2001

Sheila Hambleton has contributed over 1000 volunteer hours annually since her retirement in 1994 from the Toronto District School Board. The organizations where she volunteers include Soroptimist International of Toronto, where she is currently the Director of the Programs Committee, Chair of the Awards and Bursaries Committee (in gerontology), club liaison with Toronto and the Area Council of Women, and the Club Archivist. Other volunteer activities include providing evening reception services at Anduhyuan shelter for aboriginal women, serving as vice-president of the Friends of the Sesquicentennial Museum, and as a board member of Community Older Persons Alcohol Program and Parkdale Focus Community. In much of her work she has supported projects that provide opportunities for young women to be mentored by older women and for older women to be exposed to other cultures. She has helped to develop processes that identify needs in the community and has raised funds for organizations that serve and benefit women.

Kowser Omer-Hashi is one of Canada's most outspoken advocates against female genital mutilation (FGM). After immigrating to Canada in 1986 as a refugee from the civil war in Somalia, she worked as a nurse and midwife in a Toronto women's reproductive health clinic. She has made it her mission to prevent FGM from being performed on any child living in Canada and is working with health professionals, social workers and teachers to address its medical consequences. She continues to focus her efforts on ensuring that Canadian doctors treat their patients who have undergone FGM with sensitivity and respect. Kowser has publicly spoken about FGM at seminars, government advisory panels and conferences, and has written many articles in professional and scholarly journals. She is an advocate for the position that the elimination of FGM is a health and human rights issue, rather than an issue based on religion or race.

Eslin Payne is a special constable with the Ontario Government Protective Service, as well as a part-time crisis counsellor at Women's Habitat Shelter for Abused Women and Children. She has also worked for the Fred Victor Centre Women's Hostel and Eva's Place. Her many volunteer activities have been with organizations that serve women and children, including Hands That Care Youth Centre (founder), Chalkfarm Community and Family Centre, Elizabeth Fry, Boys and Girls Club, Gatehouse, Project 90 and the Association of Black Law Enforcers. She worked with the Jamaican Canadian Association to produce a video on the prevention of assault against women. She is in high demand as a speaker to students about violence prevention and the importance of staying in school. Eslin continues to be a very positive role model for visible minority youth.

2000

Rose Cunha has served as President of the Board of Directors of Anduhyaun Inc. since 1994. Through her efforts, the organization has become more financially stable and has expanded its services to include an Aboriginal Crisis Intervention Centre and the development of an Aboriginal Family Shelter. In addition to her work with Anduhyaun, Rose has been a volunteer with Soroptimists International of Toronto, the Teresa Group, Daily Bread Food Bank, Red Cross, Laubach Literacy Canada and many other organizations.

Raheel Raza is a dedicated and staunch advocate for women's rights who has used her professional expertise as a media consultant to help change the negative image of Muslim women portrayed in the western press. She has contributed to many publications including the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail and Today's Bride and has participated in a wide range of radio and television programs. She is presently a director for Creative Cultural Communication and has served on the City of Toronto's Committee on the Status of Women, Women's Interfaith Network, Canadian Council for Muslim Women, Canadian Association of Journalists, Canadian Ethnic Journalists and Writer's Club. Her Toronto Star series on domestic violence was recognised in 1995 by the League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith.

Jean Small has spent most of her adult life working to secure equitable treatment for older women, particularly in the area of health and community-based care. She immigrated to Canada in 1962 from Britain where she was trained as a nurse and midwife. While working as a nursing manager, she encouraged the employment of minority women. In 1987, Jean joined the Board of Directors of COPA, a home-visiting addiction treatment program for older persons and assumed the position of Chair in 1988 until 1992. Since her retirement, she has served as a volunteer board member from 1988-99, including 9 years as chair of CANES, a service for seniors in North Etobicoke.

1999

Joan Grant-Cummings - Women and Politics As a women's rights advocate for many years, Joan Grant-Cummings has brought an anti-racist perspective to her feminism in both her volunteer and professional activities. As President of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women, she has worked tirelessly to ensure that the organization is inclusive and that the most disadvantaged women in Canada have a voice in the body politic. Her professional work in health advocacy has focussed upon "women's health in women's hands".

