Agnes Macphail Award
Agnes Campbell Macphail (1890-1954) was once described as “the most important woman in public life that Canada has produced in the 20th century.” She is now featured on the commemorative Canada 150 $10 bill.
In 1921 she blazed a path for women with her election to the federal House of Commons. Following her election in 1943, she became the first woman to sit in the Ontario Legislature, representing the riding of York East (which at that time included the community of East York and a large surrounding rural area). For further information on her life and accomplishments, visit the Agnes Macphail Website and Digital Collection hosted by the Grey Highlands Public Library.
On March 24, 1993, Mayor Michael Prue proclaimed the first annual Agnes Macphail Day in the Borough of East York, in honour of the 50th anniversary of her election to the Legislature.
In January 1994, East York Council established the Agnes Macphail Award.
The purpose of the award is to recognize the importance to the East York community of the issues that Agnes Macphail espoused in her long career.
An annual award is presented to an East York resident who has made outstanding contributions as a volunteer in one or more of the following interests:
- Women’s rights
- Fairness to seniors
- Criminal justice system and penal reform
- International peace and disarmament
- Access to adequate housing, health care and education
The nominee must be a resident of the former Borough of East York.
Nominees from previous years are eligible for re-nomination. Previous recipients are ineligible.
The ideal candidate will live by Agnes’ motto, “Think Globally, Act Locally”.
The nominee should be an outstanding volunteer, advocate and contributor to community life. The contribution should be in an area of, but not limited to, Agnes Macphail’s traditions and interests. Nominators should satisfy themselves that the candidate has volunteered in several fields, not just one, and that the various commitments extend over considerable periods of time.
The nomination deadline is midnight on Friday, January 10, 2020.
The following details must be included as outlined on the nomination form:
- Nominator’s testimonial
- Biography/profile of the nominee
- Affiliations
- Letters of support
Note: All information requested on the nomination form must be submitted and will not be returned. Only information submitted on and with the nomination package will be considered. The Committee is not permitted to contact the nominator for further information.
Nominations can be submitted by email to agnesmacphailaward@toronto.ca. They can also be submitted by mail or hand delivered to:
Agnes Macphail Recognition Committee, c/o Antoinette Crichlow
City Hall, 12th Floor, West Tower
100 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
Anyone may nominate a candidate. Do you know an East Yorker who is involved in social justice issues — who believes in “thinking globally but acting locally” — and is an outstanding contributor to community life in areas such as women’s rights, fairness to seniors and youth, criminal justice system and penal reform, international peace and disarmament, access to adequate housing, access to adequate health care or access to adequate education? This person could be our next Agnes Macphail Award recipient — but only if a nomination is completed.
We encourage all community groups in the former Borough of East York to nominate a candidate who meets the criteria and espouses Agnes Macphail’s tradition of leadership. Nomination packages must include some or all of the following information. Only information actually written in the nomination package will be considered. The Committee is not permitted to contact the nominator for further information.
- Nominator’s testimonial of the nominee’s accomplishments, particularly the outstanding volunteer contributions.
- Biography/Profile of the nominee which could include particulars about the nominee such as education background, work and additional volunteer experience and hobbies. This could take the form of a CV or résumé if one is available.
- Affiliation with other organizations, associations, and committees is an important aspect of the diversity of the nominee’s contribution.
- Letters of support from organizations or individuals are important in describing the commitment and diversity of the nominee.
The Agnes Macphail Award Ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 29, 2020.
The recipient is honoured with a medal and a framed certificate of recognition.
Each year the Agnes Macphail Fund receives donations from our citizens that are passed on directly to a registered charity. The recipient has the honour of designating that charity and actually presenting the cheque.
We invite you to contribute to the Agnes Macphail Fund of The East York Foundation by completing the donation form and mailing it to the address below. A charitable income tax receipt will be issued.
Secretary-Treasurer, East York Foundation
c/o 50 Merritt Road
East York, ON M4B 3K6
Donations are being accepted towards the charity chosen for the 2020 award.
To make a donation, please complete the donation form.
Donations made to The East York Foundation are deductible for Income Tax purposes. A tax receipt is issued at the time of donation.
| Winner | Year |
|---|---|
| Karen Fraser | 2019 |
| Carol Burtin Fripp | 2018 |
| Rev. Jim Parker | 2017 |
| Patrick Rocca | 2016 |
| Muhammad Masood Alam | 2015 |
| Sheila Lacroix | 2014 |
| Alan Redway | 2013 |
| Alice Carriman | 2012 |
| John Carter | 2011 |
| Bill Pashby | 2010 |
| Patricia Moore | 2009 |
| Geoff Kettel | 2008 |
| Lorna Krawchuk | 2007 |
| Shamsh Kara | 2006 |
| George Hurst | 2005 |
| Vi Thompson | 2004 |
| Dorothy Rivers-Moore | 2003 |
| Bob Hart | 2002 |
| Grace Stephens | 2001 |
| Audrey Tobias | 2000 |
| Barbara Thompson | 1999 |
| Elisabeth and Robert Lister | 1998 |
| Ruth Goldhar | 1997 |
| Marjorie Lewsey | 1996 |
| Eileen Morris Adams | 1995 |
| J. Edna Beange | 1994 |