The Volunteer Recognition Awards celebrate volunteers whose unselfish and dedicated service have made a significant impact on the City of St. Catharines. Review each of the award categories and learn how to submit a nomination.
Nominations
Nominations are now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted nominees for the City's 2025 Volunteer Recognition Awards.
Award categories and descriptions
We issue volunteer awards in the following categories.
Mayor’s Lifetime Volunteer Service Award |
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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. |
Mayor's Volunteer of the Year Award |
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The Mayor's Volunteer of the Year Award is given to an individual who represents volunteerism at its finest. The recipient will:
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Margaret and Robin MacLennan Youth Volunteer of the Year Award |
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This award is given to an exemplary volunteer, aged 24 and under, who has helped create a better community. This individual will:
For more information about the Margaret and Robin MacLennan Community Fund and previous winners since 2003, please visit robinandmargaret.ca. |
Community Impact Award |
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The Community Impact Award is given to individuals who have shown selfless dedication to an organization and/or has made a significant difference in the community. |
2025 winners
It is our volunteers who help make our community the vibrant and compassionate space that it is today. Join us in celebrating our award winners who have given so much.
Mayor’s Lifetime Volunteer Service Award |
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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. |
Mayor's Volunteer of the Year Award winner |
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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. |
Margaret and Robin MacLennan Youth Volunteer of the Year Award winners |
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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. |
Community Impact Award winners |
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The 2025 Community Impact Award winners are:
Zahra Ahmadi, Bridges Niagara Immigrant and Refugee Services Alexander Azzam, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Niagara Robert Barber, Niagara Region Métis Council Isabella Berardi, Pathstone Mental Health Youth Advisory Committee Madeline Berardi, Pathstone Mental Health Linda Beyer, Bridges Niagara Immigrant and Refugee Services Fred Bowering, Safe Streets Karl Bowley, St. Catharines Rowing Club Dennis C. Bustos, Filipino-Canadian Association of Niagara Henry P. Bustos, Filipino-Canadian Association of Niagara Mark Chapman, St. Catharines Rowing Club Kim Colangeli, Precious Angels Niagara Amanda Cote, Slo Pitch Niagara Phoenix Christensen, Pathstone Mental Health Youth Advisory Committee Elvie Damiano, Filipino-Canadian Association of Niagara Enzo De Devitiis, Pride Niagara Katherine Dodge, Positive Living Niagara Abbas Faramarz, Bridges Niagara Immigrant and Refugee Services Lori Gava, Hospice Niagara Kelly George, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 350 Kermesha Granger, Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region Glenn Hallett, Humane Society of Greater Niagara Quinn Harley, Community Care St. Catharines and Thorold Jeff Hasim, Kiwanis Hockey Christine Holt, St. Catharines Ladies Softball League Avah Horton, New Hope Church Alicia Howe, GCMHA Falcons Liz Ianizzi, St. Catharines Rowing Club Yildiz Ighani, Pathstone Mental Health Youth Advisory Committee Harmonie King, Pathstone Mental Health Youth Advisory Committee Molly Lacey, Suitcase in Point Mike Lavallee, Education Foundation of Niagara Alexander Leone, Brock University, Niagara Health (St. Catharines site), Canadian Blood Services and Let's Talk Science Kim Luciani, St. Vincent De Paul Society Store, and Ozanam Soup Kitchen at Knights of Columbus building Carl MacCulloch, St. Catharines Rowing Club Crisanto Manalo, Filipino-Canadian Association of Niagara Sofia Marchenko, Ukrainian First Baptist Church Christine Marks, CFUW St. Catharines William (Bill) McAvoy, Community Care St. Catharines and Thorold Phil McDonald, Humane Society of Greater Niagara Francie McGlynn, St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre Jamie Mereweather, Humane Society of Greater Niagara Bruce Merritt, Morningstar Mill - City of St. Catharines John Mirynech, St. Catharines Rowing Club Rene O'Brien, Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region Alexa Paquette, Pathstone Mental Health Connor Pinkernelle, Pathstone Mental Health Jim Richardson, City's Recreation Master Plan Advisory Committee Erin Sharpe, St. Catharines Rowing Club Phyllis Shortt, Bridges Niagara Immigrant and Refugee Services Calla Smith, Pathstone Mental Health Sophie Spelier, Pathstone Mental Health Brianna Troy, Positive Living Niagara Susie Turner, Wellspring Niagara and Niagara Peninsula Foundation for Children Angela Wheaton, Autism Ontario Wendy Wiebe, St. Catharines Rowing Club Amy Wilson, Wellspring Niagara and Niagara Peninsula Foundation for Children Phoenix Young Lazo, St. Catharines Boxing Club Brenda Zadoroznij, St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre |