Volunteer Awards

On October 21, 2023, at the 2023 GUTS Volunteer Conference, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada announced the recipients of the 2023 Volunteer Awards.  

Thank you to all volunteers for your impactful contributions to Crohn’s and Colitis Canada and congratulations to all the 2023 recipients on this achievement!

The Unsung Hero Award


Unsung Hero Award image

The Unsung Hero award is intended to highlight the achievements of individual Crohn’s and Colitis Canada volunteers and their contribution to the fulfillment of our mission. The award recognizes a volunteer who has made a substantial contribution to the work of the organization over time and may or may not have held any particular office or been previously recognized for their efforts. 

Unsung Hero Award

Past recipients:

2023
  • AB - Ron Abramson
  • BC - Krista Olson
  • MB - Matthew MacNeil
  • NFL - Rick Slade
  • NS - David Harrison
  • ON - Chantal Wicks*
  • PEI - Carrie MacLellan
  • QC - Marie-Eve Labadie
  • SK - Jennifer Chami
2022 
  • AB - Karen Gay
  • BC - Hailey Kolenda
  • MB - Caitlynn Danchuk
  • NL - Beverly Swackhamer
  • NB - Louise Levesque-Burley
  • ON - Sarah Bouchard*
  • QC - Edden Gitelman
  • SK - Ryan Heistad
* Recipient of National Unsung Hero Award

Volunteer Team Excellence Award


Make It Stop. For Life 2017 Award Winners

The Volunteer Team Excellence Award is intended to recognize a group of volunteers (Chapters, Affiliates, committees or other Crohn’s and Colitis Canada volunteer groups) who demonstrate collaboration and innovation while reaching outstanding achievements in advancing our mission with particular emphasis on the impact made on improving the lives of children and adults affected by Crohn’s or colitis. The impact could be made in any area including, but not limited to, awareness, outreach, patient support, volunteer engagement and/or fundraising. 

Team Excellence Award Recipients

Past recipients:

2023
  • AB- Youth IBD Group
  • BC- BC Virtual Auction*
  • MB- Winnipeg Gala
  • NFL- Christina and Madelyn Swackhamer
  • ON- Martini Madness
  • QC- Montreal Chapter
2022
  • AB - Lethbridge Gusty Walk Committee*
* Recipient of National Team Excellence Award

Gutsiest Walk - Team Award


Gutsiest Walk Award 2017 Winners

The Gutsiest Walk Award seeks to highlight a special combination of hard work, achievement and spirit by a Gutsy Walk committee. It is a mixture of achieving strong fundraising outcomes, along with a great team attitude, creativity in bringing the event to life and strong engagement of the local community through volunteerism, participation and donations. 

Regional Gutsiest Walk Team Award recipients

Past recipients:

2023
  • ON - Hamilton Gutsy Walk Committee*
2022
  • ON- Simcoe County Gutsy Walk Committee*

* Recipient of National Gutsiest Walk Team Award

  • Canada has among the highest incidence rates of Crohn's and colitis in the world.
  • 1 in 140 Canadians lives with Crohn’s or colitis.
  • Families new to Canada are developing these diseases for the first time.
  • Incidence of Crohn’s in Canadian kids under 10 has doubled since 1995.
  • People are most commonly diagnosed before age 30.

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