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The 11th Anniversary Making A Difference Awards for 2009/2010... and the winners are...
By Lynn Stadler-Hawkins presented at the 2010 National Conference in Edmonton
Welcome to the 2010 Making a Difference Awards. These awards were inspired by the accomplishments of POMBA Canada’s founding president, (the late) Sheryl McInnes.
The framework for our national organization was started in the late 1970’s in Lethbridge, Alberta and I would like to say what a pleasure it is to be here in Alberta and to say a thank you to the Edmonton Twins and Triplets club for hosting this event and bringing this national gathering back to Western Canada.
Local Category
This year’s recipient of the Local Making a Difference Award is no stranger to the MADA committee. She had been previously nominated in this category and has already been a recipient of an honorary mention!
Rose Danyliuk has been an active member and volunteer  for the Edmonton Twin & Triplet Club for 30 years! She has held many positions over that time including: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Sales Coordinator, Hostess, to name a few. Currently she is Program Director in addition to being a member of the very busy 2010 MBC Conference Planning Committee. This is her 2nd exploit on a national conference committee—the first being in 1997 for POMBA Canada’s Convention.
She has been instrumental in piloting projects such as the ETTC Scholarship Fund, which continues to provide financial relief to many multiple birth (and non-multiple birth) families in and around the Edmonton area. The list of her accomplishments is endless and she continues to be a force in the Edmonton area!
I would like to quote the words of at least one of her nominators,
“I hope that all clubs within Multiple Births Canada are blessed with a “Rose.” If you are, you have a club that will not only succeed but will become better for the challenges you face. Rose has been a key role in the success of the Edmonton Twin & Triplet Club for the past 30 years and on behalf of the ETTC, I would just like to say “Thank you Rose, for all you do and for all you have done – we are a strong multiple support group because of you and for that alone we will be forever grateful.”
Multiple Births Canada and the MADA Committee would like to congratulate you, Rose Danyliuk, with the making a Difference Award in the Local Category!
National Category
This year the National Making a Difference Award is going to Stephen Moreau.
Stephen Moreau – of the law firm Cavalluzzo Hayes Shilton McIntyre & Cornish – is a father of twins, a lawyer, and an all-round caring individual. Stephen has been a key player in the movement toward EI Parental Leave reform for Canadian multiple-birth families. Not only did he successfully represent Christian Martin, who won his EI appeal in front of a board of referees in September 2009, Stephen has also been a support for the many families who have followed that first case. He has provided guidance, reassurance, and encouragement to those who believe that EI benefits do not address the needs of Canada's multiple-birth community. Stephen has made himself available to media for comments and clarifications, and he has personally responded to every family that has contacted him in a timely manner – in addition to representing Christian in September 2009 (and again in his upcoming appeal hearing with the EI Umpire).
In the words of his nominator, Gail Moore, ... " Canada's multiple-birth community owes a huge debt of gratitude to Stephen Moreau. He has selflessly volunteered himself as the expert who can make a difference on this issue - and, rightly so - I believe we would never have moved this issue into the public agenda as dramatically as we have without the support of Stephen Moreau. He truly is a knight in shining armour - and I am very proud that he is part of our multiple-birth community!”
MBC is honoured to present Stephen Moreau with the 2009-2010
Making a Difference Award in the National category!
Media Category
This year’s Media award is being presented to freelance writer Diana Ballon and Canadian Living Magazine.
A twin herself, Diana Ballon was determined to produce an educational piece for national distribution in Canadian Living. As a freelance writer, she began working on the article a year before it actually made it to the April 2009 edition of Canadian Living. She produced an educational article, originally titled “Raising Twins (and Multiples) for Canadian Living Magazine’s. It was well researched, written in a reader friendly style and acknowledged MBC throughout the article. The timing of the article also coincided with our 2009 NMBAD theme on classroom placement.
The article is still available on-line as a three part series titled A guide to helping you raise twins.
The multiple-birth community wishes to say thank you and honour
Diana Ballon with the 2009-2010 Making a Difference Media Award
Please take a moment next year to nominate someone. We all have strengths and together we all make a difference. Once again, thank you to everyone from the nominators to the nominees and all those who make a difference.
A special thank you to the Making A Diference Chairperson, Lynn Stadler and the Making A Difference Committee,
Darlene Nagy, Pat Harber and Nicole Fisher. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!!
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Volunteer Opportunities
