RSA Award of Excellence Past Winners

2007 - Mary Lou Adams
2006 - Julie Vandevelde
2005 - Snjezana Sarenac
2004 - Libby Ipsen
2003 - Donna McKrow
2003 - Bill Dougherty - Special RSA Lifetime Achievement Award
2002 - Michelle Palmer
2002 - Dr. Benjamin Goldberg   - Special RSA Lifetime Achievement Award
2001 - Lori Hooyenga

2007 Recipient

Mary Lou Adams
Community Living Windsor

Each year, RSA works in partnership with over 150 organizations, in the social service, health, justice & educational systems.  The RSA Award of Excellence was created to recognize the outstanding work of our community partners. 

The 2007 Award Winner is Mary Lou Adams.  She has worked for Community Living Windsor for 26 years and she currently holds a key management position focusing on accommodation support.

Mary Lou is a native of Windsor, Ontario; and a graduate of St. Clair College (the MRC Program).  It has bee noted that “her warm smile and engaging manner draws people to her immediately”.  She is considered a “go to person” for her colleagues and various members of the community.  Her forthright attitude along with her extensive knowledge, allows her to be an ideal mentor for new staff and managers at her agency.  She has also been asked to develop, review and evaluate many of the CL Windsor services.

As a founding member of what formerly was known as the community-based Dual Diagnosis Committee, Mary Lou has advocated for and assisted in creating best practices to ensure access and leading-edge dual diagnosis services.  Her emphasis on a person-centred approach with a focus on “the whole person” has made her a valuable member of the group planning specialized psychiatric and other clinical services for individuals with ID.  She keeps pace with ever-changing service delivery models, while maintaining a strong grasp on the values and guiding principles held so dearly in our field.  She continues to involve families and ordinary citizens in meaningful ways, into everyday lives of people with disabilities. 

In addition to everything else Mary Lou is involved in, she gladly gives personal time to fund-raise for various causes.  In particular, she raises funds for the annual fiesta project to help children with disabilities in Nicaugua.  Her colleagues note that she is simply “trusted & adored by individuals and families”.

2006 Recipient

Julie Vandevelde
Community Living Wallaceburg

We are proud to announce that Julie Vandevelde from Community Living Wallaceburg (CLW) was the 2006 RSA Award of Excellence winner. Julie has been with CLW for about fifteen years. She is a primary support worker with individuals who face and present many challenges including unpredictable aggressive outbursts and frustration when trying to communicate. Where some find it difficult or even impossible to provide support, "Julie is able to lead the team to accomplish outstanding things."

Julie consistently demonstrates a strong knowledge of and commitment to the CLW Vision and Mission. She appropriately uses the Personal Outcomes Measures tool in a manner that is focused on the individuals and their goals. She provides mentoring and encouragement to her co-workers, so they too can support in a way that consistently strives to help people identify and achieve their goals. Julie is very committed to the Planning Process, works well with professionals from other agencies (including RSA), and is diligent about providing protocols for individuals that ensure consistency in supports and behavioural strategies. She also promotes choice, decision-making and self-direction by helping individuals identify their preferences and desires — so that their decisions are fully informed. She inspires individuals to overcome barriers.

Families find Julie respectful, cooperative and supportive. She is an excellent role model for new and seasoned staff; and promotes harmonious relationships within her team. She is always willing to develop professionally and seizes opportunities to participate in additional training. In summary, Julie received this award in recognition of her amazing perseverance, dedication and enthusiastic approach to her work.

2005 Recipient

Snjezana Sarenac
Community Living London

Snjezana Sarenac has been working at Community Living London (CLL) for five years.  She started her career as a full-time Support Worker, once she completed training at the Supported Integraton Program (SIP).  SIP was a program that prepared immigrant professionals to work in the developmental disability field in Canada.  Snjezana immigrated from the former Yugoslavia a few years ago. 

Snjenana started her employment at the CLL specialized treatment program on Webster Street, where she supported individuals who exhibited extreme behavioural and psychiatric problems.  During her time at this particular location, she demonstrated strong skills in supporting individuals to ensure that their lives and potential were fully realized.  Snjenana works closely with Dr. Bob Carey (RSA psychologist), in following treatment protocols that have been created for out with two challenging individuals who need one-on-one support, to help deal with their extreme anxiety and behaviour problems.  She has developed a very strong and respectful rapport with these people.  

Snjenana’s support techniques are dynamic when approaching individuals with serious behavioural concerns.  She is very creative and consistent, in ensuring their challenges are dealt with in a way that is effective.   Dr. Bob Carey respected Snjenana’s ideas and approaches so much, that he recommended that she work with another severely challenging individual from another community (whose family also immigrated from the former Yugoslavia).  She has done an amazing job with this individual and his family! As well, this year, she was asked to work in another CLL program for a few months, to help the team support an individual with serious behavioural challenges.   She has become a real expert in dealing with complex individuals – and treating them with dignity!

Another strong asset Snjenana demonstrates is her energy and fun-loving approach with all the colleagues with whom she works.  She has a great sense of humour and a way of keeping a team working together effectively.   Even after facing some serious health concerns, Snjenana has maintained her poise and joy for life!  She is very well liked by all her colleagues and respected by her supervisors.  This is demonstrated by the fact that she was nominated for this award by eight of her co-workers.   

2004 Recipient

Libby Ibsen
Bruce Peninsula Association for Community Living

Regional Support Associates is proud to announce that Libby Ipsen, of Bruce Peninsula Association for Community Living, was presented with RSA's Award of Excellence at our annual conference in October. 

