Toronto United Church Council’s Baillie Volunteer Service Awards are presented to United Church youth and young adults for their commitment to volunteer service. Award recipients have been active in a variety of projects: from assisting with hot meal programs and food banks and providing leadership to church youth groups to participating in community development projects overseas and founding their own service clubs.
Fifteen awards are available each year. The awards have a value of $500 and can be used to assist the recipients with their financial needs for education, travel, or professional development. The recipients must be nominated by a member of a United Church community of faith.
Please consider nominating a young member of your community of faith who is doing great things for their church and community! It is a great way for congregations to lift up the many ways our young people are engaged in mission and ministry. Recipients from the previous five years are listed below or view a full list of recipients here.
Applications are open for the 2023 awards. More information on award eligibility, selection criteria, and application deadlines can be found on the flyer and application form. You can also complete your application online.
Previous Recipients
2022
Kevin Doe (Fairlawn Avenue United Church)
William Dufour (Trinity United Church, Acton)
Jackson Finnimore (Ebenezer United Church, Courtice)
Daveisha Francis (St. Andrew’s United Church, Markham)
Hazel Garde (Munn’s United Church)
Derek Gillett (High Country United Church)
Hailey Knight (Antler River Watershed Regional Council)
2021
Caitlyn Butchart (Trinity United Church, Uxbridge)
Alanna Goodman (Humber Valley United Church)
Cole Harris (North Runnymede United Church)
Cole Sadler (Manor Road United Church)
Laura Schlee (Fairlawn Ave. United Church)
Thea Sheridan-Jonah (St. Paul’s United Church, Oakville)
Cyrus Spears (Bloor Street United Church)
Ael Spence (Metropolitan United Church)
2020
Ethan Bates (Grace United Church, Barrie)
Megan Buchanan (High Country United Church)
Ashley Edwards (Westminster United Church, Whitby)
Aidan Hately (North Bramalea United Church)
Jan Douglas Hendrikse (Westminster United Church, Whitby)
Denise Lee Hutchinson (Port Nelson United Church)
Catherine Locke (Islington United Church)
Samantha Miller (Grand River United Church, Indigenous Ministries)
Claire Nabiryo (St. Matthew’s United Church)
Zoe Peeters (Forest Home United Church)
2019
Jocelyn Birkes (Port Nelson United Church)
Jennifer Gibbs-Reilly (Grace United Church, Brampton)
Ryan Gillett (High Country United Church, Camilla)
Matthew Ings (Birchcliff Bluffs United Church, Toronto)
Gabe Lonuzzo (Westminster United Church, Orangeville)
Josh Lonuzzo (Westminster United Church, Orangeville)
Peyton O’Brien (Palmerston United Church)
Ellyana Roseboom (Central United Church, Port Colborne)
Jacob Van Haaften (St. James United Church, Peterborough)
Miriam Vogel (Huron Shores United Church, Grand Bend)
Lisette Vonderkamp (Harcourt Memorial United Church, Guelph)
Suzanne Webster (Harcourt Memorial United Church, Guelph)
2018
Keira Brisebois (Trinity United Church, Huntsville)
Hailey Clinton (Jubilee United Church, Toronto)
Maley McArthur (High Country United Church, Camilla)
2017
Chanelle Christmas-Lafleur (Jubilee United Church, Toronto)
Yoel Yemane (Birchcliff Bluffs United Church, Toronto)Ha
Recipient Examples
Megan Buchanan is an active member at High Country United Church where she helps with Sunday School and at fundraisers as well as participating on a recent mission trip to Nicaragua. At school she is committed to diversity and creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. She is part of the leadership team for the Gender Sexuality Alliance club (GSA) and on the Equity Team where she has been involved in preparing displays for Black History Month and holding discussions for Autism Awareness Month, as well as volunteering with the school’s Diversity Walk.
Samantha Miller runs the Sunday School and after school drop in program at Grand River United Church. She weaves Christian stories with Haudenosaunee traditional teaching, values, and skills, helping the youth develop trust and pride in their identity and culture. She is involved with community initiatives such as traditional garden planting and food sovereignty, building sustainable housing, Indigenous land reclamation, traditional dance and ceremony, and support at the Elders’ Lodge (a long term care facility). She is also active within the broader United Church including the National Indigenous Council, the Wampum Program at Five Oaks, and the Gibimishkaadimin Canoe Trip.