Spirit Award Recipients and Hall of Fame
Click on photo to view Award Recipient profiles.
The Spirit Awards Hall of Fame honours the incredible 110 individuals and organizations who have been the recipient of Co-operative Spirit Recognition Awards since their inception in 1999. In 2011, the Spirit Awards celebrated its lucky 13th anniversary.
Profiles of the most recent award winners can be found at the top right of this page in the 'Related Documents' section. Profiles for all previous winners can be found through the link at the VERY bottom of this page, or by clicking on the photo above. The Spirit Awards also have a YouTube channel with videos on award winners. Check it out to learn about the recipients in their own words.
Co-operative Innovator
This award recognizes and honours those who have recently contributed to a community through co-operative or credit union initiatives.
- 1999
Betty Ann Baker, Niagara Peninsula Community Resources & Niagara Food Innovations, Welland - 2000
Phyllis Winnington-Ingram, Winnington-Ingram & Associates, Bracebridge - 2001
Vineland Growers' Co-operative, Jordan Station
Aurele St. Jean, Temagami Food Co-operative, Temagami - 2002
Susan O'Neill, Sudbury Regional Credit Union, Copper Cliff - 2003
Jim Judge, Farm Fresh Poultry Co-operative, Harriston - 2004
Options for Homes, Toronto
Ed Hale, Ontario Sustainable Energy Association, Toronto - 2005
The Renewable Energy Co-operative North Inc., Temagami - 2006
Robert Fairbairn, Espanola and District Credit Union - 2007
The team of Robert P. Sicard, Glen Perschbacher and Bob Peden, UPI Energy LP - 2008
Carolyn Lemon, Common Ground Co-op - 2009
Diane Kocet, The Toronto Electrical Utilities Credit Union - 2010
PenFinancial Credit Union - 2011
West End Food Co-op
New Co-operative of Distinction
This award recognizes and honours a new co-op, less than five years in business or still in the formative stages, which has made significant social or economic contributions to the community.
- 2005
Upper Canada Woods Co-operative Inc, Havelock - 2006
Positive Power Co-operative, Hamilton - 2007
Quinte Organic Farmers Co-op, Picton - 2008
River Village Co-op Market, Teeswater - 2009
Ottawa Valley Food Co-op - 2010
BIAS FREE Co-operative - 2011
AGRIS Solar Co-operative
Distinguished Co-operator
This award recognizes and honours those who have contributed significantly to the success of co-operatives and/or credit unions across Ontario.
- 1999
Harry Joosten, St. Willibrord Credit Union, London - 2000
Blake Halliday, Kingston Credit Union, Kingston - 2001
Bill Chamberlain, North WellingtonCo-operative Services, Harriston - 2002
Nancy Auer, Toronto and District Parent Co-operative Preschools Corporation, Toronto - 2003
Jack Morneau, Credit Union Central of Ontario, Mississauga - 2004
Alexandra Wilson, Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, Ottawa - 2005
Bert Perriman, Waterloo Oxford Co-operative, Ayr - 2006
Ontario Natural Food Co-op, Etobicoke
Raymond Savage, la cooperative Regionale de Nipissing Sudbury, Verner - 2007
Charles (Chuck) Desmarais, AGRIS Co-operative - 2008
Gillian Eyre, Shoreline Co-operative Preschool
Claude Gauthier, GROWMARK, Inc. - 2009
Stuart Steckle, Gay Lea Foods Co-operative - 2010
Clare Hayes, Sunderland Co-op
Barbara Czarnecki, Windmill Line Co-op - 2011
Ontario Credit Union Charitable Foundation
Michel Chénier
Co-operative Youth Leader
This award recognizes young people (30 years of age or younger) who have made significant contributions to co-operatives and/or credit unions.
- 1999
Tina Van Loon, St. Willibrord Credit Union, London - 2000
Amanda Yetman, Frank G.McLoughlin Housing Co-operative, Brampton - 2001
Cheryl Rae, University of Guelph - 2002
Beth-Ann Hern, North Wellington Co-operative Services, Harriston - 2003
Krista Wydeven, Ontario Co-operative Association, Guelph - 2004
Sarah Groot, Strathroy - 2005
Rikki-Kay Middleton, Waterloo - 2006
Krista Duynisveld, Ilderton - 2007
Sonja Carrière, Russell - 2008
André Brisebois, Ottawa - 2009
Tanya Gracie - 2011
Céline Carrière
Co-operative Youth Mentor
This award recognizes the commitment and achievements of individuals or organizations in mentoring youth and supporting their successes as young co-operative leaders.
