Volunteer Halton celebrating Halton Volunteer Impact award recipients

NEWS RELEASE
VOLUNTEER HALTON
************************
During National Volunteer Week, people come together to celebrate the importance of every volunteer and every volunteer's impact in Oakville, Halton Hills, Milton, and Burlington.

The contributions of some truly extraordinary volunteers were recognized when they were awarded the Halton Volunteer Impact award by Volunteer Halton. The Halton Volunteer Impact award is a nominated award open to current CDH members to recognize the importance and impact of volunteers in their organization. No more than 10 people each year receive one of these awards and each person is making a difference for others in our community - check out the Burlington recipient stories below.

JORDAN CLARKE:  City of Burlington

Jordan volunteered for the Recreation Community and Culture department with the City of Burlington as a volunteer at Tansley Woods Community Centre. Supporting the customer service team and the aquatics team, Jordan handled a variety of roles including greeter, way-finder, and helped with check-in and wristband distribution. According to nominators Michelle Dwyer and Tracy Hasselfeldt,

Jordan was truly an incredible addition to the team. Whether is was his riddle of the day, incredible memory of staff and customers' names determination to complete his tasks, positive attitude, or bright smile, Jordan was a highlight for all.  The City benefitted from

Jordan's volunteerism not only because of his presence and positive attitude, the City benefitted as it allowed the City to review amentities in the building to be improved for accessibility.  Jordan uses a wheelchair and having him on the team meant changes to improve accessibility to allow Jordan and all visitors using the space independent access to areas of the building.

IOANA POPA: Founder, 100 Seeds of Joy, Burlington

Ioana has been giving back to her community since 2008 bringing yoga and meditation techniques to communities in Burlington. In 2023, she launched 100 Seeds of Joy in collaboration with other volunteers of Sahaja Yoga Meditation.  The intent of 100 Seeds of Joy is to bring diverse cultures together to share in activities that help improve health, overall wellbeing, and provide a place of belonging. Offering 400 free events in 2023, this included 90 in-person sessions focused on yoga, cooking, meditation, and music as well as two in-person full day events featuring artists and meditation and yoga instructors from Quebec and Ontario of diverse backgrounds to share their cultural practices with residents of Burlington.  Both events were well-attended with over 400 people benefiting. Ioana wishes to bring the benefits of yoga and meditation to everyone, especially volunteers supporting individuals who are dealing with trauma and loss.

GLORIA REID: BurlingtonGreen Environmental Association, Burlington

Gloria has been involved with BurlingtonGreen for over 10 years, making a meaningful difference to environmental issues and activities through her energetic, effective, and people-oriented leadership and action. Gloria serves on the Board of Directors and has mentored 13 Board members as they together set the direction and help move the mission of BurlingtonGreen forward. Gloria has been instrumental in fundraising efforts for BurlingtonGreen as well as advocating to protect the Jefferson Salamanders and local sensitive nature areas from development.  Through hands-on eco action, community outreach, governance leadership, and mentorship of others over 10 years, Gloria has helped BurlingtonGreen benefit the entire Burlington community with a cleaner, healthier, environment and opportunities to personally take action through annual eco-action initiatives.

Happy National Volunteer Week.

************************