Celebrating our volunteers

We’re grateful for the volunteers who give their time and energy to make Waterloo a stronger, more connected community.

Community Builder Awards

The Community Builder Awards celebrate volunteers who provide ongoing service with the City of Waterloo and affiliate programs.

  • volunteers receive either a Waterloo volunteer pin or a milestone pin for every five years of service
  • volunteers age 25 and under can receive a two-year milestone pin
  • recipients are listed in the Waterloo Chronicle during National Volunteer Week in April

Nomination process

Nomination forms are sent to eligible organizations in early January. The city delivers pins in March so organizations can recognize volunteers during their own events, such as board meetings or annual general meetings.

Volunteer Salute

The Volunteer Salute is our public thank you to milestone recipients and the organizations that support them.

Each April, during National Volunteer Week, we publish the names of that year’s Community Builder Award recipients on this page.

2025 Volunteer Salute

We’re proud to share the names of the 2025 Community Builder Award recipients, recognized for their milestone contributions to the City of Waterloo and our community.

2025 volunteer recipients
Years of service Volunteers
2 years Alex Irvine, Amanda Read, Brianna Bowman, Brooklyn Norris, Callum Mitchell, Cecily Hedge, Emma Kuchma, Emma Lunnie, Eshan Singh, Hailey Davis, Hannah Baird, Ishaan Bansal, Jesse Ploc-Canning, Keiara Raitt, Leigh Murphy, Madison Tokarz, MJ Johnson, Petar Dragicevic, Raphael Airapetyan
5 years Adam Gibson, Adam Kawecki, Alexander Bardelcik, Anna Antczak, Annette McMurren, Ashley Wallace, Ben Cornish, Beth McLay, Brent Elsey, Brian Carter, Brian Doucet, Callum Irving, Carolyn Baltaz, Carolyn Fuss, Cate Justason, Chad Wittig, Chris Lemieux, Christine Dale, Connor Legault, Cooper Moore, Corey Cruickshank, David Finch, Derek Lebert, Diana Clipsham, Doug Burrell, Duan Bailey, Edward Psutka, Emily McLaughin, Emily Moran, Graeme Stover, Gregory Simpson, Ian Patterson, Jack Legault, Jack Wodnicki, Jake Eimers, Jason Dixon, Jean Costello, Jeff Smith, Jenn Justason, Jill Wittig, Joel Widmeyer, John Loncar, John Peebles, Julie Trudel-Gutscher, Kathy Kibble, Kelly Armstrong, Kensi Chaure, Kristen Morrison, Lindsay Arbeau, Lindsay Malec, Lisa Bater, Lora Giangregorio, Lynn Teixeira, Mark Burjoski, Mark Wyman, Marlene Gervais, Mary Jo Megginson, Matt Duench, Megan Justason, Melinda Hannusch, Michael Ansell, Michael Cinelli, Michael Stork, Mike Richardson, Nick Vafiades, Nicole Edgar, Nicole Miller, Nigel Vanderlinden, Patrick Gilbride, Peter Johnson, Rachel Gondosch, Rob Gondosch, Rob McKenzie, Ron Levene, Sarah Clews, Scott Hannusch, Scott Hastings, Scott Weldon, Spencer Gross, Stephen DesChamp, Steve Tarasko, Timothy Lavell, Tom Thompson, Tony Fraser, Trevor Strassburger, Tyler Tennant, Victoria Richardson, Ying Zhang
10 years Adam Shortt, Al Meagher, Allan VanBrunschot, Andrew Dunbrack, Bobbi-Jo Schweitzer, Brendan Thomas, Carla Shouldice, Cathy Wordley, Christine Jakobsen, Dan Costello, Dan Weber, David Morrow, Fabricio Perez, Greg Cressman, Heather Gawal, Jamie Joseph, Jason Lane, Jen Hamilton, Jenna Ferguson, Jerry Walker, Jocelyne Suits, John Durdan, John Loncar, Karina Graf, Ken Willsie, Kris Birkby, Laurie Poetker, Linda Kruger, Luke Stuart, Marv Franz, Michael Perkins, Michael Suits, Michael Tomka, Mihai Comsa, Nora Morales Montoya, Paul Stumph, Peter Woolstencroft, Phil Steckley, Punisha Bogicevic, Rachel Prichard, Rob Wallace, Robert Theodosiou, Robert Lusk, Sarba Broderick, Sawyer Poetker, Scott Dougall, Shawn Humes, Shawn Weatherdon, Simonne Marchesseau, Steve Bienkowski, Susan Casserly, Tanya McCracken, Val Cornish, Victor Herbert, Zak Martin
15 years Andrea Kiff, Barry Peters, Bill Schram, Bonnie Rollo, Deb Kraemer, Erich Sonnenburg, Jef Kent, Jeff Willsie, Jenn Schnider, Joshua Stephens, Ken Schultz, Kevin Doerbecker, Laura Tunstall, Leah Chapman, Leasa Peters, Magda Siemiginowski, Marcel Gaudet, Mark DeGraaf, Mark Struyk, Martin Slejska, Melanie Norris, Mike Ingram, Paul Ellingham, Rebecca Pawlec, Richard Zehr, Rick Bond, Scott Murphy, Sharon Kingsbury, Shawn Turner, Sherry Kerr, Ute Schram
20 years Chris Walker, Ellie Rimmer, Erich Scheffler, Jamie Adams, Jason Ireland, Jeff Poetker, Jim Bolle, John Wright, Johnathon Holtz, Kim Ireland, Liz Bender, Lucie Allard, Pat McMann, Robert Brennan
25 years Andy Rath, Fraser Gibbs, Guy Exley, Jason Gawal, John Armstrong, Norbert Haiser, Paul Dyszuk, Peter Klinkman, Sandra Hattl, Sheri Markle, Tom Platt
30 years Dan Greener, Janet Greener, Todd Nichol
35 years John Enns, John Graham, John Wolfe, Roger Janke, Tom Greer
40 years Elsa Elliot, Janet Lanteigne

We thank these community groups for nominating their volunteers:

  • CAFKA
  • City of Waterloo
    • Committees of Council
    • Community Programs
    • Events
    • Outdoor Ice Rinks
    • Partners in Parks
    • Pollinator Working Group
  • Erb West Share and Care House
  • KW Community Orchestra
  • K-W Silver Stars
  • KW Water Polo
  • Laurelwood Neighbourhood Association
  • MT Space
  • Waterloo Concert Band
  • Waterloo Girls Minor Hockey
  • Waterloo Minor Soccer
  • Waterloo Public Library
  • Sunnydale Community Centre
  • Waterloo Ringette