Sheila "Twinkle" Rudberg, M.S.M., Montréal, Quebec
Meritorious Service Medal (civil division)
After her husband was murdered by a 14-year-old runaway, Sheila Rudberg became an advocate for non-violence. In 1993, she founded LOVE, for Leave Out ViolencE, an organization dedicated to eradicating youth violence. Through a diversity of programs and workshops, LOVE provides young perpetrators, victims and witnesses of violent acts with a forum to be heard and understood, giving them the support they need to reject negative aggressive behaviour. Mrs. Rudberg's initiative also offers Canadian society’s most vulnerable youth an opportunity to work proactively at stopping violence in their communities by becoming youth leaders and teaching others the benefits of a non-violent lifestyle.