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).
If you wish to nominate one or more members, please fill out the online nomination form here or download a printable nomination form here.
Life Members are exempt from membership fees.
Life Members List
| Peter & Jenny Alker | Don Davis | Nick & Bev Quickert |
| Harold (*d) & Anne Atkins | Joanne Dewey | Anna Rittwage |
| Nels Banting | Sid Hadlington (*d) | Stephen & Nancy Sinclair |
| Bob (*d) & Jean (*d) Beach | Fred & Lois (*d) Helleiner | Sheila Soden |
| John & Sharon Blaney | Jane (Law) Irvine | Glenn & Gerry Spence |
| Don & Joyce Boucher | Janette Johnston (*d) | Nancy & Brian (*d) Sutton |
| Isabelle Brose | Craig & Ruth Kerr | Steve Turl |
| Tone Careless | Tawni Lange (*d) | Ron Waddling |
| Liz & Earle (*d) Chatten | Janine McClintock | Audrey E. Wilson |
| John & Eileen Cockburn | Don and Fran Morrison | May (*d) & Bill Wilson |
| Bev Cook | Don & Bonnie Ogden | |
| Ernie & Carolyn Payette |
(*d) denotes deceased
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.
John Cole Award Winners
| 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 |
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.
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.
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