The 2010 recipients of the Senior Islanders of the Year Award were announced today by the Honourable Janice Sherry, Minister of Community Services, Seniors and Labour.
This is the first year the award was available and members of the public were asked to nominate seniors in their community who they believed deserved recognition. Nominations were assessed by members of the Prince Edward Island Seniors’ Secretariat.
“The PEI Senior Islanders of the Year Award highlights the many individuals in our One Island community and the unique role that Island seniors play in enhancing community and family life,” said Minister Sherry. “The Seniors Secretariat received many nominations and we would like to thank everyone who took the time to nominate someone and to recognize all of the older adults who live in our lovely province and the contributions they make to our communities.”
The award recognizes the significant contributions of Island seniors in many areas of community life including: volunteerism, artistic achievement, fund-raising, community participating, career achievements, fitness/recreation and other activities.
The 2010 recipients include the following individuals:
• Julien Arsenault
• Agnes MacDonald
• W.J. Holloway
• Vivian Barbara Phillips
• Annie Boyle
• Mary MacDonald
• Empress MacDowell
• Morris McIntyre
• Shirley McGinn
“Today, on the International Day of Older Persons, the PEI Seniors’ Secretariat is pleased to recognize the important contributions that older adults make in the community, to Island families and to improve our way of life,” said Anna Duffy, Chairperson for the PEI Seniors’ Secretariat. “The recipients are remarkable role models of what is possible at any age or stage in life.”
For more information on the award recipients, visit www.gov.pe.ca/sss/seniorsoftheyear.
BACKGROUNDER
Biographical sketches for 2010 PEI Senior Islanders of the Year Award Recipients
Julien Arsenault
Julien Arsenault is recognized as a Senior Islander of the Year for his celebration of culture and heritage. This resident of Wellington has been actively involved in the community for many years, both in social causes and social and cultural activities. An active fundraiser and door-to-door canvasser, many health charities have benefitted greatly from Mr. Arsenault’s efforts including the Red Cross, Canadian Cancer Society, Alzheimer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Mr. Arsenault continues as an active volunteer at Chez Nous seniors’ residence and Le Bel Âge committee. Mr. Arsenault and his wife Orella have long supported cultural events in the community and in 1993 were selected to play Evangeline and Gabriel for provincial celebrations. Julien Arsenault was recognized in 2001 as Acadian of the Year, for his volunteerism during International Year of the Volunteer and in 2005 with a community service award for his dedication to others. Julien is well known as an avid story teller, smelt fisher and cribbage player.
Agnes MacDonald
Agnes MacDonald is described as a creative organizer who recognizes the gifts of other community members and helps people put these gifts to use for the benefit of others. This resident of Fort Augustus has been recognized for her leadership at the community and provincial level in several organizations including the Catholic Women’s League, Shamrock Seniors Club, Fort Augustus Heritage Park and at St. Patrick’s Pastoral Council and choir. Mrs. MacDonald has been involved with Birthright, an organization that provides assistance and support to pregnant women, for over ten years. She is also an active volunteer offering support at the local recreation centre, often preparing and serving meals for receptions. A very knowledgeable, tireless and energetic worker with a good sense of humor, Mrs. MacDonald is recognized as a Senior Islander of the Year as an inspiration to people of all generations.
WJ Holloway
Walter J (Kip) Holloway is noted for his generosity with his time, talent and personal funds. He also encourages and motivates others around him to take action for the benefit of the community. This resident of Charlottetown is known for his support of a great number of organizations and charities. He is a twenty-year volunteer with the Hospice Palliative Care Association of PEI; a volunteer with the Navy League of Canada, which provides civilian oversight and support to the National Sea Cadet Program; the World Changers organization, which involves youth in volunteer activities with low income families and seniors; and a member of the Charlottetown Safety Council. Mr. Holloway is also an active volunteer with the Island Pregnancy Care and Support Centre, a lay volunteer with the QEH Chaplaincy program and teaches English as a second language to Russian newcomers. He has also shaped the landscape of Charlottetown by helping to raise funds for the construction of the Service Memorial Fountain in Queen’s Square as a tribute to all those who have served their country in Canada’s Armed Forces, in times other than declared wars, as police officers, fire fighters and peace officers. For these and many other contributions, Mr. Kip Holloway is recognized as a Senior Islander of the Year for his public service to community and country.
Vivian Barbara Phillips
Vivian Phillips has been described as a community volunteer whose “hands are never idle.” Mrs. Phillips is a veteran of the Second World War and served in the Royal Canadian Air Force women’s division in Ottawa, Halifax, Torbay (Newfoundland) and Sydney (Nova Scotia). Now a resident of Ellerslie, Mrs. Phillips has had an active volunteer career for the past 70 years serving with many local community groups including the Women’s Institute, Meals on Wheels, the Stewart Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Atlantic Missionary Society, Girl Guides, the local figure skating club, festivals and other organizations. She is noted for her deep faith, caring, compassion and graciousness in welcoming newcomers and supporting those in need. As an example, Mrs. Phillips is noted for including an extra special baked treat for recipients of Meals on Wheels and university students as part of their care packages. As “active today as when she was 60,” Mrs. Phillips is recognized as a Senior Islander of the Year for displaying community involvement that is an inspiration to other generations.
