Community Spirit Awards Nominees

Andrew has championed heritage conservation in the community for over 20 years through his work on the Heritage Oakville Advisory Committee. He has been involved in the designation of over 100 cultural heritage resources, from the Glen Abbey Golf Course to rural farmhouses and historic neighbourhoods around Oakville. Andrew’s dedication to conserving Oakville’s cultural heritage contributes not only to the Town’s sustainability goals, but also to the community’s quality of life. 

Catherine is a dedicated volunteer with multiple music organizations in Oakville and a recognized artist in the community. In her work with organizations like Showcase Cabaret, Celtic Fiddle Orchestra, and the McDougall Fiddlers and Players, Catherine is instrumental in event promotion, helping to get the word out through emails, posters, and local media outreach. As an artist, she was a driving force behind the mural and Trafalgar Park Community Centre and designed Muskoka chairs that have been placed at the Bronte Waterfront. Catherine’s leadership, creativity, and willingness to help wherever she can demonstrate excellence in community building. 

Janet is the vice President of the Oakville Historical Society (OHS) where she is known for her excellent research skills. When she joined the OHS, Janet was instrumental in helping to clear a backlog of requests for the black and white plaque program that provides basic information on the history of buildings around Oakville. When the Province enacted a bill to clear their List of Buildings of Heritage Interest, Janet worked with the Town’s heritage planners to develop a list of Oakville buildings that should receive priority designations, spending countless hours researching the properties. Thanks to her efforts, close to many properties received heritage designation that would have been lost after the bill deadline expired helping to preserve Oakville’s history for generations to come.

Lucas Hu contributes to Oakville’s vision of a vibrant and livable community by ensuring that older adults, particularly those in the Chinese speaking community, have a meaningful way to participate in music and cultural life. For the past three years, Lucas has volunteered as the piano accompanist for his church’s Chinese senior choir where he contributes to a welcoming space where seniors can sing, share their heritage, and feel a sense of belonging. He adapts his playing to the singer’s needs, slowing down for challenging passages, transposing music when helpful, and learning Chinese hymns and folk songs despite English being his primary language. Through his musical talent and dedication, Lucas has celebrated Chinese culture and heritage in Oakville, brought joy to seniors and helped create a more inclusive and diverse Oakville through music.

Mairah’s commitment to leadership, excellence, and inclusivity can be seen through her involvement in the arts both school and community life. At school, she is the treasurer of the Sending Sunshine Club where she helps create handmade cards for seniors to help alleviate isolation. Mairah’s work in the community includes participating in the Iroquois Ridge Community Centre’s youth mural project developing a large-scale community artwork and as an education volunteer at the Oakville Galleries supporting hands on programming for children. She brings creativity and care to everything she takes on, helping to build community through artistic expression. 

Leo works to strengthen community environmental stewardship in Oakville though his participation across forest, health, and community food initiatives. Working with organizations such as the Forest Health Volunteer Program, the Park Ambassador Program, and the RBC myCommunity Volunteer Program, Leo has planted trees, removed litter from shared community spaces, and raised funds to support local families in need. His work has helped to foster inclusive environments where youth feel welcomed and confident while strengthening participation and environmental awareness. Thanks to his efforts, Leo has strengthened community environmental stewardship and youth connection to nature.

Magaret demonstrates outstanding leadership in climate action through her commitment to monarch butterfly conservation and community engagement. Recognizing the decline in monarch butterflies as a local climate and biodiversity challenges, Margaret took action by providing education about habitat restoration and native planting to individuals, schools, and community groups. She promotes protecting biodiversity, strengthening local ecosystems, and nature-based not only through her education efforts, but also through her monarch butterfly tagging efforts, and the creation of a pollinator garden at her local senior’s centre. Her leadership not only safeguards vulnerable species but also inspires a shared sense of responsibility for the natural environment, leaving a lasting positive impact on both the climate and the well being of residents. 

Rishona is a lifelong lover of nature and has dedicated her career to protecting endangered species and addressing climate challenges. She is a master’s student who actively participates in environmental programs and charitable work in Oakville and the Greater Toronto Area. Rishona has published research in the Royal Entomological Society Journal, and won the University of Toronto’s ‘Think, Shoot, Change Video Contest’ for her video on textile waste and fast fashion. 

Stephen is an active member of the community, helping to keep Oakville’s green spaces clean and enjoyable for all. In his role as the Executive Director of Oakville Green Peace, Stephen is responsible for organizing the annual Earth Day cleanup where he coordinates over 100 cleanup sites. He ensures that no small detail is missed, ensuring that site maps are accurate, that volunteers have the supplies they need, and sets pick up times to ensure the trash collected is disposed of properly. Stephens efforts have made him a well-respected member of the community and inspires others to participate year after year.  

