By Beverly Clark
The Community Foundation of Nova Scotia is very proud of Board Member Mary Lonergan Eldridge, who was recently awarded the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award.
The award “…recognizes individuals who volunteer their time to help others and to build a smarter and more caring nation. The award also highlights the fine example set by these volunteers, whose compassion and engagement are so much a part of our Canadian character.”
Governor General David Johnston presented Mary with the award along with two other Yarmouth County residents, Winnie Surette and Phil Kitter at a ceremony held at the Yarmouth Town Hall on May 30, prompting this story in The Vanguard.
The Governor General noted that the award was established by Roméo LeBlanc, the 25th governor general, who was our first governor general of Acadian heritage. Governor General Johnston said, “Mr. LeBlanc established the award because it recognized the kind of spirit in the Acadian community in which he grew up in, communities where people cared for one another.”
Mary received this award for providing leadership and sound financial management to many charitable organizations in her community.
This is one of many awards bestowed upon her over the years. In 1988 she was awarded a Medal of Merit by Scouts Canada, received a “Special Volunteer Award” in recognition of her outstanding fundraising efforts for the Museum and Archives Expansion Project in 2000, was recipient of a 2001 Canadian Medal in honour of the International Year of the Volunteer, was cited in the Nova Scotia Legislature as “…giving so generously so that the community of Yarmouth might have a vital, impressive, cultural resource.” and was inducted into the Hall of Honour at St. Francis Xavier University in 2009.
Bravo, Mary!
Beverly Clark handles Communications and Internal Operations for the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia
