Helen Lucile Simpson, Victoria, British Columbia
Governor General's Caring Canadian Award
Helen Lucile Simpson was a leader of Canadian Girls in Training, taught Sunday school and participated in the planning and operation of summer youth camps. She played a key role in the establishment of the Victoria Family Caregivers Network and, in collaboration with the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, identified issues and needs of seniors in the urban, off-reserve First Nations population. For 12 years, she co-facilitated a caregiver support group, all the while acting as a caregiver for several family members. In a hands-on capacity, she has supported many organizations involved in issues affecting the elderly, including the Victoria Gerontology Association, the Caregivers Association of B.C. and the South Island Seniors Advocacy Society. Mrs. Simpson has drawn on her legendary warmth, humour and her experience with issues surrounding caregiving to make her community a better place.