Volunteer Awards

• Display leadership
• Embody compassion, optimism and momentum
• Create a future of opportunity for everyone

This Mayor's Lifetime Volunteer Service Award honors an individual who has dedicated 20 or more years to volunteerism, making a lasting impact on their community through selfless service. Their unwavering commitment, leadership, and passion have enriched the lives of others, strengthened local organizations, and inspired those around them. This recognition celebrates their extraordinary contributions, recognizing them as a pillar of generosity and compassion in the community.

This individual will:

• Have volunteered for at least one year or 100 hours with one or more organizations
• Demonstrate a sincere commitment to community service
• Be both a reliable and enthusiastic volunteer

For more information about the Margaret and Robin MacLennan Community Fund and previous winners since 2003, please visit robinandmargaret.ca.

This award honours an individual who demonstrates a deep commitment to making St. Catharines a more welcoming, inclusive, and equitable community. They amplify underrepresented voices, celebrate diversity, and help create accessible and inclusive spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and supported.

This award recognizes a volunteer whose dedication, mentorship, and passion uplift local sports in St. Catharines. It's intended to celebrate those who encourage participation, nurture talent, and strengthen community pride through sport.

The Spirit of Sport Award will be presented by SCORE.

A couple of key points to remember:

• Volunteer work must take place in St. Catharines
• Self-nominations will not be accepted
• Nominators may submit a maximum of three nominees per organization annually.
• Individuals who received Community Impact Awards last year are not eligible to be nominated by the same organization this year
• Nominees that meet eligibility criteria will be invited to the Volunteer Recognition Awards reception
• Honourees and award recipients are selected from the pool of eligible nominations.

Choose the award category that best reflects your nominee’s contributions:

• Mayor’s Volunteer of the Year
• Margaret and Robin McLennan Youth Volunteer of the Year
• Mayor’s Lifetime Volunteer Service Award
• Equity and Inclusion Champion
• Spirit of Sport Award

Be sure the nominee’s contributions align with the intent of the selected category. Nominees may qualify for more than one category provided they meet the specific criteria.

Each nomination must include a detailed explanation of the achievement/contribution, impact, and level of commitment. A strong nomination should:

• Clearly describe what the nominee has done
• Explain how their actions have positively impacted others
• Provide specific examples
• Demonstrate the scope and significance of their contributions

While note required, additional documents, including letters of support and media clippings, may be attached to the nomination.

All nominations must be submitted by March 9 at 11:59 p.m.

Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.

Nominations will be reviewed based on the established eligibility and selection criteria.

Selected nominees will be invited to attend Volunteer Recognition Night on April 21, where Community Impact certificates and gifts will be presented. Award recipients will be announced during the celebration.

The 2026 Community Impact Award recipients are:

Bruce Krushelnicki is a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Niagara serving in a number of capacities. He is part of the kitchen salvage crew, helping to salvage more than 100 kitchens, works in the ReStore and is a member of its board of directors.

Bruce also serves as the chair of RAFT, which operates a youth homeless shelter and provides a number of programs for youth in Niagara. Bruce has also worked in the cooperative housing sector as a board member of several co-op housing developments.

Marie France-Marcie is celebrating 25 years of dedicated volunteer service with Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold, supporting programs and clients with special attention for children and families.

Marie also volunteers with Hospice Niagara and Marotta Family Hospital and supports charity efforts through Delta Bingo, participates in senior home visits, assists at the Linhaven long-term care home and spends personal time knitting for newborn babies in hospital.

Molly Nullmeyer joined Hospice Niagara just under a year ago and has already dedicated more than 160 hours and has become an integral part of a program that brings together individuals living with progressive, life‑limiting illnesses to share meaningful time and space with one another. Molly helps nurture strong relationships with those in the group and has also taken a lead role in data collection for evaluation, which has been invaluable in helping the program continue to evolve.

At 15-years-old, Michael Selvig is already making a difference in the community. Rather than receiving birthday gifts, Michael dedicates his birthday month to support residents experiencing food insecurity by collecting donations for the Niagara Regional Native Centre food pantry, the Quest Community Health Centre community pantry and the breakfast program at St. George's Anglican Church. Michael has volunteered with the Out of the Cold and volunteers to coach and train young baseball players.

For 20 years, Jim and Loretta Davis have been the heart and driving force behind the Brock Niagara Penguins, a local parasport club dedicated to creating inclusive sport opportunities for youth and adults in Niagara.

As founding volunteers, their vision and tireless commitment have helped shape the Penguins into a thriving, respected community-focused organization offering multiple parasport programs, fostering confidence, teamwork, and independence for athletes of all abilities.

Tim Sabourin is in his 19th season with CYO minor hockey. He is currently a parish leader, timekeeper, scheduler, and a non-parent coach for the U18 IC Canadians and is always willing to lend a helping hand.

Tim is a strong mentor to other coaches throughout the organization and takes pride in volunteering with a focus on the development of young players on and off the ice. His dedication creates a future of opportunity for both players and coaches throughout the organization.

The 2025 Community Impact Award winners are:

• Kermesha Granger, Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region

• Rene O'Brien, Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region

• Angela Wheaton, Autism Ontario

• Alexander Azzam, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Niagara
• Zahra Ahmadi, Bridges Niagara Immigrant and Refugee Services
• Linda Beyer, Bridges Niagara Immigrant and Refugee Services

• Abbas Faramarz, Bridges Niagara Immigrant and Refugee Services

• Phyllis Shortt, Bridges Niagara Immigrant and Refugee Services

• Alexander Leone, Brock University, Niagara Health (St. Catharines site), Canadian Blood Services and Let's Talk Science

• Christine Marks, CFUW St. Catharines
• Jim Richardson, City's Recreation Master Plan Advisory Committee
• Quinn Harley, Community Care St. Catharines and Thorold
• William (Bill) McAvoy, Community Care St. Catharines and Thorold
• Mike Lavallee, Education Foundation of Niagara
• Dennis C. Bustos, Filipino-Canadian Association of Niagara
• Henry P. Bustos, Filipino-Canadian Association of Niagara
• Elvie Damiano, Filipino-Canadian Association of Niagara
• Crisanto Manalo, Filipino-Canadian Association of NiagaraAlicia Howe, GCMHA Falcons
• Lori Gava, Hospice Niagara
• Glenn Hallett, Humane Society of Greater Niagara
• Phil McDonald, Humane Society of Greater Niagara
• Jamie Mereweather, Humane Society of Greater Niagara
• Jeff Hasim, Kiwanis Hockey
• Bruce Merritt, Morningstar Mill - City of St. Catharines
• Avah Horton, New Hope Church
• Robert Barber, Niagara Region Métis Council
• Madeline Berardi, Pathstone Mental Health

• Alexa Paquette, Pathstone Mental Health

• Connor Pinkernelle, Pathstone Mental Health

• Calla Smith, Pathstone Mental HealthSophie Spelier, Pathstone Mental Health

• Yildiz Ighani, Pathstone Mental Health Youth Advisory Committee

• Harmonie King, Pathstone Mental Health Youth Advisory Committee

• Isabella Berardi, Pathstone Mental Health Youth Advisory Committee
• Phoenix Christensen, Pathstone Mental Health Youth Advisory Committee
• Katherine Dodge, Positive Living Niagara
• Brianna Troy, Positive Living Niagara
• Kim Colangeli, Precious Angels Niagara
• Enzo De Devitiis, Pride Niagara
• Kelly George, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 350
• Fred Bowering, Safe Streets
• Amanda Cote, Slo Pitch Niagara
• Christine Holt, St. Catharines Ladies Softball League
• Francie McGlynn, St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre
• Brenda Zadoroznij, St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre
• Phoenix Young Lazo, St. Catharines Boxing Club
• Karl Bowley, St. Catharines Rowing Club
• Mark Chapman, St. Catharines Rowing Club
• Liz Ianizzi, St. Catharines Rowing Club
• Carl MacCulloch, St. Catharines Rowing Club
• John Mirynech, St. Catharines Rowing Club
• Erin Sharpe, St. Catharines Rowing Club
• Wendy Wiebe, St. Catharines Rowing Club
• Kim Luciani, St. Vincent De Paul Society Store, and Ozanam Soup Kitchen at Knights of Columbus building
• Molly Lacey, Suitcase in Point
• Sofia Marchenko, Ukrainian First Baptist Church
• Amy Wilson, Wellspring Niagara and Niagara Peninsula Foundation for Children

• Susie Turner, Wellspring Niagara and Niagara Peninsula Foundation for Children

The 2025 Mayor's Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Abbas Faramarz for his work at Bridges Niagara Immigrant and Refugee Services. 

Faramarz supports Bridges’ staff as a dedicated volunteer interpreter for Farsi-speaking clients, helps seniors gain essential technology skills in the Digital Skills for Seniors Program, and provides guidance and mentorship to youth as they navigate their personal and academic challenges as part of the Youth Services program.

The 2025 Mayor's Lifetime Volunteer Service Award was presented to Brenda Zadoroznij.

Zadoroznij has volunteered twice a week for the past 36 years at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre where she assists with inventory, artifact organization, object searches, and labelling and entering information into databases and spreadsheets in the museum’s collection section.

The Margaret and Robin MacLennan Youth Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to two recipients in 2025 – Brianna Troy for her work with Positive Living Niagara, and Quinn Harley for his work with Community Care St. Catharines and Thorold.

Troy has dedicated more than 200 volunteer hours to Positive Living Niagara while completing her Honours Critical Criminology degree. She has led key events, including a French Language Service Provider Breakfast for 45 people and the World AIDS Day Vigil with 88 attendees. 

When COVID struck and Harley heard about people losing their jobs and not having enough to eat, he asked his loved ones to donate to people in need rather than give him gifts – and Fill the Bin for Quinn was born. Harley has been an ambassador with Community Care St. Catharines and Thorold since he was six. Harley's program continues to provide families in need with non-perishables, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, meal kits, emergency supplies, hygiene and toiletry products and baby items, such as diapers, food and formula.