DAVE SMITH Named Ottawa's Community Builder of the Year
Thursday May 26, 2005: United Way Ottawa held its 5th annual Community Builder Awards saluting our community’s outstanding individuals and organizations at the Ottawa Congress Centre. In attendance were community leaders from the private and public sectors, United Way/ Centraide Ottawa supporters and volunteers.
Among the evening’s highlights was the Community Builder of the Year award presented to Dave Smith by the Honorable Jim Watson, Minister of Consumer and Business Services and M.P.P., for Ottawa West-Nepean, and 2002 United Way Ottawa Community Campaign Chair. The award honors restaurateur Dave Smith for his tremendous commitment and dedication to our community, and provides a way for the community to show its thanks for his continuing and generous support of numerous charitable and community organizations.
In presenting the award to Mr. Smith, Watson said: “Dave has become incredibly well-known in the Ottawa area for his passionate and steadfast commitment to improving lives. Indeed, there is no cause too small- if Dave can make it he will be there pitching in to host fundraisers, or emcee auctions. He is more than a community leader- he is an inspiration, a good neighbor, and an even better friend to our city.”
The event also celebrated many other individuals and organizations. The Outstanding Partnership of the Year award recognized Interfaith Ottawa, and their contributions to our community, for their effort to promote harmony, respect and acceptance among all people in Ottawa. Interfaith Ottawa, a partnership with the City of Ottawa, is an example of the good things that can happen when the City, and the numerous faith communities therein, join together to foster a continued dialogue and open communication so that we can learn about our neighbors and break the bonds of isolation, hate, prejudice and intolerance.
This year’s Corporate Social Responsibility Award was awarded to General Motors of Canada Limited in honor of the Community Wheels program- a community transportation program that provides General Motors’ vehicles to selected communities across the country. GM Community Wheels in Ottawa has provided six vans, benefiting 13 United Way Ottawa funded programs and organizations.
The National Capital Region YMCA-YWCA was recognized as Outstanding Organization of the Year for its 135 years of dedicated community building. Their motto “We Build Strong Kids, Strong Families, Strong Communities,” can be seen resonating throughout Ottawa as the “Y” works to engage and lead collaborative partnerships with the community, local businesses, government, agencies and individuals to reduce barriers and to help build a safe, vibrant, healthy and diverse community.
Action antidrogue Vanier’s Club hors de la rue/ Off the Street Club took the stage to accept the Youth Community Builder of the Year award. This group is hosted by a youth Drop-in-Centre in Vanier (Maison des jeunes) and is dedicated to promoting healthy development and lifestyle choices amongst their young francophone peers. The group distinguishes itself not only through the numerous initiatives it has put in place in their community, but also through the long term effect of their actions. Two young people who have gone through the program are now social workers themselves, and several former program participants now send their own children to Maison des jeunes.
The evening concluded with the presentation of the United Way of Canada awards, the “Thanks A Million Award” (given to organizations headquartered in Ottawa, which raise $1 million or more nationally) was presented to 9 organizations including: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Social Development Canada, the Department of National Defence, Costco Wholesale, Public Works and Government Services Canada, Canada Post Corporation, the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC) and its Retirees, and the Canada Revenue Agency.
Also recognized were federal government workplaces for their remarkable contributions. This year’s Best Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC) was awarded to Department of National Defence. The award highlights the work of an outstanding campaign team that raised a grand total of $ 2,881,789-- an increase of more than $300,000 over the previous year’s total. This year’s Campaign Hall of Fame inductee, the University of Ottawa, raised a phenomenal $341,263 during their 2004 campaign. Their campaign was not only a financial success but showcased remarkable participation rates, superb support of special events and sheer ingenuity in their fundraising endeavors.
“The Community Builder Awards are held in recognition of those individuals and organizations that impact, inspire, and lead the people of our community,” said Janet Yale, Chair, United Way Ottawa Board of Directors. “The wealth of our city is measured by the strength of our communities, and the honorees we have recognized tonight give of their time and of themselves to make our city a great place in which to live, work and raise a family. It is only fitting then that we gather this evening and thank them for their selfless contributions,” added Yale.
A volunteer-led, research-based organization, United Way Ottawa is a leader in developing and supporting community solutions. We invest in areas where we can make a measurable difference towards building a strong, healthy, safe community for all.