Awards
Celebrating Contributions and Dedication
Life Membership Award
Life Memberships are granted to those individuals who have demonstrated significant, sustained and high-quality volunteer service over a period of years. Life Members reflect a dedication to the values of the Friends.
Any member may nominate another for a Life Membership by submission to the Board of Directors by January 1st each year. Full details on the requirements for nominations can be found in the Policies and Procedures section of the website (Policy #019).
Life Members are exempt from membership fees.
If you wish to nominate one or more members, please fill out the online nomination form or download a printable nomination form.
Life Members List
(*d) denotes deceased
Peter & Jenny Alker
Harold (*d) & Anne (*d) Atkins
Nels Banting
Bob (*d) & Jean (*d) Beach
John & Sharon Blaney
Don & Joyce Boucher
Isabelle Brose
Tone Careless
Liz & Earle (*d) Chatten
John & Eileen Cockburn
Bev Cook
Don Davis
Joanne Dewey
Sid Hadlington (*d)
Fred & Lois (*d) Helleiner
Jane (Law) Irvine
Janette Johnston (*d)
Craig & Ruth Kerr
Tawni Lange (*d)
Janine McClintock
Phil McRae
Don and Fran Morrison
Don & Bonnie Ogden
Ernie & Carolyn Payette
Nick & Bev Quickert
Anna Rittwage
Stephen & Nancy Sinclair
Sheila Soden
Glenn & Gerry Spence
Nancy & Brian (*d) Sutton
Steve Turl
Ron Waddling
Audrey E. Wilson
May (*d) & Bill Wilson
Volunteer of the Year Award
The John Cole Award, named in honour of our first Board Chair, is given annually to the Volunteer of the Year. The Board of Directors of the Friends has the difficult task of selecting just one Volunteer of the year from the many deserving candidates. Our Volunteer of the Year is to be a shining example of the values of our organization and his or her service to the Friends lasts for more than just this year, of course.
We are missing some records of prior award winners and would really like to recognize everyone. Please let us know at Contact Us if you have additional information on previous winners.
John Cole Award Winners
2025 Linda Alkenbrack
2024 Larry Paradis
2021 Beverlie Cook
2020 John Warner
2019 Linda Collins
2018 Joyce Boucher
2017 Janine McClintock
2016 Joan Selwood
2015 May Davies
2014 Jobes Woods Trail Builders
2013 Nancy Sutton
2012 Jenny Alker
2011 Jack & Lesley Scott
2010 Ernie Payette
2009 David Houghton
2008 Peter Alker
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000 Don Davis
1999 Loretta Banting & the Christmas at Presqu’ile Committee
1998 Bill & May Wilson
Student Bursary Awards
In 2017 The Friends of Presqu’ile Park launched an annual bursary program to recognize the efforts of the fine young people who work as summer student employees in Presqu’ile Park. Two different types of bursaries are awarded.
The J. Beverlie Cook Career Bursary is awarded to someone following a course of study at the post-secondary level that might lead to a career in the Parks system. This award is named after Bev Cook, a dedicated Friends volunteer, who created the bursary program during her time as Chair of the Friends.
Student Bursaries are awarded to deserving student park staff. Students could be nominated by the public, their peers or a supervisor for demonstrating skills and actions to improve the park experience.
Nomination and application forms are available here: Student Bursary Nomination and Application.
Read about past winners below. Click on the year to read the news story and see photos.
2025 Winners
Career Bursary: Ava Moskaluk
Student Bursary: Eve Hilwerda
2024 Winners
Career Bursary: Jack Anstead
Student Bursary: Ava Trefiak
2023 Winners
Career Bursary: Eryn Barton
Student Bursary: Ida Mackey
2022 Winners
Career Bursary: Clarissa Duthie
Student Bursary: Emma Sabine-Craig
2021 Winners
Career Bursary: Jaeden Avery
Student Bursaries: Ethan Reynolds, Noah Evans, Sarah Shannon, Sydney Stewart, Gregory Vaskovsky
2019 Winners
Career Bursary: Colin Bauer
Student Bursaries: Lauren Draaistra, Hope Brinkman, Ryan Renaud, Parys Carr
2018 Winners
Career Bursary: Rachel Siblock
Student Bursaries: Robert Ormston, Alana Bellamy, Christie Mutton, Eli Shannon.
2017 Winners
Career Bursary: Aly Morris
Student Bursaries: Kristen Wierda, Mara VanMeer, Sinead Gibson, Quinley Nichols