- 2000
GROWMARK, Inc., Mississauga - 2002
Guido Chezzi, Northern Credit Union, Coniston - 2003
Jackie O’Hearn, Frank G. McLoughlin Co-operative Homes, Brampton - 2005
St. Willibrord Credit Union, London - 2006
Craig Steven, Toronto - 2007
Ruth Blackburn (posthumously), Superior Credit Union, Thunder Bay - 2008
Gay Lea Foods Co-operative, Mississauga - 2009
Carlene Frimer, United Communities Credit Union - 2010
Scott Piatkowski, Beechwood Co-operative Homes - 2011
Gary Seveny, former CEO, Alterna Savings
Co-operative Social Responsibility
This award recognizes organizations within the co-operative sector which have demonstrated socially responsible business practices, and leaership in the implementation and promotion of sustainable social, economic, and/or environmental principles.
- 2008
Guelph Campus Co-operative - 2009
La Siembra Co-op - 2010
Caisse populaire des Voyageurs, Inc. - 2011
Science '44 Student Housing Co-operative
Outstanding Contribution to Ontario Co-operative Association
This award recognizes and honours those who have contributed to the success of On Co-op and its membership.
- 1999
Cathy Chamberlain, GROWMARK, Inc., Mississauga - 2000
Brian Ashford, Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd., Toronto - 2001
Jim Hoyt, GROWMARK, Inc., Mississauga - 2002
Cathy Lang, C. Lang Consulting, Toronto - 2003
Russ Christianson, Rhythm Communications, Campbellford - 2004
Peter Cameron, Ontario Worker Co-op Federation, Guelph - 2005
Frank Lowery, The Co-operators Group Ltd., Guelph - 2006
Sheena Lucas, Credit Union Central of Ontario, Mississauga - 2007
Larry Sadler, Ontario Natural Food Co-op, Mississauga - 2008
The Honourable Ted McMeekin, Dundas - 2009
Professor Jack Quarter, The Social Economy Centre of OISE/UT - 2011
JJ McMurtry and Brenda Gainer, Program Directors, Co-op Management Certificate Program
Special Recognition
These awards recognize the co-operative history, leadership or achievements of organizations or individuals in areas beyond the scope of other Spirit Award categories.
- 2009
The late Bernie Daly, Ontario Region Manager, GROWMARK, Inc., for a lifetime of co-operative achievement
CAIC, the Canadian Alternative Investment Co-operative, for innovative financial assistance practices. - 2010
John Ellis, Food Family Credit Union, for a lifetime of co-operative achievement - 2011
the late Penny Bethke, Campus Co-operative Residence
Dennis Deters, The Co-operators
Lifetime Achievement
This award recognizes those who have made significant contributions to the Ontario co-operative and/or credit union movement and fostered co-operation among co-operatives. In 2008, this award was combined with the Distinguished Co-operator award category.
- 1999
Andrew Hebb, The Co-operators Group Ltd., Guelph,
Charles Diemer, Woodslee Credit Union Limited, Woodslee
Jean Stevenson, Organization for ParentParticipation in Childcare and Education, Ontario, Alliston - 2000
John S. Black, Huron Bay Co-operative Inc., Markdale
Don Ahrens, Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Inc., Chesley
Dr. Jack Craig, York University, King City - 2001
John Strybosch, St. Willibrord Credit Union, London
Larry Gordon, Metro Credit Union Ltd., Toronto
Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto, Toronto - 2002
James Barr, The CUMIS Group, Burlington
Brian Iler, Iler Campbell Barristers and Solicitors, Toronto
Mark Goldblatt, Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, Ottawa - 2003
Stanley Vanden Bosch, Agri-West Corporation, Kemptville - 2004
Donald Altman, Metro Credit Union, Toronto
William Demerling, Waterloo Oxford Co-op, Elmira - 2005
Lloyd Crawford, Perth County Co-operative Inc., Stratford
Carol Brown, Organization for Parent Participant in Childcare and Education, Ontario, Toronto - 2006
John Tregunna, North Wellington Co-operative Services, Mount Forest
Denis Bourdeau, la coopérative Agricole d'Embrun, Embrun - 2007
Leonard Mortson, Simcoe District Co-operative Services, Barrie
