Josephine Mary Mills, M.S.M., Burnaby, British Columbia
Meritorious Service Medal (civil division)
While promoting Down syndrome research and education activities, Josephine Mills saw the need for an organization that would build support groups, create information sources, and champion the need for research. In 1995, she founded and became executive director of the Down Syndrome Research Foundation based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Under her leadership, the Foundation successfully raised some $3,000,000 to establish a unique, state-of-the-art resource centre for individuals with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities.