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Rotary clubs award their highest honour to six by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff 7 | Friday, February 7, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville Rotary Clubs bestowed their highest honour -- a Paul Harris Fellowship award -- on six people recently. Gord Cowan, Julia Hanna, Tiffany Kummer, Jennifer Neal, Linda Roberts and John Wannamaker were recognized at the Oakville Conference Centre during a dinner and awards ceremony hosted by The Rotary Clubs of Oakville, Oakville Trafalgar and Oakville West. The fellowship, established in 1957 and named after the founder of Rotary, recognizes citizens who demonstrate a strong commitment to helping people in need, both locally and internationally. Rotary Club officials said the recipients embody the spirit of the award. Each has gone "above and beyond," giving their time, talent and heart to improve the lives of people in need in the community. The youngest recognized last week, Kummer, 22, is a former Oakville resident who now lives in Burlington. She was honoured for tireless volunteer work with the Halton Children's Aid Society (CAS) and advocacy for children's rights. Kummer, who is involved in organizations that include Youth Advocacy Group, Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies and Oakville Family Ribfest, said she is humbled by the honour. "I am passionate about youths aging out of the child-welfare system because I grew up in the child-welfare system since I was 10 years old," said Kummer, who's received the Halton CAS Volunteer of the Year Award and Canadian Coalition for the Rights of the Child's Trailblazer Award. "I am also passionate about children's rights because when you grow up in the child-welfare system, choices get made for you and you feel like you do not have a voice, but deep down you just have to believe in yourself." Cowan, a longtime Oakville resident who founded GPS Consulting Group, was recognized for helping raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities. His philanthropic endeavours The Rotary Clubs of Oakville, Oakville Trafalgar and Oakville West handed out their highest award, a Paul Harris Fellowship, to six people for their contributions to the community. Pictured are award recipients, from left, Tiffany Kummer, Gord Cowan, Linda Roberts, Jennifer Neal, John Wannamaker, and Julia Hanna. | photo by Michael Ivanin ­ special to the Beaver started in the late 1980s and early 1990s when he joined the steering committee of an annual gala for the local branch of the Arthritis Society. Since then, he's been involved in the Golden Horseshoe Disabled Sports Association, Oakville Children's Magic Christmas and Halton Trauma Centre. Hanna, who has lived in Oakville more than 20 years, is a local restaurateur who owns Ritorno Restaurant and Ristorante Julia. She was awarded for her passion about food and its impact on others, reflected through her notfor-profit community initiatives that include Kids Culinary Community, Family Culinary Community and Seniors Culinary Community. The hands-on programs empower people to connect to food and learn about their food choices. Hanna pens a monthly guest column for the Oakville Beaver and hosts Return to the Table on TV Cogeco. She's a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient. Neal, an Oakville resident for nearly 60 years, is a teacher by training and a dedicated volunteer. Concerned about youth drug use, she opened her home in the evenings and weekends for youths in need, establishing a drop-in centre known as The Prof's Place. Neal is also involved in the United Way Oakville, Halton Family Services and the Southern Ontario Chamber Music. Roberts, a long-time Oakville resident, has dedicated more than 30 years canvassing for The Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, M.S. Society and Kidney Foundation. She is involved in volunteering with the Halton Children's Aid Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton and is extensively involved in Trinity United Church's outreach program. Wannamaker, an Oakville resident for 60 years, is a member of both the Milton and Oakville Chambers of Commerce. The businessman gives back to the community through numerous charities and special events. Some of the service clubs, charities and notfor-profit groups he works with include Special Olympics Ontario -- Oakville, Frank Zamuner -- Swim for Mental Health, Mike Hamel -- Camp Towhee, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton and Halton Women's Place. advertorial Avoid 6 costly errors when moving to a larger home JOIN US MARCH BREAK CAMPS for our THE FUTURE IS NOW. 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