Amelia actively contributes to her community through leadership, volunteerism, and mentorship, supporting several school and community initiatives. At school, she is part of the Best Buddies program and the Loyola Breakfast Club where she ensures students have the tools they need to succeed whether it be supporting building friendships, or a healthy meal to start the day. By service as a role model to younger students, Ameilia encourages others to believe in themselves, participate in their community, and to treat others with kindness and respect. Her dedication has helped create inclusive spaces where youth feel supported and empowered. 

For over 15 years, Eileen has been an active member of her community, including serving as the Treasurer for the Trafalgar Park Older Adults Advisory Committee at the Trafalgar Park Older Adults Centre.  She is always the first to volunteer when there’s a need; from putting in countless hours helping with the Centre’s Friendship Luncheon to helping with the Centre’s move from Kerr Street to Rebecca Street. Eileen is always available to provide words of encouragement or to offer invaluable advice and is well-respected by everyone she meets.

In 2025, Grace completed 94.5 hours of volunteer work in her role as a pool pal at the Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre pool. While supporting a certified National Lifeguard and Swim Instructor, Grace would assist in building relationships with students and supported community members in feeling safe while learning to swim. She was often responsible for providing one on one support for young children as they first experienced water, contributing to a fun and inclusive environment.

Judy has consistently addressed the challenge of supporting vulnerable and aging residents through her lifelong dedication to volunteerism in Oakville. She has held volunteer positions at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, Meals on Wheels, and St. Jude’s Anglican Church, brining care, dignity, and compassion to everything she does.  Judy inspires others to give back, creating a ripple effect of service that continues to benefit the community. Her lifelong generosity, leadership, and commitment to improving the lives of others have helped to strengthen community connections and ensure that local organizations have the support they need to serve residents effectively. 

Julius demonstrates Oakville’s core values of leadership, excellence, and quality of life through his decisive and compassionate actions. He took immediate action when he saw a community member in distress, contacted emergency services, and acted quickly to prevent a possible tragedy. His selfless intervention exemplifies community spirit, demonstrating that being a good neighbour means stepping up to help others when it matters most.

Marcus consistency seeks ways to motivate and inspire youth to be service driven contributors to the community.  He has volunteered with several organizations including Best Buddies, Gladacres Lane Christmas Caroling, Conquest and Challenge Youth Program, and the Oakville Soccer Club. From supporting students with special needs integrate into daily school life, to coordinating food drives, or running youth soccer programs, Marucs prioritizes mentoring youth and helping them foster a strong belief in themselves to create a stronger, more compassionate community of youth.

For over 25 years, Margaret has volunteered at the weekly Friendship Luncheon program at Sir John Colborne Recreation Centre for Seniors where she offers consistency, kindness, and connection to older adults. Margaret’s commitment to inclusivity and quality of life also extends to her role as a Pathfinders hiking group leader and enthusiastic supporter. Through this work, she encourages physical activity, social connection, and enjoyment of the outdoors, making nature and wellness accessible to participants of varying abilities. No matter where she is, Margaret helps people feel connected to others and to their surroundings, strengthening neighbourhood bonds, reducing social isolation, and reflecting the true spirit of community leadership.

Natalie demonstrates an unwavering, hands on approach to keeping her community clean, safe, and welcoming for all residents. Every week, she walks the streets and parks of North Oakville picking up litter and even organizes the annual North Oakville Spring Cleanup channelling community energy into organized, meaningful action. Her work contributes to building a culture of stewardship that makes the neighbourhood feel like a community.

Rida is an active, empathetic, and genuine young woman who demonstrates a strong desire to serve vulnerable people in her community. As a Halton Region medical Venturer with Scouts Canada, has Rida served as a first responder for both day and overnight camps. During patrol at an overnight camp attended by thousands of scouts, Rida’s team received a call regarding a young woman experiencing medical distress. When she arrived on the scene, Rida jumped into action, assessing the young woman’s vitals, and helping to calm her panicked mother. Rida recognized that the young woman was experiencing concussion symptoms, and had her team call an ambulance for help. Thanks to Rida’s early symptom recognition, the young woman was able to receive the care she needed in a timely manner.

Tom strives to help seniors maintain healthy, active, social lives. He demonstrates personal leadership as a volunteer board member of the Pathfinders Hiking Group of Oakville since 2018. As Membership Director, Tom is responsible for helping new members to register, creates the group’s monthly newsletter, and assists with special events. He is also a trained Hike Leader, coordinating several hikes each year while ensuring safety and enjoyment for all participants. As a member of the board Tom's experience is invaluable to help drive new practices while ensuring that we are always focused on the mission of the group. Tom's generosity breaks down barriers for seniors to participate in social events.

Audrey demonstrates strong, sustained leadership though governance, public service, and sector-wide impact, having worked on projects like Canada’s National Autism Strategy and with organization like CNIB and the CHILD-BRIGHT Network. She supports the advancement of people with disabilities through a combination of lived experience, inclusive program design, and leadership across research, education, and community initiatives. Across all of her work, Audrey is dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities, advancing inclusive systems, and fostering environments where people can build confidence, leadership, and community.

Heather demonstrates a deep commitment to inclusivity through her work with the Pilgrim Wood Public School community. As Chair of the School Council, she leads by example, dedicating countless volunteer hours to organize, coordinate, and inspire others to participate in school life. She helps to organize events that are culturally inclusive and helps to remove financial barriers to participation where possible. She actively seeks new ideas by learning from other schools and engaging with local businesses to create community partnerships. In all her work, she prioritizes community connection and inclusion helping to create a supportive environment for everyone.

Through her volunteer work at her children’s school and her synagogue, Lauren is helping to build genuine connection and inclusivity in a time when people can feel easily disconnected from one another. At her children’s school, she created “walk the Loop”, a group that brings parents together after drop-off, and has supported initiatives like a multilingual book sale and the creation of a community cookbook. At her synagogue, Lauren ensures that inclusive food options like gluten-free and vegan food are available at events so nobody is excluded. Her efforts to consistently create welcoming spaces where people feel included, connected, and part of a strong community.

Through her weekly historical discussion group sessions at Sir John Colborne Recreation Centre for Seniors, Susan creates welcoming and respectful spaces for learning and dialogue. She leads thoughtful conversations that explore historical events and connects them to current-day issues. She brings strong political knowledge, cultural awareness, and facilitation skills to these conversations, ensuring that learning remains central to the discussions. Through her commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility, Susan strengthens community connection, promotes understanding, and supports shared learning. Her consistent efforts foster belonging and mutual respect, making a meaningful and lasting contribution to a more inclusive and informed community.

Xin demonstrates exemplary leadership, dedication, and commitment to enriching the Oakville community by spearheading the annual Oakville Table Tennis Open (OTTO). Under Xin’s guidance, the annual event has become a model for inclusivity, fostering an environment where participants of all skill levels, ages, and cultural backgrounds feel welcome and valued. Through the OTTO high school volunteer program, she empowers students to take on leadership roles, providing meaningful opportunities for students to contribute to their community. Thanks to Xin’s efforts, Oakville table tennis enthusiasts now have a welcoming environment where they can participate in the game, engage with peers, and enjoy socially enriching activity.

When Aashi and her family immigrated to Canada from India three years ago, she jumped into community life, seeking ways to support and uplift those less fortunate in her community. Through her school, she volunteers at the Bob Hepburn Memorial Library as a Program Assistant and is a Mental Health Advocate for her school’s Tulip Mission helping to enhance student life through spearheading awareness campaigns, organizing fundraisers, and promoting community literacy. Outside of school, Aashi is an Oakville Global Medic Humanitarian Relief Coordinator, where she assembled essential aid packages for international disaster relief. Her ability to recognize others needs, collaborate with others, and work in high pressure environments has inspired those around her to get involved in the community as well.

Alicja enhances the quality of life in Oakville through her ‘Community and Connection’ Facebook group. Recognizing the need for stronger community connection and engagement in Oakville, she created the group to help community members build relationships and promote local community events. Alicja also uses the group to support local businesses, to highlight community resources, and to encourage neighbour-to-neighbour assistance. Through this work, Alicja has built a platform that fosters belonging, participation, and community pride.

At just 11 years old, Maria is the founder and facilitators of the Tiny Titans Book Club, a virtual book club for young readers from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 1. Recognizing that most book clubs skew towards older children, she saw this gap and decided to fill it herself. She chooses each book, designs all activities and facilitates every session herself. Maria even build her own website to provide parents with a safe, trusted registration process, and promoted the club across Oakville though flyers and word of mouth. Her priority is to make reading social, joyful, and accessible for the youngest readers, proving that you can support your community at any age.

In her work as a Zumba instructor, Miriam identified a need in Oakville for a welcoming, inclusive fitness space for those who feel excluded or intimidated by traditional fitness spaces. She created a non-competitive, supportive community where all fitness levels are embraced and celebrated, removing barriers to participation by focusing on encouragement and enjoyment. Miriam organizes annual Zumba fundraising events that support local non-for-profits like the Oakville Latino Festival and the Fare Share Foodbacnk. Through her efforts, Miriam has addressed both health and social issues, creating a positive and lasting community impact.

Nancy is a dedicated volunteer at Abbey Lane Public School (ALPS), volunteering her time during the school’s breakfast and lunch programs. She demonstrates leadership and creativity through her zero-waste meal plans, ensuring that food options are diverse and healthy while staying within budget. Nancy has never missed a volunteer shift and has even brought forward new fundraising options for the school. Her enthusiasm for trying new meals and supporting ALPS’s staff and students inspires others to do the same.

Oscar demonstrates leadership, inclusiveness, and a deep commitment to quality of life though consistent, hands-on engagement with at-risk youth. As a program facilitator, he is a mentor and steady presence and trusted guide to many young adults teaching leadership, emotional resilience, and real-life decision making. Recently, Oscar organized and led a career exposure trip for 45 youths that helped expand their vision of their futures, allowing them to engage with professionals, ask questions, and begin to see themselves in spaces they once thought were out of reach.

For 20 years, the Sahaja Yoga Meditation Network of Oakville and Burlington (SYMN) have demonstrated the Town’s core values through continuous service to the community. Through free, volunteer led programs, classes, workshops, and events, the SYMN addresses often overlooked issues such as mental health, helping community members reduce stress, create stronger connections, and celebrate all aspects of life. Many programs are run by members who started as participants, helping others to gain the inner peace, confidence, and purpose that they found though the program. Their impact demonstrates that inspiration can be transformative, creating a kinder, healthier, and more integrated community.

Sarvesh is driven by a deep commitment to leadership, excellence, and sustainability. He is the author of Think Green, a book that highlights Oakville’s environmental leadership and empowers youth to take action. He is also the founder of Polaris Youth, an organization that raises youth awareness about environmental issues and highlights contributions that youth can make towards a better environmental future.  Sarvesh’s impact has reached national levels, including his involvement in the Young Canadian’s Parliament where he collaborated with others to develop a parliamentary bill and an advocacy plan to address climate change.

Sophia has made a meaningful and lasting impact on her community, demonstrating outstanding leadership and a deep commitment to improving quality of life in her community. Recognizing that many families lack access to essential everyday items like clothing, socks, and school supplies, Sophia worked with the organization Safety Net to run clothing drives and fundraising initiatives to help families in need. She also leads the “Kindness Club” at her school here she helped rais over $1,100 for McMaster Children’s hospital to support children facing medical challenges. Her proactive and compassionate approach to addresses community needs significantly strengthens the sense of care and connection within the Oakville community.

For the past 14 years, Tanya has shared her gift of music with young children and new parents by providing free music programs to families in her community. Recognizing that music programs are not always financially accessible, Tanya took it upon herself to provide children in her neighbourhood the opportunity to sing, connect, and build community through her Angelic Galdacres Carolers initiative. Every holiday season, Tanya opens her home to local children to learn Christmas music and takes them door to door caroling to each of the 72 homes in the neighbourhood while also gathering donations for the Kerr Street Mission. Through her work, Tanya provides opportunities for families to participate in barrier free music programs, to build connections, and to foster a greater sense of community belonging.

Vama is an exceptional, compassionate, and driven youth leader who demonstrates a strong commitment to community service, leadership, and advocacy. She is an active member of the community and involved with many organizations including the Halton Learning Foundation, Relay for Life, and the Golden Hawks Roay Canadian Air Cadets, and consistently participates in cultural and community events like Ramleea and ganga Dussehra. Her active participation in cultural and environmental initiatives has encouraged peers to engage in community service, including fundraising, awareness campaigns, and environmental cleanups. Her kindness and empathy have left a lasting impact on younger students, many of whom aspire to follow her example.

Adele demonstrates compassion, responsibility, and leadership as a grade 8 student within her school community, always taking initiative to find opportunities for growth and improvement. She is a recess assistant to three grade one special needs students where she helps models patience, kindness, and the importance of service. Adele also volunteers her time outside of school with the Halton Down Syndrome Association’s annual community event where she supports events set up and activities. In all of her work, Adele’s focuses on uplifting the abilities and possibilities of others and always leads with is a great level of dignity, respect, and understanding for others.

Ahana is an exceptional young leader who volunteers with multiple organizations across the town with a focus on creating meaningful experiences for youth. Her work includes leading youth engagement initiatives with the Oakville Public Library, supporting patients at the Oakville Hospital, and organizing an e-scooter safety initiative. Throughout all of her work, Ahana is committed to fostering youth connection, confidence, education and leadership. Her ability to recognize gaps, find solutions, and create meaningful experiences demonstrates Ahana’s ability to not just participate in community, but to elevate it.

Avni demonstrates leadership and excellence through her involvement in the Army Cadet program where she had progressed to the rank of Corporal and earning the Red Star Cadet Award. She actively supports younger cadets by encouraging teamwork, respect, and confidence, helping create a positive and structed environment within her unit. To encourage youth to explore the cadet program, Anvi created a YouTube channel called “Behind the Cadet”, where she shares her journey and motivated others to develop their leadership skills. Her actions have positively influenced her peers, strengthened youth engagement, and contributed meaningfully to community life in Oakville.

As Chair of the Oakville Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors, David demonstrates exceptional leadership, inclusivity, and fiscal responsibility in everything he does. His responsibilities include addressing the healthcare local share and other fundraising needs to meet requests from Halton Healthcare. In his time with the Foundation, he has worked with the management team to exceed all fundraising expectations for Halton Healthcare.

Li is an active member of the Iroquois Ridge Older Adults Centre (IROAC) who is passionate about improving the lives of older adults in Oakville. Recognizing how challenging it can be for seniors to keep up with rapidly evolving technology, Li started the IROAC 50+ Drop-In Tech Mastery Program where she provides hands-on tech support and learning opportunities for older adults, offering practical and accessibly guidance that helps seniors build confidence using devices, apps, and online tools. Her efforts ensure that seniors can stay connected with family, access information and services, and remain active participants in the community. Li is also the treasurer of the IROAC’s annual Hidden Treasures Bazaar and a member of the IROAC Advisory Committee.

Lucas demonstrates a strong sense of leadership though his active community participation including volunteer work at the Oakville Little Leage and his elementary school, and as a Student Senator for the Halton District School Board. He is passionate about ensuring that student voices are heard, often highlighting the importance of student mental health at Student Senate meetings, and through actively listening to the needs to the children on his Oakville Little League team. His willingness to take time out of his own schedule to help others, demonstrate his kindness, selflessness, and passion for creating a better community.

Mukul is the founder and chair of “Halton Champions of Innovation” an initiative focused on improving economic productivity by fostering deeper integration among the Halton Region, Greater Toronto Area, and the Waterloo innovation corridor. He has developed a framework for accelerating economic growth that connects transportation infrastructure, technology innovation systems, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and research institutions into a cohesive mega regional economy. Mukul is also a passionate community volunteer, a board member with Acclaim Health, and serves on the Oakville Chamber of Commerce’s Government Relations and Advocacy Committee.

Ronnie serves as the President of the Garden Guild at St. Jude’s Anglican Church where she leads a team of volunteers that help with the upkeep the church grounds. Through her excellent ability to network, she has recruited a team of around 20 volunteers who she matches with tasks that suit their abilities. Ronnie also organizes the annual plant sale, where funds have helped to maintain the church’s magnolia tress, built a new shed, and replaced a 30 year old sprinkler system. Her careful planning, attention to detail, and continuous communication have contributed to maintaining the beauty of the church gardens while cultivating community.

Dr. Shelley Morgan-Bair exemplifies leadership, innovation, and sustainability through her work in community pharmacy and healthcare technology. As a practicing pharmacist and co-founder of Rx Billing Genie and Rx MedMatch, she has led the development of practical, real-time solutions that address inefficiencies in medication access and reduce unnecessary waste across the health care system. Beyond her professional contributions, she actively gives back through mentorship, public speaking, and community initiatives. She volunteers with organizations that support youth, advocates for equity and representation, and has contributed to educational and charitable initiatives both locally and internationally.

Susan is an active member of the Bronte Tennis Club, both as a club member and a member of their Board. Her leadership of the Bronte Tennis Club’s junior program stands out as one of her most meaningful contributions to the club, having dedicated endless volunteer hours to building and running a program. Through her careful planning, mentorship, and commitment, she created opportunities for young athletes to develop their skills, build confidence, and foster a lifelong love of tennis. Susan encourages palters of all levels to play tennis, foster camaraderie, and is always there to help players of all ages hone their skills. Her strategic vision, thoughtful leadership, and tireless dedication have been instrumental in helping the tennis community grow and thrive.