The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Pa ge 1 2 T hu rs da y, A pr il 23 , 2 01 5 - T he IF P - H al to n H ill s - w w w .th ei fp .c a WALK-IN & FAMILY CLINIC 221 Miller Dr., Georgetown • 905-873-6776 www.GenesisHealthTeam.com New Full S ervice Medical Clinic • Short Wait Times • Extended Hours • Walk-in and Appointment • Male & Female Physicians • Pediatric Health & Immunizations • Women's Health & Pregnancy Care • Senior's Health • Lab On-Site • Pharmacy On-Site Georgetown's trusted choice for hearing care 360 Guelph St., Unit 44 Georgetown (In the Knolcrest Centre) 905.877.8828 FREE consultation 90 day RISK FREE trial Armstrong Ave Delrex Blvd Get your hearing tested today. Don't miss the most important conversations... To say Dana Robbins was surprised about receiving the top distinction in Cicero's 2015 Speechwriting Awards would be an understatement. In fact, when Metroland South's vice- president and group publisher (including The IFP) got an email congratulating him on being the Grand Award recipient, he promptly suggested there was a mistake. Though he was aware his speech was up for consideration in the contest that hon- ours speechwriters for their contribution to the public conversation, he didn't think his submission was a serious contender. Robbins submitted his speech, Wayne's Story-- Eradicating Poverty in Canada, earlier this year, he said, after someone who heard it nudged him to do so. It was a speech he presented at the Ham- ilton Speakers Bureau on April 1, 2014, on a topic he feels very passionately about. Upon realizing he had, indeed, won, he was humbled. "I'm thrilled, and more than a little shocked," said Robbins, who is also pub- lisher of The Mississauga News and Bramp- ton Guardian. "I think incredu- lous might be a better descrip- tion." The speech, which you can read here, h t t p : / / v s o t d . c o m / s i t e s / d e - fault/files/2015_ CiceroAwards- Winners.pdf is a poignant story and personal reflection on poverty and what it will take to galvanize public opinion around the issue to make a true difference on a national level. It's an issue that matters to Robbins be- cause of his own upbringing, and the plight of one particular childhood friend, Wayne. Being singled out for this award, he said, brings with it the opportunity to further highlight the issue. He said it is hugely gratifying "to see the issue of poverty reduction get this kind of attention and traction," and "to think it res- onated with others." NEWS Publisher wins speechwriting award By Ashley Goodfellow Special to The IFP DANA ROBBINS Continued on page 31