Ontario recognizes volunteers for making a difference

Recipients of 2006 Ontario Volunteers Service Awards are (left to right) Nat Lidsky, Helen Kuttner, Ann Rowan, Jack Baker, Moe Freedman and (inset photo) Lisa Fineberg.

Six of Baycrest’s many, special volunteers were honoured by the provincial government in June for making a difference in the lives of others. The annual Ontario Volunteer Service Awards have been handed out for 20 years and this year’s theme was “Volunteers Build Communities”. Volunteers are recognized for years of dedicated service with a single organization. This year’s honourees were: Jack Baker:
In 1959, shortly after the Jewish Home for the Aged opened on Bathurst Street, a young Jack Baker walked through the doors to offer his time and assistance and never looked back. After 47 years, he says it’s the patients and their families that motivate him to stay. Jack has been a fixture on the Hospital’s Palliative Care Unit for 17 years and is particularly proud that his son-inlaw is now a physician on the unit and that his grandson is a summer student working with Dr. Michael Gordon, vice-president of Medical Services. Jack has given Baycrest
over 25,000 hours of service.

Moe Freedman:
For 46 years, Moe Freedman has been giving his time and talents to bring joy to Baycrest residents and patients. While the record-keeping may not go back quite that far, he has logged over 25,000 hours of service. He began with the Men’s Service Group, organizing and working at social events such as the Men’s Brunch and Mazel Tov Nights. Through his B’nai Brith lodge, he also helped make it possible for residents to make free, long-distance phone calls to friends and relatives at Channukah. Residents and patients look forward to his regular visits and he has no intention of letting them down.

Ann Rowan:
Ann Rowan is a familiar face to anyone who visits the Baycrest Gift Shop where she has been serving customers for 15 years. However, she has done a variety of jobs since starting her volunteer career at Baycrest 37 years ago, including office work for the Men’s Service Group and Card Office, typing patient menus, and reception for the Beauty Shop. “I washed hair, too,” she says. “I helped out wherever they needed me.” Rowan has now logged over 7,500 hours.

Nat Lidsky:
At the age of 94, Nat Lidsky sets a wonderful example for anyone contemplating a start in community service. He became a Baycrest volunteer 16 years ago and has registered more than 4,500 hours. He’s involved in a variety of activities including bingo, the Shalom program and Saturday synagogue services.

Helen Kuttner:
Being a volunteer on a Palliative Care unit takes a special person who is not only compassionate, but able to deal with mortality and grief. Helen Kuttner has been offering her companionship and kindness to patients and their families for 10 years. To date, she has given more than 2,300 hours of service.

Lisa Fineberg:
She may be only 23, but Lisa Fineberg is already a veteran Baycrest volunteer. She has been assisting in the Tuesday evening bingo program for 10 years and has given more than 400 hours of her time. When asked what motivated her to volunteer, she said, “I was very close to my zaida, Bob, who passed away in July 1995. A few months later, I decided to connect with Baycrest as a volunteer. The old adage, ‘the more you give, the more you get’, holds true. I find the community spirit at Baycrest makes volunteering here all the more gratifying. I also hope that in helping others, I am honouring my grandfather’s memory.”