Ten residents invested with the Order of Vaughan
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Mayor Bevilacqua bestows highest civic honour at special
ceremony
Citations for the list of recipients are attached.
The Honourable Maurizio
Bevilacqua, Mayor of the City of Vaughan, presided over the Order of Vaughan
investiture ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. at Vaughan City Hall. The
Mayor bestowed the honour on 10 people who have played a pivotal role in
shaping the City.
The
Order of Vaughan inaugural ceremony took place during Vaughan’s 25th anniversary
year to pay tribute to people who have contributed to the City’s success. It
recognizes people 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, environment and
spirituality.
QUOTE
“The
Order of Vaughan is an important and meaningful award that recognizes people in
our city who work tirelessly to enhance our quality of life and standard of
living. The recipients come from far and wide and their talents and experience
are diverse, but what unites them is the dedication to making a meaningful
difference in the lives of others. We are truly blessed to have citizens who
dedicate time and energy to giving back and moving this city forward. Thanks to
their efforts, we are realizing our full potential and continuing to make Vaughan
the place to be. As the highest civic honour, it was a pleasure to present the
Order of Vaughan to these 10 exceptional residents who have made a significant
contribution to city-building and played an important role in Vaughan’s
success.”
-Mayor
Maurizio Bevilacqua
Citations for the list of recipients are attached.
QUICK FACTS
- Recipients received an Order of Vaughan pin and certificate.
- Up to 10 nominees will receive the Order of Vaughan each year. To be eligible for consideration, a candidate must be a resident or former resident of the City.
- Recipients are chosen by the Order of Vaughan Selection Committee.
LEARN MORE
- Order of Vaughan nomination form
- Order of Vaughan webpage
Order
of Vaughan Recipients – 2017
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Bob Bak
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Education
Bob Bak is a strong champion for education and empowering youth. As
founder of the Korean Community Centre for Multiculturalism, he is a pioneer
of heritage language programs in Vaughan and York Region. Among his many achievements has been implementing the
International Languages Program within the York Region District School Board.
He is a recipient of the Diamond Jubilee Medal and the City of Vaughan’s
Civic Hero Award. A resident of Vaughan since 1987, Mr. Bak has built a solid
reputation as an active and engaged community member for more than 45 years.
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Vic
De Zen
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Philanthropy, Business
A successful entrepreneur, philanthropist and visionary in the plastics industry, Vic De Zen has
made a significant contribution to city-building here in Vaughan and beyond.
Shortly after immigrating to Canada in 1962, he started his first business,
which introduced the vinyl window industry to the Canadian market. Mr. De Zen
has since established multiple businesses and created thousands of jobs. He
is a passionate supporter of the Meta Centre, an organization committed to
serving individuals with special needs, and most recently he made a
transformative pledge of $10 million to support the establishment of the
Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital. Mr. De Zen has received many prestigious awards
including the Order of Canada, Canada’s Entrepreneur of the Year, Canada’s
Innovation Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Plastics
Industry Association. Through his corporate leadership and philanthropy, he
continues to inspire positive change in our community.
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Alessia Dickson
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Arts and Entertainment
Author of the award-winning book series The Crystal Chronicles, Alessia Dickson is passionate about
writing and is a champion of youth empowerment and literacy. At age 17, her
first novel was published, which she began writing at the tender age of 10.
Since then, Ms. Dickson has spoken to hundreds of students at more than 45
local elementary and high schools to speak about the importance of reading,
writing and aspiring to reach one’s full potential, whether in sports,
academics or the arts. In addition to advocating for higher learning, she
highlights the important role hard work, dedication and persistence play in
the pursuit of life goals. She is an inspiring role model for young people
looking to follow their dreams.
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Frank Dimant
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Not-for-Profit
Frank Dimant, former CEO of the League for Human Rights of B’nai
Brith, is internationally recognized for his commitment to human rights
advocacy. In this role, he co-ordinated campaigns against anti-Semitism in
Canada and abroad, and established a 24-hour hotline to report acts of
racism. Mr. Dimant spearheaded significant educational efforts to convey the
magnitude of the Holocaust and has led numerous international missions
championing human rights. He currently serves as the CEO of Christians United
for Israel Canada, where he works to build awareness and support for Israel.
A recipient of the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, he continues to
be a voice for the Jewish community.
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Geraldine Di Marco
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Not-for-Profit
Geraldine Di Marco is the president and co-founder of A Touch of Love
and Hope Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping children and
seniors both locally and internationally. Established in 2014, the foundation
was built upon her desire to give back to the community by supporting youth
in need and providing social services to the elderly. Ms. Di Marco has also
had a significant impact on arts and culture in York Region through her
volunteer work with Opera York and Opera Belcanto of York. A long-standing
resident of Vaughan, she is an active member of our community devoted to
making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
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Meriel Gordon
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Philanthropy, Not-for-Profit
Dedicated to finding a cure and building awareness for Crohn’s
disease, Meriel Gordon has been instrumental in the York Region Chapter of
the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC). She was one of the
drivers of the first Heel ‘n Wheel-a-Thon in Thornhill to raise money and
unite people who have been impacted by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative
colitis. Ms. Gordon also pioneered the first CCFC Education Symposium in
Canada, which brought patients, researchers and health care professionals
together to share insights and treatment information. As a result of her
efforts, the symposium now takes place across the country. Ms. Gordon remains
an active member of the community, committed to multiple philanthropic causes
including environmental sustainability, children, health care and women.
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Rona Kleiman
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Not-for-Profit
As the founder and former president of Project Linus Canada, Rona
Kleiman was instrumental in obtaining charitable status for the organization,
which provides blankets to children in hospitals and shelters who are facing
life crises. Running one of the 44 chapters in Canada, she worked tirelessly
to collect, prepare and deliver blankets across the Greater Toronto Area.
Today, Ms. Kleiman continues to deliver hundreds of blankets a month to
children in need.
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Dominic Lee
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Health and Wellness
As the founder and president of the First Chinese Senior Association
of Vaughan, Dominic Lee has been dedicated to providing seniors with
recreational activities to improve their physical and intellectual
well-being. He is a leader in the Chinese community and an advocate for
embracing a healthy lifestyle. Mr. Lee developed innovative exercises to
support patient recovery and wellness as a volunteer with the Toronto Western
Hospital Community Mental Health Program, where he continues to volunteer his
time today. Through his passion for health and helping others, he has had a
tremendous impact on many people in the City of Vaughan and throughout the
Greater Toronto Area.
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Rabbi Yoseph Zaltzman
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Not-for-Profit, Spiritual
As the founder of the Jewish Russian Community Centre, an organization
that provides a variety of resources for Jewish people from Russia, Rabbi
Yoseph Zaltzman is a spiritual leader who has been instrumental in
facilitating the integration of Russian immigrants and their families into
the Jewish community in Vaughan. A long-time resident of Vaughan, he has
developed many programs to help newcomers adjust and integrate into their new
city. Through the provision of educational, spiritual, religious and cultural
services, he has been successful in creating a strong network that has been
successful in helping Russian newcomers and their families reach their full
potential.
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Order
of Vaughan Recipient – 2016
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Carlo Baldassarra
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Philanthropy
Recognized as one of
the City of Vaughan’s modern-day pioneers and most prolific
homebuilders, Carlo Baldassarra has demonstrated continuous androlific
homebuilders, Carlo Baldassarra has demonstrated continuous and
exceptional
commitment in support of numerous charities. Mr. Baldassarra’s
most recent generous donation
of $5 million to support the building of the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital
solidifies his exemplary efforts to secure a legacy for healthcare in
Vaughan.
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