Cathy Carragher, Darlene Harper and Gina R. Rankin, Cornwall, P.E.I.
Governor General's Caring Canadian Award
Cathy Carragher, Darlene Harper and Gina Rankin spent a year planning, promoting and fundraising for the building of the Eliot River Dream Park, a place for people of all ages to play. Initially faced with skepticism from local schools, clubs and businesses, they persisted in their fundraising efforts, raising $200,000 and encouraging more than 700 people from across the Maritimes to volunteer to help build the park over a five-day period. The park is now a haven for more than 200 children each day, including children with disabilities, and has become a model for other parks. This project also had the added benefit of "community building", bringing together the people from the community and surrounding areas.