Annual Civic Awards handed out by City of Pickering

The leader of a charity that brings a love of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to the classroom and a poetry instructor who helped save residents from a burning building are among more than two dozen Pickering residents and organizations honoured at this year’s Civic Awards ceremony.

Held at the Chestnut Hill Recreation Complex, the annual awards recognize the outstanding achievements of residents, community organizations and local businesses. Winners are nominated by peers and residents for their outstanding contributions to the community.

The honour roll was led by Cindy Adams, the Executive Director of Sciences in School, an organization that has been creating strong results and inspiring confidence and engagement with the sciences with elementary school children since 1992. Adams was presented the Special Citation Award.

Kirk Davis, an art specialist and poetry instructor, was awarded the Pickering Civic Award for Heroism/Bravery after alerting the residents of a fire and helping the elderly occupants get out safely before the arrival of fire and rescue personnel.

Other recipients include Lifetime Achievement Awards for Ericka Heather Swaby, Gary Goswell and Myrna Picotte; Individual Volunteer Awards for Alexis David, Larry Noonan, Margaret Shedden-Eskins and Pamela Spence; and the Service Group Award for the Canadian Progress Club, Durham Region Women.

Community Group Awards were presented to DARS and the Pickering Pickleball Club; Curtis Cook earned the Amateur Sports Award; Youth Volunteer Awards were presented to Aydn Munawar and Charlie Wascher; and the Youth Leadership Award went to Devi Mandir’s Youth Group.

Daniels First Home was presented with the Sustainability Award; Katharine Catarino and Richard Rodwell received Arts Awards; MaxwelI Soundy and Rielle Lantaigne earned Heritage Awards; Chestnut Hill Developments the Urban Design Award; and the Economic Development Award was presented to Nelson Industrial.

Local Business Awards went to Defend-it Legal Services & Building Blocks HR, Mr. Lube and Open Studio Art Café; the Environment Award was presented to We Grow Food and Omar Ha-Redeye earned the Accessibility Award.