2001 - the Year of the Volunteer Many will be aware that the year 2001 was designated as a worldwide "Year of the Volunteer". Few are aware, however, that your co-chairs of the Canada Census Committee, Muriel M. Davidson and myself, were honoured, through the sponsorship of Senator Lorna Milne, to receive a beautiful Certificate and a pewter Medal that commemorated our volunteer efforts related to the Canada Census campaign. Each Member of Parliament, and each Senator of Canada were given ten of these Certificates bound in an imitation leather folder (Green for the House of Commons and Red for the Senate) to distribute to those they felt had contributed significantly in various areas of volunteerism. Approximately 4,000 Medals, having the same "Year of the Volunteer" logo shown on the reverse side of Canada's 2001 dime, were struck by Canada's Mint. They will never be struck again. Considering that Canada's population is more than 32 million people, to be one of approximately 4,000 being recognized by presentation of these Certificates and Medals is an extraordinary, and probably once in a lifetime, honour. My Certificate and Medal were presented to me by Member of Parliament Hedy Fry in December 2001 at a ceremony she held for presentations to those volunteers she was honouring. The Certificate reads: Presented to Gordon Watts in this Year of the Volunteer for his dedication to the cause of Public Access to the Historic Census of Canada And for his hours of work in that cause as Co-Chair of the Canada Census Campaign Presented on behalf of The Honourable Lorna Milne, Senator December, 2001 While Muriel Davidson was aware earlier that she would receive her Certificate and Medal, Susan Fennell, Mayor of the city of Brampton, Ontario, did not officially present it to her until March of 2002. Muriel received her award during opening ceremonies for a ward of the Brampton Memorial Hospital where she has also been a volunteer. Muriel' s Certificate included a list of many other volunteer activities with which she has been involved over the years. For those interested, scans of my Certificate and Medal will be included in my next Global Genealogy column. Happy Hunting. Gordon A. Watts gordon_watts@telus.net Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee Port Coquitlam, BC http://globalgenealogy.com/Census en français http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm