• Awarded on: December 10, 1998

Richard Stanley Parker Dowson, Ashmont, Alta.
Governor General's Caring Canadian Award

Principal of a secondary school, Richard Dowson spends a great deal of time after-hours to keep the school open in the evenings for the community, to help students with personal problems, and to support students and parents through difficult times. He helped establish annual student memorial awards to recognize positive student achievement and personally funds one of these. Mr. Dowson has actively participated in programs and studies addressing the issues of student pregnancy and adolescent gambling habits, and worked hard on projects aimed at helping students acquire a knowledge of local, especially Cree, culture and history.