Each year, Easter Seals Canada bestows a number of different awards to recognize and honour the contributions of various partners, community leaders and volunteers who have demonstrated outstanding support of Easter Seals’ mission and work across the country; and for demonstrating leadership and commitment to the advancement of accessibility and inclusivity issues in Canada.
Easter Seals recognizes the critical role and valuable contributions of its partners in enabling and supporting the organization. The annual Patron Award is the highest honour that Easter Seals bestows to an organization that has provided Easter Seals with long-term financial support for its work, and demonstrated an unwavering shared commitment to Easter Seals’ vision and mission across the country.
The 2019 Easter Seals Patron Award is presented to Amway Canada (www.amway.ca) for its unwavering, decades-long support and commitment to Easter Seals. Amway Canada and Amway IBOs have fundraised for and sponsored Easter Seals on many events, including the Drop Zone where Amway is the National Hero Sponsor. Since 2005, Amway and IBOs have contributed nearly $1M to support Easter Seals events, programs and services for Canadians living with disabilities.
Amway is a family-owned, global, direct-selling business based in Ada, Michigan, USA that is committed to helping people live healthier, more empowered lives. Top-selling brands for Amway are Nutrilite™ vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements, Artistry™ skincare and color cosmetics, eSpring™ water treatment systems and XS™ energy drinks – all sold exclusively by Amway Business Owners. Global sales in 2017 made Amway the No. 1 direct selling business in the world, according to the 2018 Direct Selling News Global 100. Amway Canada – located in London, ON – opened in 1962. It is the first international affiliate of Amway Corporation and is a proud and active member of the Canadian Direct Sellers Association (DSA).
The Community Partner Award is presented to outstanding community organizations or individuals who have demonstrated excellence in partnering with Easter Seals to promote access and inclusion, as well as enhance the independence, well-being and quality of life of Canadians living with disabilities.
Easter Seals is pleased to present a 2019 Community Partner Award to Danny and Martie Murphy of D.P. Murphy Inc., based in Charlottetown, PEI. Danny and Martie Murphy are owners and operators of over 30 award-winning Tim Horton’s locations, 28 Wendy’s Restaurants, as well as 13 hotels including Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Suites, and Four Points hotels across Eastern Canada. They are big believers in giving back to the communities where they do business, and over the past 40 years, have raised close to $1M dollars for Easter Seals recipients and their families through corporate sponsorship, as well as participation and fundraising at various events on the island.
The annual Easter Seals National Volunteer Awards recognizes and celebrates the contributions of Canadians from coast to coast who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to Easter Seals’ mission and vision through their volunteerism, time, passion and dedication to Easter Seals. The award is bestowed to one exceptional volunteer in each province. Winners are announced during National Volunteer Week each year.
The winners of the 2020 National Volunteer Awards are: John Kittler (Alberta), John Mould (British Columbia), Scott McMillan (Manitoba), Brook Squires (Newfoundland & Labrador), Joan MacLeod (Nova Scotia), Mike Kelly (Ontario) and Barry Bradshaw (Saskatchewan).
Easter Seals congratulates all the winners of the 2020 National Volunteer Awards, and thanks all of our volunteers across the country for their commitment, contributions and dedication in helping Easter Seals advance its vision and mission of enhancing the quality of life, well-being and independence of Canadians who are living with disabilities/with diverse abilities.
Read citations for the National Volunteer Award winners