Marion Lynn - Women and Education With an undaunting commitment to working with women who are the most disadvantaged, Marion Lynn devoted a great deal of time helping women inside and outside the classroom. As the Women's Advisor to the President of Centennial College, she implemented several programs aimed at improving the status of women. She was instrumental in founding the Journal of Canadian Women's Studies and completed an extensive project with the Older Women's Network to identify the needs of older women in rural communities as well as in Toronto.

Jane Pepino - Women's Health Advocate A leader on issues pertaining to women's health and safety, Jane Pepino has served on numerous boards and committees to address policing, human rights, health services and the equitable treatment of women by governments. She was instrumental in helping to ensure a "woman-centred" approach to health services as exemplified through the work of Women's College Hospital.

1998

Gerda Kaegi Community/Housing Advocate/Health Promotion Gerda Kaegi, a professor at Ryerson University, Department of Politics, has been a community activist since 1962. Her work on health, education, homes for the aged and land use issues has impacted the daily lives of many people, in particular, seniors and women.

Connie Guberman - Women and Planning and Violence Against Women Since 1990, Connie Guberman has been the coordinator of the Urban Safety Initiatives Project with the Metro Action Committee on Public Violence against Women and Children (METRAC). The group has developed safety audits, a simple way for communities to review and improve neighborhood safety. She has dedicated herself to promoting safety in communities, and in assisting women, particularly those who are victims of violence and abuse.

Susan D'Oliveira - Community Safety and Neighbourhood Advocate Susan D'Oliveira established the Parkdale Neighbourhood Watch program in 1985 and has given her time tirelessly to help create a better and safer living environment for women and their families. She is the part-time co-ordinator of Parkdale Community Watch and has brought about positive changes to enhance community safety in the neighborhood. Parkdale Community Watch has received numerous awards, including a recent award from the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners, for the best community-based crime prevention program in the world.

1997

Nora Shankar - Women with Disabilities Since being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, Nora Shankar has dedicated herself to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities, particularly women. She is active, through her work, in Women's Health in Women's Hands and the National Action Committee on the Status of Women. She is also a founding member and board member of the Ethno Racial People with Disabilities Coalition of Ontario (ERDCO). She took charge of her life and responded to her changed circumstances by taking on an active advocacy role. She has provided a strong educated voice for women with disabilities.

Cherie MacDonald - Women's Pro-Choice Movement Cherie is a women's rights advocate who has worked for nearly 30 years as an organizer and fundraiser for the equality of rights for women. She has been a public speaker and educator for women in the labour movement, and has been one of the foremost advocates in the choice movement, working with the Ontario Coalition of Abortion Clinics.

Bea Levis - Women and Aging Bea Levis has been actively involved with promoting the rights of seniors, especially women. She is co-chair of the Ontario Coalition of Senior Citizen's Organizations and past chair of the Toronto Mayor's Committee on Aging and Metro Chapter of the Older Women's Network. She has worked to improve the quality of life and long-term care for the elderly through public speaking at conferences, panel discussions, protest rallies, media conferences, television and radio programs, letter writing campaigns and at many meetings.

1996

Louise Binder - Women and HIV/AIDS As the director of Toronto People with Aids Foundation, and President of Voices of Positive Women, a group specifically serving women in the AIDS community, Louise Binder has been active promoting the well-being of people with HIV/AIDS. A lawyer by profession, she was instrumental in the establishment of the HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic and is an active member of the HIV advisory Panel, which helped establish the Health Centre at Wellesley Hospital, a one-stop medical centre for people with HIV and AIDS.

Gerda Wekerle - Women and Planning A professor of Environmental Studies at York University and the founder of Women and Environments magazine, Gerda Wekerle has devoted her professional and volunteer efforts to ensuring that our streets, parks and public transportation are safe and vibrant, particularly for women. As a representative of Women Plan Toronto on the City of Toronto's Safe City Committee, she advocated for issues of safety, housing and transportation.

1995

Reggie Modlich - Women and Planning/Land Use Reggie Modlich has been an active volunteer at the grass roots level for many years working to improve the daily condition of women's situation in the City of Toronto. She has been a pioneer in planning processes regarding safety, transportation, housing and environmental issues affecting women in the urban environment.

1994

Cornelia Soberano - Immigrant Women's Rights and Welfare As a legal practitioner, Cornelia Soberano has made an invaluable contribution to the rights and welfare of immigrant and visible minority women. Cornelia is a past president of INTERCEDE, the first Toronto organization to work exclusively on equality in the work force for immigrant domestic workers.

1993

Noemi Garcia - Advocate for Refugee Women Committed to the equitable treatment for Toronto's refugee women, Noemi Garcia volunteered her time to ensure equitable treatment for Toronto's refugee women, helping them to integrate both socially and economically into a new society. Her efforts help women adjust to their new lives in Toronto.

Barbara Kilbourn - Housing Barbara Kilbourn was one of the longest-serving board members of Sistering, an agency that offers a drop-in centre and outreach programs for homeless, low income and socially isolated women. Barbara has worked extensively to provide services to women in the community.

Ina Andre and Joan Clayton - Providing Food and Clothing to Women and Children in Need Ina Andre and Joan Clayton started Second Harvest and Windfall, agencies that provide low-income families with food and clothing. Ina and Joan have secured support from donors who supply food, clothing and money to these organizations. Both of these organizations have contributed enormously to the quality of life of underprivileged women and their families.

1992

Kay Parsons - Community and Housing Advocate Kay Parsons is a grass roots worker who gives her time, energy and creativity for the betterment of her community and the well-being of its people. Until her retirement, she was a community activist for the poor and the isolated in downtown Toronto and was instrumental in helping to save housing in the Grange neighbourhood and to see that the concerns of Chinese seniors were addressed.

Brigitte Witkowski - Housing Brigitte Witkowski has worked tirelessly to provide secure livable, affordable housing, particularly for women fleeing domestic violence. She has helped to provide safety for women who live in hostile environments.

1991

Liz Stimpson Women with Disabilities Liz Stimpson has worked tirelessly on behalf of disadvantaged women in Toronto. A woman with four disabilities, she has been active in the areas of prevention of sexual assault, transit accessibility and employment equity for women.

Anne Mason Apps - Tenant Advocate Anne Mason-Apps worked very hard to secure decent housing and living conditions, predominantly for women. A tenant/housing activist for over 20 years in the Toronto area, she helped to create a greater consciousnessof the connections between development and the loss of housing. Anne Mason-Apps passed away in January, 1991.

Josephine Grey - Low-Income Families Together (LIFT) An advocate for low-income and abused women, Josephine Grey has been helping other women for many years. She is the co-founder of Low-Income Families Together (LIFT), an organization helping low-income, and sole support mothers. She has spoken out on the subject of women and poverty at the national and international level.

1990

Gertrude MacDougall - Homeless Women Gertrude MacDougall has worked with homeless and socially isolated women at the 416 Drop-In Centre. She started work there as a volunteer before working on a full-time basis. She prepared breakfast, collected food from food banks, assisted women with their banking, appointments and housing needs.

Antonia Maximo - Immigrant Women Born in Portugal in 1896, Antonia Maximo immigrated to Canada at the age of 70. In Canada, she has been actively involved in a variety of volunteer activities including participation in a United Way Walkathon at the age of 85. She was one of the first Portuguese women to attend programs at the Older Adult Centre of St. Christopher House and the Senior Department of the First Portuguese Canadian Club. She has participated in many fundraising activities serving as an example to other immigrant women and the community in general.

Evelyn McKee - Childcare Advocate Since her retirement, Evelyn McKee has worked tirelessly in a volunteer capacity to expand and improve childcare in Toronto. Her efforts resulted in the opening of the Pat Schulz Childcare Centre at the City Adult Learning Centre. She was one of the people who introduced the concept of direct salary grants for daycare workers in Toronto. She has served as a board member for Direction 2000 and as a volunteer with the Metro and Ontario Coalitions for Better Childcare.

1989

Beverly Hine - Low-income Women Beverly Hine has lived and worked with women in the Regent Park area of Toronto. She initiated the establishment of a community garden and worked with women in that community to develop ways of addressing low incomes and sole support parenting.

Joanne Doucette - Women with Disabilities Joanne Doucette is a woman with a disability, who has been a strong advocate of women with disabilities. She has worked with women with disabilities on organizing and mobilizing and advocacy. Her efforts have been directed at "mainstream" organizations, government and institutions.

