Awarded on: 1999-04-20
Harry J. Pratt, Kemptville, Ont.
Governor General's Caring Canadian Award
Active with numerous service clubs, charitable and community organizations and events over the years, Harry Pratt is best known for his volunteer work during the 1998 Ice Storm. He rapidly mobilized sections of the community into donating food and, with the assistance of a local bakery with wood-burning ovens, was soon preparing meals for more than a hundred people. Mr. Pratt also helped set up a depot for the procurement and distribution of food and supplies to people in rural areas, arranged for a refrigerated trailer for residents to store their frozen food, printed and posted news bulletins throughout the community, and recruited volunteers to build shelters, serve food and maintain twenty-four hour response offices.