OACAO 2025 Awards

Congratulations to this Year’s Winners in the Following Categories: 

Award of Merit (two nomination categories: staff/employees and volunteers)

This award recognizes exceptional effort and contribution to the field of Older Adults/Seniors. Anyone is eligible to receive this award from two categories.

a) Outstanding leadership contribution to the field of Older Adult Centres or Seniors Active Living Centres
b) Making a significant impact on the lives of older adults in their community or across Ontario

2025 Staff Winners:

Brenda van DeKeere – City of Belleville 50+ Centre

Robin Mech – Hamilton YWCA SALC

2025 Volunteer Winners:

Rosemary Bellefontaine – Township of King

Corinne McCallum – Active Adult Centre of Mississauga

Toby Parsons – West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community Centre

Community Spirit Award

This award recognizes an organization, partner or business that has displayed exceptional effort and commitment, on behalf of Older Adults / Centres, through age friendly service, accessibility, and/or advocacy.

2025 Winner

Robin Smart – Alzheimer Society of Waterloo Region

Trailblazer Award (two nomination categories: staff/employees and volunteers)

This award recognizes a novice staff person or volunteer in the field of Older Adults and Seniors Active Living Centres whose personal achievements and professional accomplishments have furthered the sector. The nominee must have proven leadership and dedication and have been employed or a volunteer involved with the organization for a maximum of 3 years in the sector.

2025 Winners

Gillian Simpkin (Staff) – Aurora Seniors Centre

Heidi Behnecke (Volunteer) – City of Burlington- Burlington Seniors Cenre/Bistro

Regional Award of Excellence

This award recognizes staff person or volunteer representatives from an OACAO Region, who has shown a considerable amount of effort and commitment to the Older Adult sector /Seniors Active Living Centres (SALC), to increase awareness of, and advocacy for, the OACAO and its’ programs and opportunities, and by coordinating and/or participating in OACAO Regional Workshops and/or other OACAO initiatives.

2025 Winner

Lisa Tobio – York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors/ Metro Region

Past President’s Award

There shall be a PAST PRESIDENT’S CITATION in recognition of services rendered. The Past President’s Award shall be presented to the Outgoing President following the appointment of the Incoming President. The award will only be presented when an individual leaves the office of President.

2025 Winner

Wendy Caceres-Speakman – Rexdale Community Health Centre

Award of Distinction (Not Awarded in 2025)

The OACAO Award of Distinction is considered to be the most prestigious recognition bestowed by the OACAO. It recognizes the exceptional contributions and/or long-term commitment of an individual staff person, volunteer, or group, toward the advancement of Older Adult initiatives and awareness of the OACAO in Ontario, and beyond. To be eligible, they must have dedicated a minimum of ten (10) years of service to the Older Adult Centres’ Association of Ontario, served as Chairperson on two or more committees and as a member of the OACAO Executive Committee. Recipients of this award epitomize the hard work and long service required to ensure the positive contribution of the Association to the success of Older Adult Centres in Ontario.

Lifetime Supporter Award (Not Awarded in 2025)

Consideration will be given to long time service to OACAO. Candidates must have served on two or more Committees, the Board of Directors, and the Executive for a period of fifteen (15) years. Consideration may also be given to persons serving in the field of Older Adult Centres in general.