The 37th annual Niagara Falls Volunteer Awards ceremony took place Monday night, honouring outstanding volunteers in the city.

Here are this year's recipients:

Youth Volunteer of the Year Award — Mohini Rathod
Presented to a youth resident, 21 years of age or younger, who demonstrates a true commitment to our community by their volunteer work. The service that they provide goes well above and beyond any volunteer service required by their school.

Senior Volunteer of the Year Award — Frank Fohr
This award is presented to a senior resident, 60 years of age or older, who demonstrates a true commitment to our community by their volunteer work. The service that they provide goes well above and beyond and makes a significant impact on the community.

Environment Award — the Niagara Falls Rotary Club and Rotary Club of Niagara Falls Sunrise
This award is presented to those citizens, groups, businesses, industry or organizations residing or working in the City of Niagara Falls who have made a significant contribution toward the protection or enhancement of the City's environment.

Civic Pride Award — Michael Brzozowski
Sponsored by the Recreation Committee, this award is presented to those residents who demonstrate a true commitment to our community and help make the City a nicer, cleaner place in which to live by making a difference to the daily lives of those who live in Niagara Falls. These are the “unsung heroes’ who take pride and ownership in our community. Their actions demonstrate how important the little things in life can be and how a difference can be made by an individual or group.

Doug Austin Award — Vito DiMartino
The Doug Austin Award is a special award presented each year by the Niagara Falls Review. Doug Austin was a sports editor at the paper for more than 30 years. The award was started in 1982, prior to his death, and is presented to a person in the community for dedicated volunteer service and accomplishments in sports.

Stamford Collegiate Alumni Association Award in Memory of Barbara Frum — Elizabeth Manker
Sponsored by the Arts, Culture & Museum Committee, this award is presented to an individual or organization who has enhanced the quality of our lives by virtue of their outstanding contribution to fostering and developing Arts and Cultural opportunities in Niagara Falls. Barbara Frum was a well known and respected journalist, interviewer, and commentator in print, radio, and television.

George MacPhail Award — Robert Pysher
Sponsored by the Recreation Committee, this award is presented to an individual or organization who has displayed an outstanding volunteer contribution in recreation to the citizens of Niagara Falls. The award is made in memory of George MacPhail, a former Niagara Falls elementary school vice-principal and a longtime, dedicated member of the City of Niagara Falls Recreation Committee.

The BeNF Award — Niagara Falls GO/VIA Train Welcome Team Ambassadors (Yishu Barru, Helen Lea, Deanna Simon, Barbara Burrows, Elizabeth Manker, Mitsko Suzaki, Kathleen Crandall, Carol Michtish, Bob White, Robyn Crandall and Midori Shiki)
Neil Babbage
Yashvi Shah
Sponsored by the office of the mayor, this award recognizes people who are proud to be a part of the Niagara Falls community and give back in their own personal way.

 

Volunteer Awards

Maha Bazzi, nominated by The Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre

Trevor Bertrand, nominated by Greater Niagara Baseball Association

Dolores Derbyshire, nominated by Village of Chippawa Citizens' Committee

Elizabeth Detlor, nominated by Niagara Concerts

Julie Difolco, nominated by Club Italia Ladies Auxiliary

Carm Dix, nominated by SCVFA

Carolyn Dowd, nominated by Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region

Elco Drost, nominated by Pathstone Mental Health

Gloria Garcia, nominated by Canada Day Planning Team

Maria Gentilcore, nominated by Club Italia Banquet and Conference Centre

David Good, nominated by The Martial Arts Centre

Sandy Hall, nominated by the Terry Fox Committee

Michael Holla, nominated by Niagara Scouting Museum

Lynne Holloway, nominated by Petersons Community Workshop

Devon Koudijs, nominated by Scouts Canada - Niagara Area

Helen Macdonald, nominated by The Lundy's Lane Historical Society

Marie-Claire Manningham, nominated by Niagara District Art Association

Lorne Marshall, nominated by Family & Children Services Niagara

Janice Mayer, nominated by Firehall Theatre

Jeff Mclean, nominated by Project SHARE

Mary Palko, nominated by Coronation 50 Plus

Les Potapczyk, nominated by Heartland Forest Nature Experience

Bob Prentice, nominated by Canada Post

Milissa Ritchie, nominated by GNBA Ladies Auxiliary

Heather Seidenberg, nominated by Niagara Falls Nature Club

Erika Spreitzer, nominated by Niagara Falls Community Outreach

Margit Stelzer, nominated by Niagara Falls Horticultural Society

Karen Sze-Morrison, nominated by City of Niagara Falls Museums

Bob Thomas, nominated by Childhood Cancer Canada

Robert Trottier & Shirley Taylor, nominated by Willoughby Historical Society

David Trotter, nominated by St. John Ambulance Niagara Falls Branch

Mick Wolfe, nominated by Sports Wall of Fame Committee

 

Corporate Sponsor Awards

Branscombe Family Foundation, nominated by Pathstone Mental Health

Brock Ford Sales, nominated by Santa Claus Parade Planning Team

Condotta Merrett & Company Insurance Broker Inc., nominated by Sports Wall of Fame Committee

Country Basket, nominated by Niagara Falls Horticultural Society

Kramer Printing, nominated by Niagara Concerts

Ledgers Accounting Franchise, nominated by Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre

Lundy Manor, nominated by Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region

My Studio Niagara, nominated by Greater Niagara Baseball Association

Niagara Falls Rotary Club, nominated by Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee

NTEC, nominated by Heartland Forest Nature Experience

Ontario Power Generation, nominated by Canada Day Planning Team

Salit Steel, nominated by Project SHARE

Scotiabank Convention Centre, nominated by Niagara Falls Community Outreach - The Soup Kitchen

The Village Flower, nominated by Village of Chippawa Citizens' Committee

Westlane Secondary School, nominated by Park in the City Committee