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The Government of Canada honours Elizabeth Grandbois

The Government of Canada honours 2008 Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award recipients during National Volunteer Week   OTTAWA, ONTARIO, April 30, 2008—The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today honoured Ms. Elizabeth Grandbois of Burlington, Ontario, and Dr. Kwang Yang of Surrey, British Columbia, as the recipients of the 2008 Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award at the National Arts Centre. Each year, in recognition of the importance of volunteerism, the Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award honours two outstanding individuals for their contribution to their communities.  Thérèse Casgrain was the founder and president of the Quebec League of Women’s Rights and helped Quebec women gain the right of vote in 1940. “The Government of Canada values the contributions that volunteers make to create safer and healthier communities,” said Minister Solberg.  “It is through the efforts of people like Ms.  Grandbois and Dr.  Yang that we can aspire to a more vibrant, stronger and better Canada.” Ms. Grandbois, living with amyotrophic lateral scleroris (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease, has increased awareness of the disease and raised funds for ALS patients through Elizabeth's Concert of Hope.  She has helped to raise over $2.5 million for ALS research and support services.  She is the recipient of numerous municipal and provincial awards and received the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal in 2004.     BACKGROUNDER 

2008 Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award -

 

About the Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award

Thérèse Casgrain, a native of Montréal, was the force behind various social reforms promoting justice and equality.  She was involved in provincial, national and international organizations and was one of the pioneers of the women’s rights movement in Canada.  The Award, originally established in 1982, was re-launched in 2001, the International Year of the Volunteer, in her honour to recognize and celebrate the achievements of dedicated volunteers. The Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award is presented annually to two Canadians, one man and one woman, who have contributed significantly to the advancement of a social cause and the well-being of their fellow Canadians. The award consists of: 
  • a bronze medallion bearing the likeness of Thérèse Casgrain;
  • a lapel pin and a certificate of recognition; and
  • $5,000 to be awarded to a registered Canadian charity designated by the recipient.
 The Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award is open to all Canadian citizens, with the exception of members of the Thérèse F. Casgrain Foundation, elected officials of government while serving in office, past recipients of the award and employees of Human Resources and Social Development Canada.  Nominees may be sponsored by an organization or three individuals. To find out more about the Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca.  The 2008 Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award Recipient Elizabeth Grandbois In 1997, at age 45, Elizabeth Grandbois was a registered nurse, wife and mother.  She had a busy, but perhaps not extraordinary, schedule of volunteer activities.  That year, her life was radically changed as she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).  ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rapidly progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease.  The disease afflicts approximately 3,000 Canadians, and there is no effective treatment or cure.  The average life expectancy for a person living with ALS is two to five years.  Elizabeth is one of only 10 percent of people with ALS to survive more than 10 years post-diagnosis. The Burlington Ontario resident established Elizabeth’s Concert of Hope in 2001 to raise money for ALS patients and to raise awareness of the disease.  It was her hope that increasing the profile of ALS could lead to more funding for research and eventually a cure.  At the time, Elizabeth had no ties with the arts community.  All she had was determination and a love of music.  She wrote hundreds of letters asking for support.  Despite her inexperience as a public speaker, she began giving talks at public events.  As a result, she garnered widespread support for the concept of a fundraising concert.  Her spirited determination attracted performers such as Susan Aglukark, Michael Burgess, Dan Hill, and Quartetto Gelato to the concerts. Elizabeth’s Concert of Hope ended with a national tour in 2007.  The tour traveled to Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Regina, Ottawa, Halifax, Summerside, and Corner Brook.  Each concert reflected the musical culture of the region, and Elizabeth was present at every performance.  The tour was sponsored by Tim Hortons, Via Rail and BBDO Canada, with support from Great West Life, Scotiabank, Petro-Canada and Bell Canada.  In just six years, she helped to raise over $2.5 million for ALS research and support services. Elizabeth was the subject of many documentaries, including a one-hour documentary on her life that has been screened in schools, hospitals and community centres across Canada.  She is the recipient of numerous municipal and provincial awards and received the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal in 2004.