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Burlington resident recognized for long-time community contributions

Matt Mathews is one of 16 people in the province to receive 2022 Ontario Senior Achievement Award
2021-02-02-mat-matthews
Burlington resident Matt Mathews (centre) is presented with the 2022 Ontario Senior Achievement Award by Ontario's Lieutenant Governor The Hon. Elizabeth Dowdeswell and Ontario Minister for Seniors and Accessibility Raymond Cho on Jan. 31.

Matt Mathews has been giving back to the Burlington community for 40 years — and his efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Mathews was one of 16 people to receive a 2022 Ontario Senior Achievement Award this week at a special ceremony in the Lieutenant Governor's Suite.

The Ontario Senior Achievement Awards recognize people who have made outstanding contributions to their communities through voluntary or professional activities after the age of 65. Seniors who qualify for this award may have contributed to many different fields such as the arts, literature, community service, volunteering, education, environment, fitness and humanitarian activities.

Established in 1994, the Ontario Senior of the Year Award gives each municipality in the province the opportunity to honour a local senior for contributions they’ve made to enrich the social, cultural, or civic life of the community.

According to a media release from the province, Mathews demonstrates a strong commitment to community throughout all aspects of his life. He has served as Parish Treasurer and member of the Parish Managing Committee (Board) at his local church.

He has also served on the executive team of the Hamilton Malayalee Samajam (HMS), a not-for-profit organization in Hamilton. In this role, he helped raise more than $280,000 to purchase an elementary school that had closed and convert it into a community centre which now offers programming for seniors, new immigrants, children, and people of all ages. Mathews has also led fundraising efforts to make the community centre more accessible for people with disabilities and seniors with mobility issues.

In addition, he has raised funds for Run for the Cure, street barbecues and Thanksgiving charity dinners for the homeless.

I caught up with Mathews, just as he was about to leave on a two-month trip to south India. At 79 years young, he was humbled to receive this recognition by the province, which was presented by Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, on Jan. 31.

Mathews immigrated to Canada in 1969. His first job in his adopted country was as a stock person at Tamblyn Drugs, now known as Rexall Pharmacy. Over the years, he rose to the rank of Senior Director of Store Operations.

He moved to Burlington in 1982 and has since loved his community, in no short order due to the “kind neighbours that welcomed me,” he said.

Mathews in turn dove into numerous community projects and volunteered with the Salvation Army and the Canadian Red Cross. He has walked in the Terry Fox Run for 16 years and has helped raise funds for the Princess Margaret Hospital. Mathews admitted that he’d like to do more work for "cancer charities", though he wouldn’t be specific.

"I want to do more for the community,” he said.

The Indian Orthodox Church, of which Mathews is a member, has benefited from his business acumen. He was a founding member of the Hamilton Malayalee Samajam and is currently its property management committee chair. The Malayalee Samajam promotes the social and cultural traditions and talents of the
people of Kerala (India) and organizes social activities and cultural programs designed to promote cultural integration with other ethnic communities and community at large. The 200-plus membership facilitates volunteerism, promotes youth and seniors programs, organizes cultural events and supports sustainable and safe neighbourhoods.
A man of few words, Mathews said, “I have had more blessings in life than troubles so I do what I can.”

The honour seems more than deserving.


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Lawson Hunter

About the Author: Lawson Hunter

Lawson Hunter has been a freelance writer for more than 30 years. His articles on technology, the environment, and business have been published in local and national newspapers, magazines and trade publications
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