Prolific volunteer receives provincial award in Whitby

A prolific Whitby volunteer has been honoured with an award from the Ontario government for her services to Whitby.

In announcing the Ontario Senior Achievement Award, the province described Joyce Marshall as a “beacon of compassion and leadership.”

Marshall is a retired nursery teacher who now volunteers at the Whitby 55+ Recreation Centre. “She stands as a shining example of selfless dedication and tireless commitment to the well-being of the community, particularly its senior members,” Ontario wrote.

They further describe “a deep-rooted passion for making a positive impact in the lives of others.” This is demonstrated in Marshall’s work toward Whitby’s participation in World AIDS Day and Durham Region’s in Hospice Awareness Day.

She’s also spent 20 years on the Board of Directors of the VON Durham Region Hospice Service, a non-profit which provides palliative care, caregiver support, and other services to patients with terminal illnesses and their families. For the last ten of those years, she’s served as VON’s Board chair.

This is hardly the first time Marshall’s work has been recognized. She’s previously received the Paul Harris Fellow for her contributions to the Rotary Club and was named the Whitby Chamber of Commerce’s first Woman of the Year back in 2014.

In her monthly newsletter, Mayor Elizabeth Roy acknowledged Marshall’s recognition and wrote, “We’re so fortunate that Joyce is a member of our community.”

Additionally, Whitby MPP Lorne Coe rose in Queen’s Park to recognize Marshall saying, “Seniors like Joyce play a critical role in building out communities and province into the strong and prosperous place it is today.”