Annie Boyle
Annie Boyle has been described as a tireless worker, energetic and a great neighbor. This Charlottetown resident has sought out many leadership and volunteer positions in her community. Mrs. Boyle has been an instructor with the Charlottetown Rural Community School for 36 years and was honored by the Canadian Association for Continued Education as volunteer of the year. She is also a former President of the PEI Senior Citizens’ Federation, an instructor and leader with 4-H and member of the Orange Benevolent Society for the past fifty years. Being willing to be a leader means great opportunities, and Mrs. Boyle has had an opportunity to participate in the work of the public transit commission and elder abuse awareness and to support Camp Gencheff. Mrs. Boyle has also been an important supporter of the work of health charities. As a key canvasser for the Kidney Foundation she has raised over $39,000 to date and raised over $30,000 for the Arthritis Society, which represents up to 50% of the funds collected on PEI. Mrs. Boyle is recognized as a Senior Islander of the Year for promoting lifelong learning and community participation.
Mary MacDonald
Mary MacDonald has been described as a generous, giving person who exemplifies the word “community.” This resident of Tracadie Cross was nominated for her ongoing fundraising efforts at the community level in writing, directing and at times starring in an annual dinner theatre event that has raised proceeds for the Lions Club, St. Bonaventure’s Parish, Tracadie Community Centre and projects such as the Upper Room Angels and Bedford MacDonald House. She has also been active as the president of the local Catholic Women’s League, member of the parish council and a board member of the Tracadie Community Centre. As a former teacher, Mrs. MacDonald demonstrates a keen interest in the welfare of children and youth and has been active in Project LOVE and in the development of a local youth-at-risk facility. In her nomination, community members reflected that Mrs. MacDonald becomes actively involved in every project that she undertakes to ensure that it is achieved at the highest possible standard and, though she runs a tight ship, it is always with good humor that helps everyone to do their best. Mrs. MacDonald is recognized as a Senior Islander of the Year for promoting the arts and community participation.
Empress MacDowell
Empress MacDowell has a long involvement in the community of O’Leary. Empress and her late husband Roy were early pioneers in the provision of services to people with intellectual disabilities but it has been in recent years that she has found a new focus for her volunteer work in long-term care. It began when Roy was a resident at Margaret Stewart Ellis Home as Mrs. MacDowell began to care for other residents and support the staff members in their work. After Roy’s death, she continued as a volunteer, visiting with residents, setting up the dining room for meals and helping to tidy up and assist residents in any way that was required. Staff members say, “We love having her come to our facility, we appreciate all she does for all of us.” Remarkably, despite contributing 25 – 30 hours/week, including daytime and evenings as required at Margaret Stewart Ellis, Mrs. MacDowell also finds time to help her neighbors in the seniors’ apartments with cleaning, transportation, baking and as a first responder to life lines in the building. Mrs. MacDowell is recognized as a Senior Islander of the Year as an inspiration for staff members and residents in long-term care.
Morris McIntyre
Morris McIntyre is the voice for many who have a difficult time finding their own voice. In the words of one nominator, “Morris has changed the face of Charlottetown in so many ways and contributed directly to making the city and surroundings within PEI a much better place; he has done so quietly, always thinking of others first and at times literally providing those in need with the shirt off his back.” This resident of Charlottetown has been actively involved in raising the profile of the issue of homelessness and contributing to the establishment of Bedford MacDonald Homeless Shelter. He has also been involved as a board member of the Upper Room Food Bank, in church activities, with the refugee community in seeking to support a family from El Salvador, and in fund raising. Mr. McIntyre’s great skill is in building bridges between organizations and people and assembling teams to achieve change. Mr. Morris McIntyre is recognized as a Senior Islander of the Year for his collaborative work in achieving change at the community level.
Shirley McGinn
Shirley McGinn epitomizes the spirit of volunteerism by making a positive difference in the lives of many Islanders. After a 43-year career as a highly regarded and respected elementary school teacher, Ms. McGinn has immersed herself in full-time volunteer work with numerous organizations. This resident of Charlottetown has volunteered at Parkdale Elementary School and, most recently, at Prince Street School where she tutors students every morning and works at the school’s breakfast program. She is a Learning for Literacy volunteer at West Kent School and a volunteer for the Big Brother/Big sisters in-school mentoring program. For the past 15 years, Shirley McGinn has also been a volunteer at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital working on the pediatric unit, the nursery and at the information desk, accruing over 6,000 volunteer hours. She is also a member of the Catholic Women’s League at Holy Redeemer Parish, a member of St. Vincent de Paul Society which provides service to those in need and regularly visits residents at Geneva Villa and the Atlantic Baptist Nursing Home. Shirley McGinn is recognized as a Senior Islander of the Year for her respect and devoted service to children, youth and older adults which is demonstrated by her kindness, compassion and acts of selflessness.