Distinguished Service Award

The Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to an individual and/or to a community group, business or corporation respectively.  During the nominations process should outstanding candidates be presented in both categories then both categories of awards may be presented.

Distinguished Service Award - Individual
“This award, in the form of a plaque, will be presented annually at the Foundation Dinner Event to a person who has, for a number of years, provided outstanding and unselfish service to the Foundation and to the health care provider community in Cumberland County and whose contribution of time and effort or talent or resources or leadership (or a combination of all of these) has significantly enhanced the success of the Foundation’s mission and goals.”

Distinguished Service Award – Corporate & Community Groups
“This award, in the form of a plaque, will be presented annually at the Foundation Dinner Event to a community group, business or corporation that has, for a number of years, provided outstanding and unselfish service to the Foundation and to the health care provider community in Cumberland County and whose contribution of time and effort or talent or resources or leadership (or a combination of all of these) has significantly enhanced the success of the Foundation’s mission and goals.”

THE FOUNDATION’S MISSION
The Foundation’s mission is to enhance Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre’s ability to provide a high standard to health care to all residents of Cumberland County by raising funds and supporting new and improved services, programs, equipment and facilities.

Vicki Daley awarded the Individual – Distinguished Service Award in 2011

The selection of recipients of the Foundations Distinguished Service Award is not made lightly.   The Award is presented annually to a recipient who has, for a number of years, provided outstanding and unselfish service to the Foundation and to the health care provider community in Cumberland County and whose contribution of time and effort or talent or resources or leadership (or a combination of all of these) has significantly enhanced the success of the Foundation’s mission and goals.   In 2011, the CHC Foundation honored two recipients in different categories for its Distinguished Service Award:  the Community/Corporate Group category and the Individual Category.

Vicki Daley has been honored for her work both behind and in front of the health care fundraising scenes.  You could say that there was no way to avoid it since it could easily be seen as a way of life in the household – love your family, love your community, give what you can and, more importantly, be there not only when you can – but when your most needed.  It’s not always easy - especially for a person who prefers to remain out of the limelight but is someone who always gives a ray of hope for others.

For Foundation, the individual has been there since its inception – maybe not in the high profile manner we expect of many activists in the community – but as a staunch, unwavering supporter of healthcare and the goals of the Foundation during its establishment and growth.  

A member of the Cumberland Health Care Auxiliary – back to the days when it was the Highland View Health Care Auxiliary – she took over the gift-shop committee for three years at the old hospital prior to its move to the new regional hospital.   Not only was she instrumental in the gift shop’s relocation to the new regional health care centre but also a key initiator and organizer in the establishment of the new coffee shop at the regional hospital to further expand the fundraising capacity of the Auxiliary. 

More recently she has joined long time Auxiliary member, Jean Miller (also a former award recipient) as a co-organizer of the annual Highland Fling fundraiser for hospital medical equipment in our community – which as a point to note is next Saturday at the Amherst Curling Club.

An active fundraiser and canvasser for a variety of health-related organizations such as the United Way, Daley has been a member of the Amherst Rotary Club for over 30 years and is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International.   She has been a faithful and enthusiastic supporter of the Band Parent Association of this local high school and served as its President, is a member of the Tantramar Naturalist Society, is a contributor to the Breeding Bird Atlas, and participates in the annual bird count.

(Shown accepting the Individual Distinguished Service Award is Vicki Daley (centre), flanked by her spouse Blake on left, and on right, Gwen Kerr, Foundation Chair)

Curling Guys awarded the Community Group – Distinguished Service Award in 2011

The community group honored has an outstanding record in somewhat of a short time.   Their members are well known, well respected, well loved, and much admired for their stamina, their laughter, their willingness to simply help others -even during some of their own harder times in life.  

Started in 2006, this group of individuals has raised over $57,000 for healthcare in our community.  Their method of fundraising has raised not only money but the awareness of key health needs in our community – such as allowing the Foundation to helps cancer patients be able to afford travel costs simply to get radiation, chemotherapy and treatment at oncology centres in Moncton and Halifax.  They have given hope to battered women and children through their event and given a special boost for our special Olympic athletes in the area.   And most recently, this April they raised a whopping $16,000 in support of palliative care in Cumberland.  

None of these health and societal issues are light of mind– they are the issues that sometimes people don’t like to talk or think about – but those issues are as real  as the gentle souls, the warm hearts, and friendly smiles of this group being honored.

It was the Foundation’s pleasure to recognize Don Smith, Carl Leblanc, Joe Dupuis, Robbie Bird, Stu Colson, Mitch Estabrooks, Brian Wood, and Curt Speight – better known as the Good Lookin and Better Lookin Curling Guys.

(Shown accepting their awards (left to right) are:  Brian Wood, Don Smith, Mitch Estabrooks, Robert Bird, Stu Colson, Kurt Speight, Joe Dupuis, and Carl LeBlanc)

PAST RECIPIENTS
Dr. Barry MacLeod	Mr. Marsh Fox
Hon. Roger S. Bacon	Mrs. Jean Miller
Mrs. Rosemary Donkin	Mr. Blake S. G. Daley
Mr. Stu Pipe & Mrs. Cathy Pipe	Cumberland Health Care Auxiliary
Morris J. Haugg	PolyCello
Phyllis Cameron	Garry Stack

2010 Garry Stack	2009 Phyllis Cameron	2008 PolyCello	2007 Morris Haugg	2004 Marsh Fox

2003 Cathy & Stu Pipe	2002 Blake SG Daley	2001 Rosemary Donkin	2000 Jean Miller	1999 Roger S. Bacon