Each year the Ontario Health Coalition gives awards to those who have made an exceptional contribution to the protection of public health care.
"The award recipients have often worked almost full-time hours as volunteers to protect local health services and our public health care system," said Dora Jeffries, coalition chairperson. "We want to recognize their exceptional contribution to their home communities and our province."
Dan Benedict Awards
After serving in World War II, Dan Benedict earned his Doctorate in Economics. Dan acted as an adjunct professor of graduate studies in sociology and a visiting professor of political science at York University. He also taught industrial relations at McMaster and Laval Universities. The Paid Education Leave Program of the Canadian Auto Workers, the largest single adult education program for working people in Canada, was his brain-child. Dan also made significant contributions to worker education in Latin America. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1998. He was a founding member and served as co chair of the Ontario Health Coalition. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Coalition of Senior Citizens' Organizations. Dan's contributions to global social justice are truly extraordinary and he is warmly remembered from Canada to Europe to Latin America.
The Daniel Benedict Award is given annually to the person or persons who - working with one of the local health coalitions - best embodies Dan Benedict's spirit of extraordinary community activism and commitment to the protection and extension of Public Medicare.
This year's recipients are: Barbara Barry - Muskoka Perry Sound Health Coalition Marion Burton - Peterborough Health Coalition Wendy Holliday - Friends of the Ajax/Pickering Hospital Barb Maki - Thunder Bay Health Coalition Anne Marie MacInnis - Sudbury Health Coalition Shirley Roebuck - Save Our Sydenham, Wallaceburg Sue Saltzer - Yellow Shirt Brigade, Fort Erie Pat Scholfield - People's Health Care Coalition, Port Colborne Karen Ward - Peterborough Health Coalition
Ethel Meade Award