• Awarded on: February 10, 1997

The Saint-Vincent de Paul Society
Governor General's Caring Canadian Award

After the catastrophic floods of July 1996 in the Saguenay, the volunteers of the Saint-Vincent de Paul Society proved themselves to be worthy disciples of this great saint who devoted his life to people in need. With heartfelt compassion, in the true spirit of mutual assistance, they quickly came to the aid of the victims. Their help was indispensable and worthy of the highest praise. Faced with the incredible devastation, hundreds of men and women willingly placed their daily lives on hold, expressing their firm belief that their main duty was to come to the assistance of those struck by such terrible misfortune. These volunteers generously undertook almost every aspect of the distribution of donations, including clothing, furniture, appliances and dishes. During the months that followed, the volunteers of the Saint-Vincent de Paul Society performed more than 200,000 hours of service essential to the well-being of the victims. They accomplished a colossal task.