A local accessibility advocate, a London-born trailblazing entertainer, and a man who has dedicated the last four decades to a hockey league for special needs children are among 13 people being honoured by London's mayor.
Ed Holder released his 2020 mayor’s New Year’s honour list on Friday. The annual list recognizes significant contributions to the city in ten different categories.
“Anyone in search of inspiration at the start of this new year, need look no further than these truly remarkable Londoners,” said Mayor Ed Holder. “Each of these individuals represent the very best of London, and each of them have played significant roles in building an even better London. On behalf of City Council, it is my sincere honour to celebrate those efforts by virtue of this recognition.”
Gerry LaHay, a well known accessibility advocate who died following a sudden illness last fall, was recognized for his work to make London more inclusive. After losing both of his legs due to complications from diabetes, LaHay joined the city's accessibility advisory committee and the community diversity and inclusion strategy working group. He was an outspoken advocate both in-person and online for accessibility and mobility issues, even launching a petition in January 2020 for better snow clearing operations on city sidewalks.
Joey Hollingsworth was named in the category of distinguished Londoner. The Black Canadian tap dancer, singer and conga player broke down racial barriers to become one of the earliest Black performers on CBC television. Throughout his career he made appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show, the Wayne and Shuster Show, and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. He was inducted into the Jack Richardson Music Hall Of Fame in 2017 and received the Ontario Black History Society's lifetime achievement award in 2018.
Murray Howard made the list in the sport category. He has spent the last 45 years helping kids with disabilities play hockey through the George Bray Sports Association. Howard is being recognized for his passion to ensure all children have the opportunity to participate in Canada's game.
Other 2020 honourees include:
Jean Knight, age friendly:
Knight has dedicated her life to services that aid older adults. Most recently she has volunteered with the Centre for Mental Health and Addictions (CMHA) as a crisis line volunteer as well as a "friendly caller" supporting over three individuals with weekly telephone calls throughout the pandemic. In 2008, Knight became a member of the City of London’s age friendly cities working group She also served on the Council for London Seniors from 2003-2009 and has been on the Board of Hutton House since 2007.
Betty Anne Younker, the arts:
Younker immersed herself in the local arts community through both her work at Western University and joining the London Arts Council Board of Directors after returning to the city ten years ago. She advocated for the equitable treatment of artists, helped to steward the London Arts Council through a major transition of the Community Arts Investment Program, and used her diplomatic skills to aid in creating new opportunities for the professional arts in London. Through her profession she is working in collaboration with many of London’s arts organizations such as; Aeolian Performing Arts Centre, The Grand Theatre and London Symphony in an effort to create and solidify campus to community relations.
Dr. Abe Oudshoorn, housing:
Oudshoorn is a registered nurse and an Assistant Professor in the Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing at Western University. His research focuses on health equity through housing stability. He is past chair of the London Homeless Coalition, a Canada 150 medal recipient, and is Managing Editor of the International Journal on Homelessness. Oudshoorn's commitment to ensuring Londoners have access to affordable and dignified housing earned him a spot on the 2020 honour list.
Marianne Griffith, the environment:
Griffith is a committed environmentalist and an advocate for local, sustainable food systems and renewable energy. She's worked with London based organizations to promote sustainability and community driven carbon and waste reduction, including Growing Chefs, The Root Cellar and Building Better. She's worked on social justice and sustainable development projects in Indigenous communities in many countries and she works closely with First Nations communities in Ontario to increase access to clean water, clean energy sources and sustainable, affordable housing. She is currently the Green Economy London Hub Manager at the London Environmental Network where she is committed to help London businesses set and achieve sustainability targets.
Sylvia Chodas, heritage:
Chodas has been an active volunteer and advocate in London's heritage community for many years. She is a long-time member and volunteer with Architectural Conservancy Ontario - London Region branch (ACO London) and served as a Board member with the organization for many years. She is also a member of Heritage London Foundation and the London and Middlesex Historical Society. She has coordinated the annual Geranium Heritage House Tour for many years. Chodas has played a key role is the annual ACO London / London and Middlesex Historical Society joint bus tour which takes guests on day-long guided tours of historical towns and sites across Southwestern Ontario. She is a regular volunteer at community heritage events such as the annual Heritage Fair and has made presentations on the London area's heritage to a variety of community organizations.
Mitchell A. Baran (posthumously), distinguished Londoner:
Barron was a highly successful entrepreneur, businessman and philanthropist who was passionate about the importance of the role of innovation in both the economy and our quality of life. As the owner and chairman of the Trudell Medical Group, his vision and hard work resulted in Trudell becoming a global player in the manufacturing and distribution of medical products. Throughout his lifetime, Mitchell was the recipient of numerous awards and honours including the London Business Hall of Fame, the London Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Award, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Baran set up the Mitchell and Kathryn Baran Family Foundation which supports local healthcare and human services.
Wayne Dunn, distinguished Londoner:
Dunn’s community work primarily focuses on helping young people and children. As an entrepreneur and partner in County Heritage Forest Products Ltd. Dunn has influenced other business people to work with him on a number of community projects such as adopting several struggling families during the winter holiday season, and providing the parents and kids with food and toys. He was co-chair of the Sunshine Dreams for Kids Charity golf Classic which created an endowment of more than $1.5 million to provide dreams for children with severe disabilities and life threatening illnesses. He also helped re-establish and run the Business Cares Food Drive, which supports the needs of clients of the London & Area Food Bank and many agencies throughout our City.
Jim Campbell, distinguished Londoner:
Campbell is a long-time member of the Byron Optimist Club and has shown great leadership skills in many areas from coaching hockey and soccer to his volunteer work with the Byron Springbank Legion Poppy Fund Campaign. While president of the Legion, he was also active in working with the City to have the new monument installed in the Byron area. In addition, he is a member of the City’s community safety and crime prevention advisory group.
Mary Alikakos, diversity:
Alikakos is a strong advocate of diversity and inclusion in the London region. She uses her voice to speak from the perspectives of her Ojibwe ancestors. She was a CDIS steering committee member and helped develop strategies to take concrete steps towards healing and reconciliation in 2017. She currently sits on the Board of Directors at Pillar Network as vice-chair. She also is part of the Indigenous advisory committee and has taught basic Karate skills to school aged children at Antler River Elementary School is Chippewas of the Thames First Nation through a volunteer program called Heroes circle. Alikakos is a member of the Indigenous leadership circle, a local community of Indigenous cross-sectional professionals where she supports fellow professional Indigenous colleagues who work in isolation and are often leading the equity and inclusion conversation from an Indigenous perspective.
Jeremy McCall, humanitarianism:
McCall volunteers with various social groups and non-profits, and uses his free time to aid in the welfare of fellow London citizens. He is a member of the Anova fundraising committee, a Big Brother, volunteer youth basketball coach, coordinator of his Neighbourhood Watch and a past member of the Oakridge Optimist Club McCall co-founded “Dad Club London” in 2013 as a means to support men in the community who might need support in their own roles as men and fathers. The club has grown to approximately 1,400 members. Through the group's ongoing events and fundraising, Dad Club has raised and donated over $140,000 in and around London and their initiatives cross race, gender, and religion, political and social-economical divides.
