Colleen Cooper named Waterloo’s 2026 Senior of the Year

The City of Waterloo and the Age-friendly Waterloo Advisory Committee are proud to announce that Colleen Cooper has been named the City of Waterloo’s 2026 Senior of the Year.

Cooper was recognized last week during a special celebration held at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex - Community Pavilion. The annual award honours an outstanding Waterloo resident aged 65 or older who continues to make a significant contribution to the community through volunteerism, leadership and service.

Cooper has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to supporting others and strengthening the community. She was one of the original board members of Cycling Into the Future, an in-school program that teaches Grade 5 and 6 students cycling skills and safety. Alongside her husband, she also provided direct support and housing for two groups of Ukrainian refugees.

She has volunteered with the St. Vincent de Paul Society for more than 30 years, serving as the home-visiting lead, and is also a member of Basic Income Waterloo Region, a non-partisan advocacy group focused on reducing poverty.

“Colleen has consistently focused on supporting people, strengthening communities and helping ensure that individuals have access to the resources they need to thrive,” wrote her nominator, Stephanie Cooper.

In addition to recognizing this year’s recipient, the celebration also honoured the outstanding contributions and achievements of 14 nominees: John Cooper, Linda Drouin, John Enns, Ian Fong, Bijun Gong, Bill Green, Natalie Kononenko, Edwin Laryea, Julie McAuliffe, Gary McQuillan, Errol Nairn, Robert Semple, John Thiessen and Ina Wilhelm.

Each year, the Age-friendly Waterloo Advisory Committee and the City of Waterloo recognize a local senior for their contributions to the community. Eligible nominees may be recognized for achievements in areas including arts, literature, community service, education, environment, fitness, volunteering and humanitarian work.

For more information about the Senior of the Year award, including past recipients, visit www.waterloo.ca/senior-of-the-year.

To learn more about programs and initiatives supporting older adults in Waterloo and the Age-friendly Waterloo Advisory Committee, visit www.waterloo.ca/age-friendly.

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Media contact:

Jennifer Reed
Corporate Communications
jennifer.reed@waterloo.ca