Burlington’s Best Recognized at Annual Awards Gala

By Staff

May 9th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

The City of Burlington honoured 30 nominees and eight award winners at the annual Burlington’s Best Awards ceremony at the Performing Arts Centre this evening.

The eight Burlington’s Best categories included:

Heritage Award
Community Service Award
Environmental Award
Arts Person of the Year
Accessibility Award
Junior Citizen of the Year
 Senior Person of the Year
Citizen of the Year

2017 Burlington’s Best Award winners
Heritage Award

This award is sponsored by Heritage Burlington, a City of Burlington citizen advisory committee made up of 14 volunteers who provide advice to City Council on issues related to the conservation of Burlington’s cultural heritage.

The award goes to an individual or group who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the preservation of Burlington’s heritage, and has volunteered his or her time to support the preservation of Burlington’s heritage in 2017.

Winner: Friends of Freeman Station

F OFS

In 2005, a group of interested citizens expressed a desire to save Freeman Station. In 2011, that group became the Friends of Freeman Station (FOFS). To date, over 8,000 volunteer hours have contributed to restoring one of the very few remaining Grand Trunk Railway stations in Canada. In 2017, during Canada’s sesquicentennial, the FOFS hosted two open houses which attracted over 1,000 visitors each day, including representatives from all three levels of government. From the beginning, seven years ago, the FOFS have stayed true to its goal of restoring the Freeman Station and creating a foundation for a sustainable and useful future.

Community Service Award
This award is sponsored by Cogeco, a diversified communications company that strives to meet the communication needs of consumers and advertisers through cable distribution and radio broadcasting.
The Community Service Award is given to an individual or group whose volunteer activity has contributed to the betterment of the Burlington community in 2017.
Winner: Kim Moss

Moss has been the administrator, organizer, public voice, and driving force behind the group ‘Burlington Rocks’. What started as a fun summer distraction of painting and hiding rocks for a few families has turned into a city-wide phenomenon for kids and adults alike. The Burlington Rocks initiative has inspired residents to connect and explore the city in a way that they have not done in the past. People are enjoying green spaces, helping by picking up trash, and getting out into the community. Thanks to Moss’ initiative, youth have gotten involved and are doing things with families and friends in the community that can help keep them civically minded as they mature into adults. Through her leadership, the Burlington Rocks group also helped with fundraising for local families and charities, raising awareness for children’s cancer, hospital needs and school fundraisers.

Environmental Award
This award is sponsored by Walker Environmental Group, a leading waste management company that develops solutions for environmental challenges—solutions that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable—including aerobic composting, alternative energy production and environmental project management. The company’s diverse range of services provides sustainable solutions that reduce waste, improve energy efficiency and enhance the environment.

The Environmental Award is given to an individual or group that improved and/or protects Burlington’s environment in 2017.
Winner: Gloria Reid

Gloria Reid – taking care of the environment – one weed at a time.

Reid has volunteered hundreds of hours of her time in 2017 to BurlingtonGreen’s projects and events. She serves on three committees and is currently the president of the Board of Directors providing leadership, inspiration and stability to our volunteer-driven organization. Reid worked tirelessly with fellow volunteers, developing a strong, healthy strategic plan that will help guide BurlingtonGreen’s eco initiatives successfully into the future. She has also volunteered with Community Development Halton and worked extensively with the City of Burlington to help develop and implement its Community Engagement Charter.

Arts Person of the Year
THE K.W. IRMISCH AWARD

The Arts Person of the Year Award was donated to the City of Burlington by the Irmisch family to recognize the importance of the arts in the community and to recognize all the volunteers who work so hard to showcase the amazing talent and culture of Burlington.
The award is given to an individual who has contributed to the arts in Burlington as an artist, patron or advocate, including, but not limited to, visual arts, media arts, musical arts, performing arts and literary arts in 2017.
Winner: Teresa Seaton

A well deserved award – name an arts community initiative – and Teresa Seaton was in there somewhere.

Seaton has helped elevate arts and culture in Burlington with her outstanding fine glass art, her significant Burlington studio and gallery and her leadership as one of our community’s major champions for the arts. She was one of the leaders of the Arts and Culture Collective of Burlington to support local artists and art, which led to the creation of Burlington’s first arts council in 2017. As a leader in the community, Seaton has chaired Burlington’s annual Art in Action Studio Tour showcasing Burlington artists, is a founding member of the Artistic Group of Glass (AGOG) and has donated her time and art to Yard Sale for the Cure, Jane’s Walk, SOCKS, and Sister Circle.

