OTTAWA: Benoit Bouchard, Minister of National Health and Welfare and Minister Responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development Quebec, will honor 21 exceptional Canadian volunteers at a ceremony in Ottawa on June 16, 1993. Barbara Sparrow, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Health and Welfare, will present the awards on behalf of Mr.Bouchard.
The Canada Volunteer Award recognizes and encourages those Canadians who have made outstanding voluntary contributions towards improving the health and social wellbeing of their fellow citizens.
“Volunterrism is a positive force in our society, it unites communities and people and yet, it often goes unnoticed. Volunteers play an extremely important role in dealing with such challenging health and social issues as family violence, education, child care, youth violence, AIDS and caregiving,” said Ms. Sparrow. “Volunteerism is selfless, unconditional and committed the 21 individuals being honored are representative of this.
More than 400 Canadians have received the Canada Volunteer Award medal and certificate of Honor since the program’s inception in 1977.
Jaswant Singh Atwal has devoted countless hours 10 breaking down language barriers his community. He has shown great compassion by assisting individuals with language difficulties to complete forms and by accompanying them to appointments when they need an interpreter. He teaches English to immigrants and helps many to find jobs, housing and not adjust to the ‘Canadian way of life, using his language skills, Atwal selflessly donates his time to translate key health education resources and ‘consent for treatment” forms into Punjabi for the Edmonton Board of Health, His concerns for his community has involved him in resolving family disputes, child neglect and harassment Situations, He also sits on a committee that examines the problem of youth violence in schools.
Atwal is cofounder of the Millwood Cultural Society of Retired and Semiretired in Edmonton and is a pastoral care worker with the Grey Nun’s Hospital.
Since his arrival in Canada 12 years ago, Jaswant Singh Atwal has never ceased to show tireless effort to improve the social welfare of those around him. The appreciation and respect of his community are exemplified in his nomination for a Canada Volunteer Award.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 25, 1993
