Community Recognition

The Town of Huntsville recognizes that there are many hard working and dedicated organizations and volunteers within the community providing valuable contributions for public benefit. The Town relies on these individuals, grass roots clubs and not-for-profit organizations to fulfill dozens of roles that meet residents’ needs, invigorate our community, create inclusive economic opportunities, and promote active democracy and community-responsive policies. Please use the links below to recognize an organization or individual. 

2024 Community Organization Recipients

Huntsville Girls Hockey Association and Mayor Nancy Alcock
Huntsville Girls Hockey Association
For its expanding program and dedicated board and parents who strive to make hockey accessible to local girls and provide an economic boost to the community through its annual hockey tournament.    
Food4Kids Muskoka with Mayor Nancy Alcock
Food4Kids Muskoka
For its work within the community, ensuring local kids aged 4-13 years with limited or no access to food each weekend have access to healthy food. 
Muskoka United Football Club with Mayor Nancy Alcock
Muskoka United Football Club
For its significant influence on youth soccer within the Huntsville community, offering development and competitive programs through the dedication of the board and its volunteers.    

2024 Individual Recipients 

Caroline Marshall with Mayor Nancy Alcock
Caroline Marshall 
For her recent role as the President of Rotary People of Action. Caroline’s leadership within the Rotary Club, her dedication to the community, her passion for the environment and animals, embodies the values of service, commitment and compassion that we should all strive for.  
Debora Marshall and Mayor Nancy Alcock
Debora Marshall 
For her involvement and dedication to the Huntsville Horticultural Society. Debora has been an integral part of the Society for many years and provides a wide variety of topics in an educational and entertaining manner for many different ages.  
James Simpson with Mayor Nancy Alcock
James Simpson
For his leadership in the relocation of the Huntsville Honour Roll from the Post Office to its new home at the Canada Summit Centre. It took many hours and much coordination between the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 232, Town of Huntsville and Post Office to ensure the proper and safe transfer of ownership.  
Katrina Cotterchio  with Mayor Nancy Alcock
Katrina Cotterchio 
For her contributions to the Huntsville and Area Historical Society. Katrina has brought new innovations and partnerships to the organization that have brought our heritage to the forefront within the community once again.   
Karen Lehman with Mayor Nancy Alcock
Karen Lehman 
For her work as a Huntsville Transit operator. Karen makes a difference to so many people helping them stay active within our community. 
Robert Ehl with Mayor of Nancy Alcock
Robert Ehl 
For his community involvement and “daring to do better” philosophy. Robert organizes events and supports many organizations within the community including the Muskoka Comicon, the Coldest Night of the Year and Huntsville Hospice. 
Sarah Roberts 
Sarah Roberts 
For her contributions to girls’ hockey, parent council, and other community organizations. Sarah was a huge asset to the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup Challenge which helped to raise $100,000 for Food4Kids-Muskoka.   

Recognition of Community Partners

Public benefit organizations contribute to our community in the following ways:

  • Operate for the public good, not private gain;
  • Reinvest and retain assets in the public domain for the public good;
  • Help drive the economic strength and stability of communities;
  • Play an active role in public policy by channeling community voices to hold government and decision-makers accountable;
  • Demonstrate the value of care and service to others as a core value of their work;
  • Provide volunteer hours to the community; and
  • Support many activities and events for the general public to take part.

By implementing a Community Recognition Public Benefit Partners Program, the Town of Huntsville is conveying the value of “Public Benefit” by recognizing these community based organizations in a public way.

Staff and Council wish to identify, recognize and celebrate community partners and organizations who are working in areas that help make Huntsville’s community vibrant, inclusive and responsive.

Together with government, community partners can be recognized for the community work that they do and the value they provide.

 Recognize an organization

Criteria
  • Must be a not-for-profit or grass roots community organization.
  • Must benefit the Huntsville area.
  • Must prove they offer public benefit to the community of Huntsville.
  • Must serve the Huntsville community in any of the areas of focus such as:
    • Youth
    • Health & Wellness
    • Sport & Recreation
    • Art & Culture
    • Heritage
    • Social wellbeing
    • Inclusion
    • Volunteerism    

Nomination Process

  • Nominations of organizations are accepted throughout the year and must be submitted using this Nomination Form
  • Each nomination is reviewed by staff on an individual basis.
  • There is no need to nominate an organization annually; they will continue to receive recognition provided their mandate does not change.
  • All nominations will be recognized provided they meet the program criteria and do not conflict with the Town’s core values, vision or strategic goals or adversely impact the Town's identity.

Recognition

  • Representation on this Community Recognition webpage and LCD scrolling screen at the Canada Summit Centre
  • Spotlight* new nominees in the Art, Culture & Recreation Guide each year
  • Spotlight* new nominees in social media each year
  • A Certificate of Recognition from Mayor & Council
  • Inclusion in an annual report to Council on the program 
  • Physical display of the organization's name and logo in the Canada Summit Centre, upon request.

*Spotlights may feature an individual organization or group of organizations, at staff's discretion. 

 

Recognition of Individuals

The Town of Huntsville is proud to support the community in recognizing and honouring the valuable contributions and achievements of individuals that contribute in some way, no matter how big or small, to enhancing the quality of life or image of the Town and its residents. It is through the culmination of these efforts that we can realize our larger goals and objectives, such as those set out in documents like the 2019-2023 Strategic Plan and Community Services Master Plan 2022. Developed in consultation and collaboration with the community for the community, they are achievable when we work together as a community, through a variety of actions, big and small.

RECOGNIZE AN individual 

Criteria
  • The program is open to everyone, including volunteers, business owners, local residents, former residents, or non-residents who provide community benefit to Huntsville and its residents.
  • Individuals can be nominated for actions, no matter how big or small, provided they contribute in some way to enhancing the quality of life or image of the Town and its residents.
  • Contributions can be considered outstanding, exemplary or significant, but more importantly they need to have made a difference in someone's life, the life of others or the Town of Huntsville.
  • Those nominated to other award programs, such as the Sport Hall of Fame,​(and previously the Bill Award), can also be recognized through this program. The two go hand in hand, recognizing the valuable and outstanding contributions and achievements of individuals in our community. 
  • Similar to the Partners Program, contributions and achievements can be in a wide variety of areas including, but not limited to:
    • Youth Leadership
    • Health & Wellness
    • Sport & Recreation
    • Art & Culture
    • Heritage
    • Social wellbeing
    • Inclusion 
    • Leadership
    • Innovation
    • Environmental Stewardship
    • Community Safety
    • Volunteerism   
Nomination Process
  • Nominations of individuals are accepted throughout the year and must be submitted using this Nomination Form
  • Individuals can be nominated:
    • for a single action, or for contributions over an extended period.
    • for their contribution(s) to one area or multiple areas of focus.
    • more than once for separate and unique contributions to the community.
  • Nominations will be reviewed by staff on an individual basis.
  • All nominations will be recognized provided they meet the program criteria and do not conflict with the Town’s core values, vision or strategic goals or adversely impact the Town's identity.

Recognition

  • Representation on this Community Recognition webpage and LCD scrolling screen at the Canada Summit Centre for a minimum of 1 year
  • Spotlight* new nominees in the Art, Culture & Recreation Guide each year
  • Spotlight* new nominees in social media each year
  • A Certificate of Recognition from Mayor & Council
  • Inclusion in an annual report to Council on the program

*Spotlights may feature an individual or group of individuals, at staff's discretion.