The Guardian
Published: October 15, 2018
As a way to recognize individuals, organizations and business for contributing to the city by striving to be inclusive, the City of Charlottetown presented more than a dozen awards at the 2018 Inclusion Awards on Sunday.
Mayor Clifford Lee said people in Charlottetown go out of their way on a daily basis to help others and to ensure that people of all abilities feel respected, valued and equal.
“The Inclusion Awards were created to recognize those people, those who have helped make our city more accessible and inclusive for all.”
The awards were presented at a private ceremony at City Hall.
The recipients are chosen based on nominations and selections by the city’s Civic Board for Persons with Disabilities made up of volunteers, including Helena Reeves, Brenda Porter, Ryan Bulger, Meagan MacKenzie, Allison Faithfull, Christine Arsenault, Judy Hughes and Karen Lavers.
- Joanne Hodgins is a teacher with Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority in Charlottetown who works with children who have visual impairments. When she is not at work, Hodgins spends much of her free time volunteering with ParaSport and Recreation P.E.I. running many different programs for individuals with physical disabilities and vision loss, such as the “See Yourself Swimming” clinic and the multisport programs for children ages six to 13. Hodgins teaches swimming lessons to adults with physical disabilities and vision loss, and volunteers at ParaSport and Recreation P.E.I.’s “Night Dash”, one of the organization’s biggest fundraisers. No matter what she is doing, Hodgins is always focused on the clients.
For a list of all the 2018 recipients, the full story can be found at: https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/local/city-of-charlottetown-presents-annual-inclusion-awards-250354/