Volunteer Recognition Event at Ottawa Hospital

The Governor General ended his visit to the Ottawa Hospital at the CyberKnife robotic radiosurgery system.

Following the ceremony, His Excellency toured some of the hospital’s innovative research facilities such as the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) system.

Gregory Kane is a long-time supporter of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation and has worked to strengthen this institution in many different ways. Notably, he was a leader in the Legacy Campaign, which raised $100 million to build the Critical Care Wing at the hospital’s General Campus. He is also an active volunteer with the President’s Breakfast for the Public Service; The Ottawa Hospital Gala committee; the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Gala committee; and the National Arts Centre Gala committee, which raises funds for the National Youth and Education Trust. He also established the Gregory Kane Family Scholarship at the University of Ottawa for a first-year student who is active in the community as a volunteer.

For the past two decades, Barbara Vanderhyden has combined volunteerism with her scientific work as a cancer researcher. In 1993, she established the Let’s Talk Science–Parlons Science program, which later became a national charitable organization. In 2006, she established and still runs Science Travels–La science voyage, providing workshops in remote northern First Nations and Inuit communities. In 2009, she created an Aboriginal mentorship program that matches science graduates with promising Native high school students from reserves near the National Capital Region. Parallel to her career and these other initiatives, she has held volunteer leadership positions with Ovarian Cancer Canada, and still finds the time to meet one-on-one with women who struggle with their diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Mary Sarah Wilson epitomizes the best of what an Ottawa Hospital volunteer can be, providing compassionate care for people in need. Her volunteer work with the hospital spans two decades at several locations, including the Riverside Campus, the Palliative Care unit, the Eye Centre and the coffee shop at the Riverside campus. She is also very active in her community church, assisting with various events and fundraisers, and is a member of the weekly women’s group meeting.

"I am delighted to recognize three outstanding volunteers with the Caring Canadian Award in just a few moments," stated the Governor General. "They have given back so much, and gone beyond all expectations to make this place stronger. What’s more, they are proven leaders, inspiring people to give and do more. They have shown that compassion is a great healer."