Ottawa Festivals Presents 2014 ScotiaMcLeod Volunteer of the Year

Today at the annual Ottawa Festivals Launch of the Festival Season, Mayor Jim Watson presented the 2014 ScotiaMcLeod Volunteer of the Year award to Wendy Bardach, who has selflessly and with enthusiasm, dedicated 16 years to the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival. Honourable mentions also go to the following four finalists for their committed volunteerism: 1. Team of Mary Grainger and Shawna Wilson, Ottawa Folk Festival; 2. Rey Bisson, Tim Hortons Dragon Boat Festival; 3. Liz Vittorini, Cracking-Up The Capital Comedy Festival; and 4. Karen Humphries, RBC Bluesfest “This is an industry largely driven by the energy, passion and commitment of thousands of volunteers,” said Carol Anne Piccinin, Executive Director at Ottawa Festivals, “We are so pleased to partner with ScotiaMcLeod and The Crawford Foss Group to recognize these five finalists and to thank all volunteers who come forward to give back to our community. Their true impact is immeasurable.” There are more than 12,000 volunteers contributing over 141,000 hours at festivals, special events and fairs in the Nation’s Capital. To help volunteers connect with opportunities at festivals, Ottawa Festivals introduced OttawaVolunteerLounge.ca, a volunteer engagement portal designed to respond to members’ needs and to address the issues of recruitment and retention in the festival industry. It facilitates the matching of volunteers with best suited opportunities, offers a centralized database for volunteer coordinators and an e-community for networking. About Ottawa Festivals Ottawa Festivals is a not-for-profit organization that represents 100 not-for-profit festivals, special events and fairs that take place in Canada’s Capital Region. In partnership with the City of Ottawa, Employment Ontario and Trillium Foundation, the organization manages a number of programs to develop and sustain the industry to contribute to positive benefits that impact the community. Inquiries please contact: Kimberly McCarthy-Kearney Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator 613.233.1085 x154| kmccarthyk@ottawafestivals.ca | www.ottawafestivals.ca