1988

Not Awarded

1987

Karen Ciupka - Sistering Karen Ciupka worked as the Programme Co-ordinator at Sistering, a drop-in centre for homeless and isolated women. Her outstanding efforts and commitment to creating a safe haven for women in need, resulted in making Sistering essential to the lives of the women who utilized its services.

Joy Reid Homeless Women Drop-In As the Director of the 416 Drop-In Centre since its inception, Joy Reid's tireless efforts have made the lives of homeless women, young mothers, the elderly and teen prostitutes easier. Originally opened to assist homeless women, the Centre has also become a haven for women in need of support.

Carmencita Hernandez - Visible Minority Women In addition to her instrumental role in establishing the Coalition of Visible Minority Women, Carmencita has served on the boards of several Philippino and community organizations, including the National Board of the National Committee in Immigrant and Visible Minority Women, which was formed in 1987.

1986

Akua Benjamin - Visible Minority Women As President of the Toronto Chapter of the Congress of Black Women, and a founding member of the Coalition of Visible Minority Women, Akua Benjamin has initiated important community development work with minority women in Toronto and across the province. She has been a member of the Coalition on Employment Equity and the Congress of Black Women.

Frieda Forman - Educational Resources on Women Frieda Forman worked to establish the Women's Resource Centre at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. This Centre has been an important resource to Toronto women and students engaged in women's studies. She has played a key supporting role in many Toronto women's organization as well as local community groups.

Dorothy Rogers - Women's Shelters Dorothy Rogers worked on a voluntary basis to run a program of collection, sorting and distributing surplus materials donated by manufacturers to raise funds for five women's shelters and other charitable organizations. She has been an active member of Nellie's Fund Raising Committee, and in addition to many other volunteer activities, has conducted recreational craft workshops for residents of women's hostels.

1985

Judith Ramirez - Advocate for Domestic Workers Judith Ramirez' work on behalf of women in Toronto has been outstanding. Through the Immigrant Women's Centre, the Immigrant Women's Job Placement Centre and the International Coalition to End Domestic Exploitation (INTERCEDE), organizations which she founded, Judith has in a very direct way, made Toronto a more welcoming and just place for immigrant women. Her work with INTERCEDE resulted in legislated rights for domestic workers in Ontario.

1984

Kay Gardner - Tenants and Seniors Advocate Kay Gardner's activities as a "tenant organizer" for many years have helped many women, particularly elderly women, successfully battle high increases at Rent Review hearings, preserve homes from demolition and effect legislative changes to make preservation of affordable rental accommodation in Toronto a top priority.

1983

Elizabeth Greaves - Homeless Women Since the mid-seventies at Nellie's, Elizabeth Greaves has been active as an advocate for housing for women. She served on Mayor Crombie's Task Force on Long-term Housing Needs for Single, Low-Income Women, initiated housing programs for single women of all ages, and, more recently served on Mayor Lastman's Homelessness Action Task Force. Currently, she is interim Executive Director at Youthlink.

1982

Mary O'Brien - Education and Women's Studies Mary O'Brien enjoyed a successful career in the health care sector before moving to academia. During her career as a Professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, she oversaw the establishment of the Women's Studies Centre and helped to pioneer such feminist theory subjects as the "politics of reproduction" and the "personal is political". Mary passed away in 1998.

1981

Doris Anderson - Women and the Constitution Doris Anderson used her position as editor of Chatelaine magazine to foster debate about womens' roles in Canadian society. While serving as President of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women, she proposed the Women's Constitutional Conference in 1981, amidst political challenges and attempts to cancel the conference. Her tireless efforts resulted in creating a political lobby to enshrine women's rights in the Constitution.

1980

Vicki Trerise - Domestic Violence The first recipient of the Constance E. Hamilton Award, Vicki Trerise pioneered the concept of women's hostels for crisis and support services, which broke away from the traditional "happy hippie" model of hostels for young people. She was fundamental in the creation of Nellie's Hostel and was on the first Board of Directors. While working in all areas of Nellie's functioning, Vicki assisted other newly-emerging hostels, while working part-time to support herself in law school.

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