Six outstanding individuals to be invested into the 2021 Order of Vaughan
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Mayor Bevilacqua to bestow the City’s highest civic honour during a virtual ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 21
On Tuesday, Dec. 21, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua will preside over the City’s virtual Order of Vaughan investiture ceremony as six people are appointed to the Order of Vaughan in 2021 – the highest civic honour the City may bestow on individuals who exemplify extraordinary citizenship and better the community. Beginning at 7 p.m., residents are invited to tune into the event virtually at vaughan.ca/live.
The following six remarkable individuals are receiving the Order in 2021 for their pivotal role in shaping the community.
Bryan Keshen
In recognition of contributions to Accessibility
Bryan Keshen is a passionate leader, caring teacher, avid mentor and devoted friend. Mr. Keshen has dedicated his career to fostering a safe and nurturing environment that is inclusive and allows all individuals to grow and thrive as valued members of the community. As Chief Executive Officer of Reena, a social services agency that supports individuals with diverse needs, Mr. Keshen is instrumental in the organization’s continued success. Working tirelessly in his pursuit of excellence, Mr. Keshen engages in solution-based dialogue, attentively listening to staff and colleagues while discovering opportunities and new approaches to improve and expand the services Reena offers to the local community. Under his leadership, Reena has grown to provide multiple services to individuals living in Vaughan in several areas, including employment, housing, recreational and emotional support, and was recognized with the Vaughan Accessibility Award in 2019. Mr. Keshen’s passion for his community and commitment to service have allowed him to reach beyond his work at Reena. He has connected with many private, not-for-profit and professional sectors, including all levels of government ministries, in constructive dialogue to share his vision for supporting individuals with diverse needs and realizing new opportunities to expand and raise the standard of services across Ontario and Canada. Mr. Keshen’s dedication to and focus on Reena’s mission and values have enabled Reena to be recognized as a leader in the development services sector and a beacon of hope in the community. Reena is now the largest developmental service organization operating in Vaughan, thanks in great part to the trailblazing advocacy work of Bryan Keshen.
Elvira Caria
In recognition of contributions to Public Service
Elvira Caria is an active and engaged member of the Vaughan community. Through significant and meaningful community involvement, she has demonstrated a genuine and authentic desire to help her neighbours. For more than a decade, Ms. Caria has been a dedicated board member of Vaughan in Motion to Cure Cancer. Her civic leadership has helped raise funds for cancer care at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital. During her time as Director of Media and Sponsorship, Vaughan in Motion to Cure Cancer raised nearly $100,000 in support of cancer patients. Ms. Caria’s commitment to public service has been recognized by York Region Media Group through its Vaughan Citizen Readers’ Choice Awards. She was the recipient of the 2020 Diamond award in five categories, including Business that Gives Back to Local Community. Ms. Caria is also a past recipient of the City of Vaughan’s 2015 Ward 3 Civic Hero Award, the Portraits of Giving in York Region, and even has a local street named after her – Caria Court. For more than 20 years, Ms. Caria has represented the residents of Vellore Woods as the Chair of the Vellore Woods Ratepayers’ Association, working with residents and Members of Council on several Vaughan-based initiatives. Ms. Caria also empowered the local business community as the co-creator of Savour Vaughan, a campaign that encouraged residents to dine at Vaughan restaurants, with proceeds supporting the Vaughan Food Bank each Thanksgiving. During the global COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Caria’s giving spirit did not waiver. From fundraising to finding baby strollers, she dedicated her time to the Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women. For the last 30 years, Elvira Caria has dedicated herself in a very selfless way to her fellow citizens and the city she has called home since 1987.
