|
Meredith’s longstanding interest
in social justice has consistently been reflected in her volunteer work,
her academic work and in her professional work as the Anti-Hate & Anti-Bias
Program Coordinator with LUSO, Community Services – a multicultural community
centre in Northeast London, dedicated to the inclusiveness, well-being,
and prosperity of the London community.
She is a member of several local
committees dedicated to celebrating diversity and promoting intercultural
understanding in the city of London, including the Diversity & Race Relations
Advisory Committee, the HBT Working Group, the Colour of Poverty London
Campaign, and the Safe Schools Committee of the Thames Valley District School
Board. Meredith has delivered presentations on a variety of diversity-related
issues in both local and international contexts.
David Nelms believes in affordable housing and
he has dedicated himself to making homes for Londoners in need - a reality.
For nearly 30 years David has been actively involved in all aspects of the
construction and redevelopment of affordable housing units. He currently
owns and manages ten well-maintained core-area apartment buildings – total
units 71. He also developed and manages three projects in partnership with
the Alice Saddy Association. These projects provide homes for persons with
developmental disabilities.
David served as the president of the Alice Saddy
Board from 1986 – 1989. His passion for helping others is demonstrated every
day and his commitment to those he serves is unwavering and exemplary. David
Nelms is a man who makes things happen and this action has benefited Londoners
and our community for many years.
Bruce Huff has been chairman and the driving force
of the London Sports Hall of Fame since its inception in 2011. His dedication
and hard work were instrumental in making a great idea come to life. London’s
sports heroes and elite are now publicly profiled and recognized for their
achievements. They have an enduring legacy and a place to showcase their
talents.
Bruce has devoted countless hours to produce the
Sports Hall of Fame event programme, biographies of nominees for the selection
committee, scripts about inductees for the videos each year. His hands-on
talent stems from his 55 years as a professional sports writer and his energy
and enthusiasm has also led to the establishment of the London Oldtimers'
Sports Association, of which he is now the co-chair. Bruce has received
multiple awards and recognition for his writing, athletic ability and organizing
skills. His talents and energy continue to benefit London’s sports community.
Carmen Sprovieri has been a Londoner for over
30 years and during that time she has been an active volunteer with a number
of organizations focused on supporting people with disabilities. Following
her retirement as Director, Community Relations and Development for the
London Public Library, Carmen dedicated even more of her time to London’s
not-for-profit community even as she continues her role as a Lecturer at
the Faculty of Information & Media Studies at Western University
Her list of associations and positions include
Vice-president of Hutton House, Vice-president and Treasurer of Homes Unlimited
(London) Inc., Past-president Friends of the Library. Carmen is also active
with Shayne Ainsworth Bursary, King's University College at Western University,
Partners in Research, London Council for Adult Education, London Music Conservatory,
and Breakfast for Bursaries (in support of Brescia University College).
Her dedication to her community is broad and her energy seemingly boundless.
Since 2008, Suzanne Huot has been involved in
the Community Connections Program at ACFO. This organization facilitates
the integration of immigrants in London and Sarnia. Volunteers help newcomers
learn English and integrate into their new community.
In addition, Suzanne Huot has become a member of the London and Middlesex
Local Immigration Partnership (LMLIP) – Inclusion and Civic Engagement sub-council.
She is also a Board member of Carrefour des femmes du Centre Sud-Ouest,
an organization serving a large number of French-speaking immigrant women
and participates regularly in Life as a Refuge which is an annual event
held in June to mark World Refugee Day.
Suzanne’s academic focus remains in the same field
and her PhD thesis, obtained in 2012, was based on the experiences of integration
of French-speaking, visible minority immigrants, within London Ontario’s
Francophone minority community.
London became home to Bramwell Gregson, in 1964.
He moved here to become the conductor of the London Citadel Band of the
Salvation Army. During his tenure, the band’s international reputation was
enhanced by many out of province performances and 20 recordings. In 1995,
he took over as Music Director of Brassroots.
This 12 piece group blossomed under his leadership
and business guidance and Brassroots has just released its fourth
recording – marking the 25th anniversary of the musical ensemble.
Bram has guest conducted many Canadian and American
bands, and at national music camps and universities. He is a frequent adjudicator
and clinician.
He ís a past director of the North American Brass
Band Association and in 1993 was elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters
Association.
Lou Rivard joined the Children’s Safety Village
of London and Area team in 1997. He brought with him his financial expertise
and his dedication to community. Lou became a major force in fundraising
for the project and in 2001, when the village officially opened, much of
the credit for sponsors and donations were due to Lou’s hard work and diligence.
In 2004, the YWCA partnered with the Village and
Lou played a key role in working out details of the agreement and collaborative
plan for the future.
Thousands of children and adults visit the Village
each year and have the opportunity to learn with hands-on experience what
to do in an emergency. This knowledge and practical benefits can be invaluable
in an emergency situation.
Lou continues his community involvement and his
association with the Children’s Safety Village as the Treasurer of the Board
of Directors.
Shane is the quintessential environmentalist,
who not only talks the talk but walks the walk; he lives and breathes the
concept of environmental sustainability through his personal, professional
and community life. Through his involvement in Post Carbon London (PCL)
which he helped start and maintain as a viable organization, Shane has initiated
key projects that were aimed to generate awareness amongst the community
regarding energy planning. Along with Diane Szoller involving TREA and PLC,
they presented a number of workshops on the concept of Community Energy
Planning in 2010 at a dozen public libraries. Again through PCL, Shane was
the key instigator and overseer of a very successful series of solar (thermal)
workshops funded by a grant from the London Community Foundation in 2011.
He has been a two-term member of both the Advisory
Committee on the Environment and the Ecological and Environmental Planning
Advisory Committee (both for the City of London) and he was there to help
launch Transition London. He has taught courses on the Foundations of Sustainability
at Western as well as courses on Landscape Planning at Fanshawe. He is a
very active member of his local community of Woodfield helping to organize
local events including the Woodfield Fair.
As a member of the London Advisory Committee on
Heritage (LACH) for a number of years, Joseph O’Neil Jr. has served, on
occasion, as Chair and Vice-Chair. He has served as LACH’s representative
on the Heritage London Foundation Board and he currently serves as treasurer
of the recently formed Board of Governors for Eldon House.
Joe’s knowledge of local cemeteries and burial
practices has been instrumental in providing appropriate recognition of,
and support for, local and regional cemeteries and their importance.
He has been instrumental in locating the graves
of Civil War veterans in London cemeteries and having plaques installed.
He has a keen interest in other aspects of London’s history including Black
history, Aboriginal history and the War of 1812. His passion for our past
will ensure others have access to the stories that have shaped our community
and brought us to this place in time.
|