Every year, Feed Ontario recognizes members of our network who demonstrate strong leadership and community spirit with our Leadership Awards, presented at our annual conference. This year, we held our awards ceremony in Durham Region, and are proud to celebrate food banks and individuals in our network that are committed to fostering collaboration, connection, and a culture of equity in their organization.
“We are thrilled to honour and acknowledge the exceptional work being done at food banks across our network,” said our CEO Carolyn Stewart. “Throughout the province, food banks have risen to the challenge of meeting an unprecedented growth in demand, providing their communities with the healthy food they need. None of this would be possible without the dedication and hard work of food bank staff members and volunteers, along with the donors that support them. Congratulations and thank you to this year’s award winners for your commitment and excellence in service.”
Each of the three awards, the Bridge Builder, the Conscious Collaborator, and the Mountain Mover, were presented to an individual and a food bank that is dedicated to excellence in serving their communities.
Bridge Builders
The Bridge Builder award honours a food bank or individual who has demonstrated their commitment to building connections within their organization and in their community. This may be through an impactful partnership, by creating ties or building connections, or by fostering an organizational culture focused on equity and inclusion.
GBF Community Services
GBF Community Services receiving their Bridge Builder award at the Feed Ontario Conference.
This year’s food bank winner was GBF Community Services, which was honoured for their outstanding community collaborations and dedication to forging connections with likeminded organizations.
Focused on community wellness, these partnerships have promoted inclusivity, increased program access, and provided knowledge and choices to support individuals in their wellness journey. Because of their efforts, GBF Community Services was able to provide more access to more supports and resources, hosting over 330 events that were attended by over 3,000 people.
New Street Toronto Food Bank
Nikki McAlister, photo courtesy of Daily Bread Food Bank.
The individual honoured with this year’s Bridge Builder award was Nikki McAlister, the Programs Manager at New Toronto Street Food Bank, for her thoughtful leadership and dedication to client-centred service.
Nikki continues to seek opportunities to develop responsive programing and was instrumental in increasing their food bank service from three days a week to seven. This change has ensured their services are as accessible as possible to those in the community who rely on the food bank.
Conscious Collaborators
The Conscious Collaborator Award honors a food bank or individual who demonstrates their willingness to lend a helping hand to other food banks in the network. Some examples could include assistance with capacity building or distribution, collaborative efforts or programs, or by providing resources in a time of need.
Gleaner’s Food Bank
Keith Poulin, Warehouse Manager of Gleaners Food Bank was awarded a Conscious Collaborator award.
This year, Gleaners Food Bank received the Conscious Collaborator award for their continued efforts helping food banks both within their direct network as well as in surrounding areas to make sure that everyone who needs it has access to nutritious food, including frozen meats and vegetables.
In addition to the food bank’s award, Warehouse Manager Keith Poulin was also honoured as a Conscious Collaborator for his positive and unwavering efforts to meet the needs of his colleagues at neighbouring food banks.
Mountain Movers
The Mountain Mover Award honours individuals or food banks that have developed innovative solutions to address a community need or challenge, or that have moved mountains to remove or overcome a barrier.
La banque alimentaire de la région de Waterloo
The Food Bank of Waterloo Region staff after receiving their Mountain Mover award.
Our food bank honouree for this year’s award was The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. They received this award for their innovative after-hours program that removes barriers to food access in their community.
By installing refrigerated lockers at a City of Kitchener community centre, households who are unable to access the food bank during the food bank’s normal operating hours can now receive fresh, nutritious food on their own schedule. Since it’s inception in November, the program has helped 56 individuals from 22 households.
Burlington Food Bank & Feed Halton
Robin Bailey being awarded a Mountain Mover award.
Robin Bailey, Executive Director at the Banque alimentaire de Burlington et Feed Halton, received the Mountain Mover Award for an individual this year for his work in transforming the food security landscape in Halton Region.
His dedication to the community has been instrumental in establishing Feed Halton, the food distribution agency that will serve Halton Region residents. Through his visionary approach and experience in food banking, Robin has spearheaded the creation of Feed Halton to ensure consistent resources and stability for food banks in the region.
Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients! The work accomplished by our network is truly inspiring, and we’re proud to honour their impactful contributions to their communities through our annual awards.