Kitchener announces Donna Dubie as the 2024 Senior of the Year

Local community leader Donna Dubie has been named Kitchener's 2024 Senior of the Year at a special recognition event hosted Tuesday evening at Victoria Park Pavilion. This annual award is presented by the Mayor's Advisory Council for Kitchener Seniors (MACKS) in partnership with Mayor Berry Vrbanovic and City Council, and celebrates the contributions of Kitchener residents ages 65 and older. In addition to honouring the Senior of the Year award recipient, the celebration also recognized the outstanding contributions and achievements of 16 incredible nominees.

“We aim to foster a caring city together for people of all ages in the City of Kitchener. Congratulations to all nominees, who have shown that they are doing just that and more, by generously contributing their knowledge, care, and time to build a better, more caring community for everyone,” said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, “I am so pleased to present Donna Dubie with this year's senior of the year award and recognize her outstanding contribution as an inspiring role model to her peers and the community.”

Within Kitchener and beyond, Donna Dubie is a deeply respected and beloved Elder who has been leading our community forward for many years. Many know Donna as the Founder and Executive Director of Healing of the Seven Generations where together with her team, she has created space for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to grieve, connect, and learn together towards shaping a different future for the next seven generations. However, Donna’s community impact is far-reaching and extends throughout our community including with organizations such as the K-W Urban Native Wigwam project, Grand Valley Institution for Women, Unified Family Court, Waterloo-Wellington Reintegration Planning Table, Family & Children’s Services, and the Region of Waterloo Anti-Racism Working Group. Beyond all of these roles, Donna is a sought-after teacher and speaker, a mighty presence at local events, an insightful and generous participant in local governance, and anexemplar of loving community.

Congratulations to Donna Dubie and all the 2024 nominees, including Donna Archibald, Esseleyne Bell, Liz Burke, Kenneth Campbell, Helen Cipriano, Charles Debrot, Ron Dowhaniuk, Louise Gardiner, Patricia Grundy, Dorina Idvorian, Marcela Kupfer, Christine McLauchlin, Rukia Mohamud, Ken Schilling, Donna Swiech, and Ann Whittle.

The Senior of the Year selection panel, made up of members of Kitchener City Council, MACKS, and City of Kitchener staff, carefully reviewed each nomination and selected a candidate ‘whose contributions make a unique and positive impact on the community’.

To learn more about this year's Senior of the Year recipient, Donna Dubie, and all the nominees, visit www.kitchener.ca/SOTY.

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For more information:
Shawn Falcao
Manager, Corporate Communications & Marketing
Shawn.Falcao@kitchener.ca