The Foundation for Rural Living is accepting nominations for its fourth annual Awards of Rural Excellence. Proud sponsors of the 2002 Awards program are Pioneer, a DuPont Company and founding sponsor, the Co-operators and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
In keeping with the Foundation’s mandate to stimulate community investment and foster sustainable growth in rural communities, the Awards of Excellence were initiated in 1999. The Awards recognize and celebrate communities, organizations and groups who through programs, projects and initiatives act on their vision of a better rural Ontario. Contribution to community and a view toward enhancing and sustaining the future are the cornerstones of the awards criteria.
"These Awards are a great way to bring attention to the tremendous work and innovation in our rural communities. Advancing the rural sector is a top priority for our province and our nation," says Michelle Quintyn, Executive Director of the Foundation for Rural Living. "Celebrating success is critical to the health of a community. Pride and inspiration serve to motivate further positive action."
Gary Davison, Chair of the Foundation anticipates the number of nominations to grow again this year. "We hope to have even more nominations this year as we continue to recognize rural Ontario’s outstanding initiatives," says Mr. Davison.
There are seven award categories:
• Outstanding Partnership with Business
• Economic Development
• Rural Youth Achievement
• Excellence in Formal Co-operative Models
• Outstanding Philanthropic Action
• Outstanding Voluntarism and/or Partnership in the Voluntary Sector
• Excellence in Community Leadership
The efforts being recognized with each award must take place in rural Ontario. "Rural" includes communities with a population under 50,000. Amalgamated municipalities of small towns where the population may exceed 50,000 are also eligible. An independent selection committee, made up of practitioners in each of the award category fields, will review the nominations based on a set of determined criteria and make recommendations to the Foundation.
"The process to select the Awards is a useful way to have an initiative reviewed by a third-party team of qualified peers," says Ms. Quintyn. "The expertise and dedication of our review teams ensure a fair and thorough review of each nomination."
Nomination forms must be postmarked no later than July 31, 2002. Nomination forms are available from the Foundation for Rural Living, 1 Stone Rd., Guelph, Ontario (519) 826-4126 or on the website www.frl.on.ca. The awards will be presented on October 29, 2002 during The Ontario Rural Council’s annual rural development conference in Alliston, Ontario. The Foundation for Rural Living is a registered charity dedicated to building sustainable rural capacity and enhancing the quality of life for rural citizens through the growth and development of community investment in the form of philanthropy, citizenship and collaboration.
From the Archives:
News, June 2002
