Past Volunteer Award Recipients
In 2024, Crohn's and Colitis Canada changed the volunteer program awards to reflect the range of opportunities now available at the organization. We have also refreshed how we recognize the impact of volunteers at Crohn's and Colitis Canada.
Previous to 2024, the volunteer awards were established in three parts; the Unsung Hero Award, the Volunteer Team Excellence Award and the Gutsiest Team Award.
- The Unsung Hero Award
The Unsung Hero Award
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
2021
- AB - Kate Latos
- BC - Matthew Sebastiani*
- MB - Michelle Johnson
- NL - Marion Ryan
- NS - Kim Rowley
- ON - Laura Shaver
- QC - Jennifer Loschiavo
- SK - Alesha Oborowsky
2020
- BC - Perry Monych
- AB - Patrizia Coppola
- SK - Dan DeForrest
- MB - David W Moore
- ON - Debra Power*
- QC - Sylvain Mantha
- NB - Mandi Lawson
- NL - Betty Priddle
2019
- NL - Marion Organ
- NB - Julie Cyr Dubé
- SK - Nathan and April Stang
- MB - Donna Doman
- ON - Sharon Fennell
- QC - Shannon Epstein*
- BC - Peter Dobranowski
- AB - Catharine Smart
* Recipient of National Unsung Hero Award
- Volunteer Team Excellence Award
Volunteer Team Excellence Award
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*
2021
- MB - Canada Life Gut Busters
- NB - New Brunswick Gutsy Walk Committee*
- ON - Peel Chapter
- QC - Quebec City Chapter
* Recipient of National Team Excellence Award
- Gutsiest Walk - Team Award
Gutsiest Walk - Team Award
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- Simcoe County Gutsy Walk Committee*
2022
- ON - Hamilton Gutsy Walk Committee*
2021
- BC - Victoria Gutsy Walk Committee*
* Recipient of National Gutsiest Walk Team Award