I hope this post finds you well. We're getting snow, 10 centimeters so far, looking light and fluffy on the tree branches outside my window. Very pretty, lots of raccoon and rabbit tracks on the fresh white.
Here in London, there was an afternoon party the other day, where the first Diamond Jubilee medals were given out to Londoners who spend volunteer time working for their neighbourhood associations and communities, and who encourage other to participate in how their city works ..."citizen engagement and civic action" as it was termed.
Two city councillors, Joni Baechler and Nancy Branscombe, came up with a list of nominees they could send in together. This is an excellent model of how two hard-working, intelligent people - with sometimes different perspectives - can work together. They also paid for the party personally.
Councillor Baechler's website (www.jonibaechler.ca) has full information about the good work done by those on their list who received the medals, but here's a quick list with just one achievement.
Congratulations and thanks to all of them for helping make the city I live in a good place. I appreciate the good examples, and the reminder that there are so many people plugging away at the three [oft-seeming intractable] levels of government.
Best regards,
Why's Woman
p.s. a full list of London recipients has not yet been released.
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Some London recipients of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal - people nominated by city councillors Joni Baechler and Nancy Branscombe.
Carol Agocs – environmental protection of Stoney Creek subwatershed
Gina Barber – championed the Age Friendly
City Initiative (www.ginabarber.blogspot.com)
Susan Bentley– founding
member of the Ontario Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods.
Paul Berton– involved in the inception of Doors Open
London
Marie Blosh– appointee to the animal welfare task force and Animal Welfare Advisory Committee
Dr. Stan Brown– worked to protect
Gibbons wetland/woodland, and get designation as Environmentally Sensitive Area
Maureen Cassidy – co-chair of a
large community association, encouraging civic activism
Susan Eagle– volunteer for social justice issues: equality, inclusiveness, human rights, homeless and poverty
Jackie Farquhar– 35 years leading her
community association on redevelopment, heritage preservation and other issues
Hugh Fletcher– Agricultural Advisory Committee, often taking on the leadership role as
chair
Greg Fowler –single handedly live streamed council meeting for many years
using his own equipment
Genet Hodder– active and
vocal champion for built heritage
Margaret Hoff– championed women rights and equality and worked with Child Care Advisory Committee
Sandy Levin– over two decades involved in civic
issues, environment through transit to governance
Russ Monteith – served on various London service boards - Transit Commission, London Hydro and others
Gloria McGinn-McTeer– founding member of the Ontario Federation of Urban
Neighbourhoods
Kathryn Munn– a lawyer with a focus on dispute
resolution whose volunteer time champions human rights
Mari Parks– championed the study for the Bishop-Hellmuth
Heritage designation
Dennis Pellarin– coordinated a city wide liaison group with
an interest in Town and Gown (University) issues
Nick Sauter– founding member of the Argyle
Community Association, with particular interest in importance of recreation
Dean Sheppard– coordinating
community action for the Million Tree Challenge and ReForest London
Bob Shiell– respected educator, who championed educating
about the environment
George Sinclair– Old South
Community Association,, with much work to protect the Normal School heritage site
Ken Sumnall– involved with Community Living
London, which advocates for people with different abilities
Lani Teal- A founding member and co-chair of a
large community association
Greg Thompson– founding member and served as president of the Old East Village
Community Association
Stephen Turner– served as Chair and Director of the Urban League of London
Dr. Tutis Vilis - director of Masonville Residents Association and on executive of Urban League of London
David Winninger – civic
action on social justice issues
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