Volunteer Award
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Current winners
Individual Volunteer of the Year
Stephanie Evans
Stephanie Evans advocates for mental health and disability rights in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. A recent social work graduate, she volunteers with the Canada Games and Inclusion NL and serves as chairperson for the National Educational Association of Disabled Persons (NEADS), supporting disabled post-secondary students. She represented NL and Canada at the Global Disability Summit in Berlin.
Councillor Greg Noseworthy presented Stephanie with the award at the 2025 Awards Gala.
Group Volunteer of the Year
Waterford Valley High Community Outreach Network
The Waterford Valley High Community Outreach Network is a group of grade 10-12 students at Waterford Valley High. These students take part in different initiatives each month throughout the city and school community. The Waterford Valley High Community Outreach network organized initiatives such as food drives, holiday stocking donations and helped with Special Olympics NL. Their end goal is to make St.John's a great place to live.
Councillor Greg Noseworthy presented representatives of Waterford Valley High Community Outreach Network with the award at the 2025 Applause Awards Gala.
Previous winners
2024 |
Emmett Cochran - Youth Volunteer of the YearEmmett Cochran is a student at Waterford Valley High School and dedicated volunteer that has made significant contributions to his community through the organization of fundraising events to support his peers and vulnerable populations. Alick Tsui - Adult Volunteer of the YearAlick Tsui, who has been volunteering for several years in various capacities for a variety of organizations and associations like the Positive Thinkers Club, CNIB, and many more. Thrive's Street Reach Volunteer Program - Group Volunteer of the YearThrive’s Street Reach Volunteer Program – Guided by harm reduction principles, this program offers outreach services and individual support to those 16 and over. Volunteers fill many important roles of the group, such as outreach walks, distributing harm reduction supplies, serving meals, providing support during drop-ins, shopping and fostering social and community connections. |
2023 |
Stephen Jewczyk - Adult CategoryStephen Jewczyk is recognized for over 40 years of dedicated volunteerism in a wide variety of areas including supportive housing, food networks, environmental activism and recreational sport. Stephen has worked with Stella’s Circle, Cochrane Street United Church and numerous other organizations.
Radhika Verma - Youth categoryRadhika Verma, a full-time pharmacy student at Memorial University, who passionately dedicates her time to a variety of community organizations and volunteer projects, such as the opioid crisis and smoking cessation.
Go Getters NL - Community Group categoryGo 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. |
2022 |
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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 - 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.
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.
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2021 |
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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 |
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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. |
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