NEWS
Thousands of people will be recognized for their good deeds in 46 Ontario Volunteer Service Award ceremonies in 35 communities across the province.

Ontario Volunteer Service Award recipients are recognized for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 and even 60 or more years of volunteer service with an organization. Youth volunteers are also recognized.

The ceremonies kick off in Sarnia on April 2 and wrap up in Kingston on June 27.

 
QUOTES       
“These awards are a way to say thank you to dedicated volunteers in communities across Ontario for the immeasurable work they do to strengthen communities and our province as a whole,” said Michael Chan, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

QUICK FACTS

1. Over 5 million Ontarians volunteer yearly contributing over 800 million annual volunteer hours
2. Statistics Canada values Ontario volunteers time at over $10 billion annually and charitable contributions at over $4.4 billion
3. National Volunteer Week takes place April 27 – May 3, 2008

LEARN MORE

• Check out the Volunteer Service Awards schedule and background on the Ontario Volunteer Service Awards
• The National Volunteer Week youth challenge encourages young people in Ontario to volunteer during National Volunteer Week
• Volunteering in Ontario

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Contacts:
Coralie D’Souza, Minister's Office, (416) 416-325-6204
Lily Pavlovic, Communications Branch, (416) 416-314-7725

• Backgrounder - 2008 Ontario Volunteer Service Award Ceremony Dates