Iolanda De Simone Masci
In recognition of contributions to Philanthropy
Iolanda De Simone Masci has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to philanthropy and non-profit organizations. Her most significant accomplishment is the founding of Hospice Vaughan. In 1995, she was introduced to the concept of palliative care and hospice. At that time, there were no such services available in Vaughan, which left a considerable gap in the community. After identifying this urgent need, Ms. De Simone Masci instinctively answered the call of duty. She graciously and voluntarily embarked on the journey to ensure that her community would one day have the resources and services required for compassionate end-of-life care. Just one year later, in 1996, Hospice Vaughan was officially founded. Today, Hospice Vaughan has evolved into a 10-bed facility impacting many lives. Last year alone, Hospice Vaughan provided care to 500 clients, which had wide-reaching positive impacts to more than 2,500 people. It is estimated that over its 26 years of existence, Hospice Vaughan has affected tens of thousands of people. As a true community leader, Ms. De Simone Masci has been recognized on several occasions for her commitment to philanthropy. She has been celebrated for contributing to the lives of girls and women in Ontario, as awarded by The Honourable Harinder Malhi, Minister of the Status of Women; helping the settlement of newcomers in Canada through the Citizenship and Immigration Canada HOST program; providing a sense of belonging for seniors through CHATS community programs; community involvement as recognized by the City of Vaughan’s Volunteer Certificate of Appreciation; looking out for the interest of Italians in the world through the Comitato Tricolore Per Gli Italiani Nel Mondo; and many other great causes, including Polizia Sezione A.N.P.S., Heart and Stroke Foundation, North York General Hospital Foundation, Amica at Villa Da Vinci, Pine Grove Lodge, CAYRE (Community Alliance for York Region Education) Spirit of Community Award. Ms. De Simone Masci’s devotion to supporting her neighbours is indisputable and deserves to be celebrated.
Joseph Sgro
In recognition of contributions to Health and Wellness
Joseph Sgro has been steadily championing the need for healthcare services for the residents of Vaughan for the better part of two decades. In particular, Mr. Sgro has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Mackenzie Health since his involvement with the Mackenzie Health Foundation began 13 years ago. In June 2018, Mr. Sgro was elected to Mackenzie Health Foundation’s Board of Directors. Today, Mr. Sgro is also the Vice-Chair of the Foundation’s Ultimate campaign – the largest fundraising drive led by a community hospital in Canada – with proceeds benefitting Mackenzie Health. Mr. Sgro has been an important member of the team that will deliver the $250-million local share needed to build Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital — Canada’s first smart hospital. His support has ensured Mackenzie Health can provide its healthcare teams with the tools they need to deliver the ultimate in patient care. Through Mr. Sgro’s ongoing initiative, leadership and dedication to the city of Vaughan, he continues to make a measurable impact that will continue to serve the community’s healthcare needs well into the future.
Dr. Karine Rashkovsky
In recognition of contributions to Education
Dr. Karine Rashkovsky has been serving the Vaughan community for more than two decades as an award-winning educator, business leader, policy academic and volunteer. Dr. Rashkovsky has made it her mission to ensure Vaughan is the place to be for future young leaders and like-minded PhD educators. She delivers community service through her extensive civic engagement – whether it be mentoring teen and adult entrepreneurs, leading community educational conferences, providing academic consulting, offering monthly community social justice book clubs, being on the board of directors for Canada’s oldest environmental organization, contributing to Vaughan’s public libraries, or training Canada’s top public speakers. Dr. Rashkovsky’s wide-reaching influence on the lives of Vaughan students and families is evident in many ways. As Founder and Director of Brain Power, Canada’s award-winning enrichment learning centre for bright and talented youth, Dr. Rashkovsky inspires nearly 2,000 talented students each year. Dr. Rashkovsky is also a senior research associate with York University’s Faculty of Education and facilitates field research in schools across Vaughan. She founded the Future Lawyers program, which is now recognized by York Region’s school boards. Some of her most recent accomplishments include being recognized as the CSPN Entrepreneur of the Year – Canada in 2019, Toronto City Mogul in 2019, receiving the Top Business and Entrepreneur City of Vaughan in 2018 and 2019, York Region Sustainability Award Winner, York Region’s Passion into Practice Award in 2018, and more. Dr. Rashkovsky is committed to making a positive impact, advocating and championing social change, and leading the way forward through her ongoing pursuits – she is proud to call Vaughan home and is delighted to shape Canada’s future.
Dr. Mark Terry
In recognition of contributions to Media and Communications
Dr. Mark Terry is a longtime environmental adviser with the United Nations and a highly skilled digital artist in the field of documentary. Dr. Terry has applied his award-winning techniques to create new film projects following themes of climate change that serve as communication tools for policymakers. He was the first to introduce film as a data delivery system in 2009, and has since developed a new media platform for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as the Youth Climate Report. His project was introduced at the Paris Climate Summit in 2015, and was officially adopted by the UN the following year under its mandate for Education and Outreach. Today, the Youth Climate Report has a database of more than 540 video reports produced by the global community of youth on the subjects of climate research, impacts and solutions. It is widely available in 190 countries on all seven continents. In 2011, Dr. Terry won the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Humanitarian Award for introducing film as a data delivery system to the United Nations and was decorated by The Explorers Club with their highest honour, the Stefansson Medal for polar exploration in the Arctic and Antarctica. He has also been decorated by Her Majesty The Queen with her Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013 for International Humanitarian Service. In 2015, he was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Explorers by Canadian Geographic Magazine. York University recognized Dr. Terry with a teaching award and research award in 2016 and 2020. He was also elected to Canada’s highest Academy, the Royal Society of Canada, in 2020. Most recently, Dr. Terry was awarded the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Action Award in 2021 for the Youth Climate Report project. Dr. Terry’s outstanding film work in environmental research has made a substantial impact to date and will continue to inform policymaking around the world for years to come.
The Order of Vaughan inaugural ceremony took place in 2016 during the City’s 25th anniversary year. The award was created to pay tribute to individuals who have made a meaningful impact on Vaughan’s civic life and dedicate their time and talent to the city’s ongoing success. It recognizes leaders within the following categories: arts and entertainment, media and communications, athletics, health and wellness, business, philanthropy, public service, education, science and technology, not-for-profit, equity and diversity, accessibility, and environment and spirituality. To date, 52 people have received the Order of Vaughan.
To learn more about the Order of Vaughan or for details on this year’s virtual celebration, visit vaughan.ca/OrderOfVaughan.
QUOTE
"I invite Vaughan citizens to tune in virtually to the sixth Order of Vaughan ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 21. I championed the creation of the Order of Vaughan in 2016 as a purposeful way to recognize individuals who play an important role in moving our city forward. This year's honourees are guided by values rooted in goodwill and noble intentions to bring about positive change to people's lives. It is a privilege to bestow the City's highest honour to six very deserving community leaders. Congratulations to Bryan Keshen, Elvira Caria, Iolanda De Simone Masci, Joseph Sgro, Dr. Karine Rashkovsky and Dr. Mark Terry – the recipients of the 2021 Order of Vaughan. These exceptional city-builders have given selflessly to causes far greater than themselves. They are agents of positive change who share the same mission – to make this world a better place. I want to express my warmest and sincerest gratitude and appreciation to this year's honourees for their meaningful and lasting contributions. Their dedicated efforts further prove that one person can, in fact, make a positive difference in our society. We will continue to pursue opportunities that will elevate our city's exceptional quality of life and unleash Vaughan's full potential by working together."
-Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
QUICK FACTS
- The City of Vaughan’s 2021 Order of Vaughan ceremony will take place virtually on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.
- Residents can tune in to the live broadcast of the event at vaughan.ca/live.
- The 2021 recipients received an Order of Vaughan pin and certificate.
- The 2021 nomination period was open until Friday, Sept. 10. Appointed recipients were then chosen by the Order of Vaughan Selection Committee.
LEARN MORE
- City of Vaughan’s Order of Vaughan webpage
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