Accessibility Award
The Accessibility Award is sponsored by the Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee whose mission is to provide advice on the identification, removal and prevention of barriers to people with disabilities in the municipality’s bylaws, policies, programs and services.
The award is given to an individual, organization or business that has made significant contributions to increase access and participation of people with disabilities in the Burlington community in 2017.
Winner: Bill Murray

Murray has provided a tremendous opportunity for children with special needs to have access to music through a variety of ways. His music therapy program shows children the beauty and power of music and has transformed many of the kids in his programs. Through Murray’s tireless dedication to his students, he has been able to find ways for kids who struggle with verbal communication to communicate through music. He has found ways to make instruments accessible for children with fine motor skill difficulties or significant physical disabilities. Murray believes that every child should have a chance to make music regardless of their abilities and that, through music, they create memories and friendships which will last a lifetime.

Junior Citizen of the Year
Youthfest was founded in 2002, and avidly promotes the importance of youth in our community, develops youth responsibility and action in the community and connects youth to meaningful volunteer opportunities and available supportive service. The winner will receive a $500 bursary, courtesy of the Bank of Montreal, which has been a leading and supportive partner since the inception of Youthfest.

The Junior Citizen of the Year Award is given to a youth, 14 to 18 years of age, who has made a significant contribution to the Burlington community in 2017.
Winner: Addison Wood

Wood is a very kind, gentle and loving person who wants to make a difference in her community. She volunteers at the Friday Night Community Dinners at Wellington Square Church. She ensures that she is there every week to help make each child feel engaged in the children’s section. Addison is also a part of the Nelson High School Interact Club where she was involved in several projects, including the Bethany House project, which involved buying, wrapping and delivering Christmas gifts to adults with cognitive illnesses. Wood has proven to be a diligent and dependable young member of Burlington who inspires others by her actions and leadership.

Senior Person of the Year
Canadian-owned and operated, Schlegel Villages’ mission is to provide holistic health care in-home environment, located within an internal neighbourhood design that promotes a caring community, with emphasis on optimal health and life purpose for each resident. The Village of Tansley Woods offers a rich selection of programs and activities year around. The Village is designed to build a community while serving residents’ personal needs and wants.
The Senior Person of the Year Award is given to a Burlington resident aged 55 years or older who has made a significant contribution to the Burlington community and/or advocated on behalf of seniors in 2017.
Winner: Mae Radford

Mae Radford – decades of community service recognized.

Radford is a very active Burlington volunteer and leader who improves the lives of citizens in the community. She has driven the creation, funding and operation of Circle of Friends serving as Leader/Director/Senior Officer. Mae has successfully created partnerships with the McMaster School of Nursing and Burlington Central Public School to bring value to the program and the partnerships. Radford’s other community leadership roles include, but are not limited to, the Advisory Committee on Violence against Women, member of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Rotary Burlington Music Festival, Board of Directors with Joseph Brant Hospital and the Carpenter Hospice. Radford’s commitment in volunteering her time, personal abilities and gifts to support local organizations and projects to make our community better is remarkable and inspiring.

Citizen of the Year Award
The City of Burlington is a unique city within the Greater Toronto Area that is defined by both significant urban and rural areas. The city is proud of its clean, safe, close-knit neighbourhoods, many employment opportunities and commitment to alternative ways of getting around. The City of Burlington’s vision is to be a city “that grows, moves, is healthy, green and engaging.”
The Citizen of the Year Award is given to a person whose volunteer activity has made a significant and sustained contribution to the vibrancy and wellbeing of the Burlington community in 2017.
Winner: Osob Adus

Osob Adus, an essential member of the organizing team for the One Burlington Festival

Adus is a mother of four and a full-time worker, yet she never goes a day without helping her community. She is passionate about everything she does and is a genuine role model for the Burlington community. Adus was an instrumental leader in building a playground at the mosque for the community and surrounding neighbourhoods to enjoy. Adus was the lead for an annual youth soccer tournament as well as working with city staff to create a culturally friendly swim. She was an essential member of the organizing team for the One Burlington Festival, which promoted religious tolerance and education. Her commitment, enthusiasm and desire to the serve the community have made a difference in many lives.

The Gazette regrets that t did not have photographs of all the BEST award winners in its photo bank.

About Burlington’s Best
Burlington’s Best Awards are managed by a citizens’ committee established in 1965 with the mandate of recognizing Burlington residents who bring honour to the city and make a difference in the community.