood-based support systems for trans and queer youth and other marginalized persons during Covid-19.

Friday for Future St. John's - Community category

Youth lead “Fridays for Future St. John's” was founded in March of 2019, following in the footsteps of the global movement “Fridays For Future,” started by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. The ultimate purpose of the group is to fight climate change through strikes and various local events. Fridays For Future St. John's has hosted five climate protests thus far, their most successful taking place on September 27 where over five thousand strikers took part. The group continues to fight for climate justice and doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon.