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Dear Friends,
As I was sharing a chai with members of Guru Ravidass Sabha Gurdwara during their Khalsa Day Parade in Burlington, I was thinking about how that morning I had done a neighbourhood Easter Egg Hunt with my son, had our own family Passover Seder the night before, and how I was looking forward to visiting the Mosque later in the week at their drive thru Iftar to drop off toys for their Eid toy drive.
I was filled with an incredible sense of pride as I reflected on the true riches of culture, religion and diversity that is found in our community and I felt honoured to be able to celebrate Easter, Passover, Vaisakhi and Ramadan alongside members of the community in Burlington.
To make all of these amazing community events and gatherings a reality, we rely on a wonderful web of dedicated volunteers. People who give themselves, their time, talent and treasure to give back to the community.
Last week was National Volunteer Week. For the last six years, it has been one of my favourite occasions to recognize and celebrate the people who are quietly contributing to Burlington, making it an inclusive and engaging community. This year I was pleased to recognize 75 outstanding individuals from 41 community organizations for their contributions to serving our community in a myriad of ways. We will be recognizing them at a special Volunteer Appreciation event later this month.
In the spirit of recognizing contributions to community service, this year also marks the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, marking her 70th anniversary on the Throne.
To mark this special milestone, I will be recognizing 30 exceptional members of the Burlington Community through the Platinum Jubilee Community Hero Awards.
If you know someone here in Burlington who has made an exceptional contribution to Burlington, Canada or even internationally, please consider nominating them for this once in a lifetime recognition.
Nominees must be residents of Burlington who have made a meaningful impact through their work or volunteerism. This is an opportunity to recognize someone whose impact has made a positive difference, big or small, in the arts, science, innovation, community service, healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, inclusion and/or sport.
Nominations are due May 31st. To submit a nomination, visit karinagouldmp.ca. I hope you will help me mark this wonderful milestone and recognize some outstanding members of our community.
Sincerely,
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