In her role as Support Services Manager, Libby has helped many families and individuals. She has worked in the field of Developmental Disabilities since her teen years and has been with BPACL for the past 18 years. Libby is definitely a "can do" person who uses creative initiatives to address family and individual needs. Where others might give up, she perseveres in her quest to serve those with developmental disabilities. 

Congratulations also go to Libby for another reason -  she was appointed Executive Director of BPACL as of January 1, 2005.  Way to go Libby!!!

2003 Recipient

Donna McKrow
Community Living Essex County

Donna lives in Puce, Ontario. She is a professional social worker who has worked for CLEC for the past 17 years. She has demonstrated exemplary advocacy and leadership in helping individuals successfully move from Southwestern Regional Centre to community-based settings; and has provided leadership in the areas of abuse prevention and promoting community integration. In everything Donna does, there is an underlying commitment and dedication to ensuring the value of each person....There is no stronger advocate for people and families!

RSA Lifetime Achievement Award
Bill Dougherty

RSA posthumously presented a special Lifetime Achievement Award to Bill Dougherty in recognition of his dedication, compassion, innovation and tremendous contribution to improving services for individuals with intellectual disabilities and dual diagnosis, and their families in Grey-Bruce Counties, across Ontario -- and beyond.  Sadly, Bill  -- who worked for South-East Grey Support Services and lived in Cedarville (near Mount Forest) --  passed away earlier this year.  We were pleased that Bill’s wife, Sue, was able to attend to accept this award.  As well, Archie Dowker, Executive Director of South-East Grey Support Services did an excellent job of telling the audience more about Bill as a person -- and his outstanding professional achievements.

2002 Recipient

Michelle Palmer
Community Living London

The 2002 RSA Award of Excellence winner  is Michelle Palmer, Manager of Accommodation for CLL.  The award was presented at RSA’s Annual Conference at the Elmhurst Inn, Ingersoll, on October 25, 2002.

In announcing the award, RSA’s Dale Munro told the audience that Michelle has worked with CLL for over 20 years, as a part-time staff member, a full-time staff, then a supervisor – and most recently as Manager of Accommodation.  He described Michelle as “someone who truly understands the trials, frustrations and triumphs” that are experienced in working in our field.   She is considered a mentor to many of the staff and managers with whom she works.  

Michelle was described as approaching all aspects of her job with a positive attitude and sense of humour.  “She is professional and straight forward.  She is known for her ability to think quickly and clearly, even when under extreme pressure.  She supports her staff with ease and fortitude.”

Michelle is renowned for her keen insight into people with intellectual disabilities….”And always sees the person behind the label!”   She displays determination and creativity in finding ways to support challenging people, in the best possible way.  And she has been involved in developing specialized living settings for some very challenging people with behavioural disorders.  In her personal life, it was also noted that she also has been a Family Home provider for many years.

Michelle was commended for her ability to face challenges head on, both in her personal and professional life.  Her strength and determination have provided inspiration to all who know her.  Dale Munro summarized his observation of Michelle’s contribution as follows:  “Simply put, Michelle is someone that individuals, staff and managers at CLL …don’t simply respect, but they love!”

In her acceptance speech, Michelle expressed her gratitude and pride in the fact that she was nominated for the award by her colleagues at CLL.  She modestly attributed any career success that she may have achieved, to the wonderful staff and managers with whom she works at CLL.  

RSA Lifetime Achievement Award
DR. Benjamin Goldberg

This year, RSA decided to do something never done before at our annual conference at the Elmhurst Inn, Ingersoll, on October 25, 2002.  We presented a special Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Benjamin Goldberg for his outstanding work as a psychiatrist with people with intellectual disabilities.  Dr. Goldberg’s career has spanned six different decades – and he still is going strong in his private practice in London, Ontario.

Dr. Goldberg was born in St. John, New Brunswick.  His love for helping people was probably influenced by the death of his mother when he was only five; the loss of many European relatives in the Holocaust; and the fact that people with intellectual disabilities were among the first to be killed by the Nazi’s.

Dr. Goldberg was an excellent student and started at the University of  New Brunswick, when he was only 16.  He studied in England and was a resident at the famous Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas.    Dr. Goldberg may be best remembered as the Director at CPRI for many years.  In the late 1960s, under his Directorship, CPRI was selected by the American Psychiatric Association as “the most comprehensive child psychiatric mental health service in North America”.  Since that time, Dr. Goldberg has received many awards and commendation for his work, including Senior Life Membership in the Canadian Medical Association in 2002.  

In 1988, Dr. Goldberg retired from the Ontario civil service after a distinguished career as a physician and administrator.  He was the first director of  UWO’s Developmental Disability Program; and for several years he has been in private practice as a psychiatrist for individuals with intellectual disabilities from across Southwestern Ontario.  He has also been named as a professor emeritus at the University of Western Ontario medical school.

In summary, RSA honoured Dr. Goldberg this year for his dedication to the field; his good humour and leadership; for his amazing ability to write clear clinical reports; his respect for front-line professionals; his powerful spirit – and his tremendous skill as a psychiatrist.

Dr. Goldberg was described as having left “an indelible imprint on the lives of professionals, families, and individuals with dual diagnosis” across Southwestern Ontario – and far beyond.

2001 Recipient

Lori Hooyenga
Norfolk ACL

Choosing a winner for the 2001 RSA Award of Excellence was very difficult. Several, very worthy people were nominated. However, we were impressed by the background, experience and value system of our winner.

The 2001 Award winner has worked for the Norfolk ACL for about ten years. She currently demonstrates exemplary skills as the team leader in a home for four men who present challenging behavioural needs. Prior to this, she has worked with people who have serious health and physical needs; and she has worked in the area of supported employment. Our winner is described as a leader in designing original programs to enhance the quality of lives of people with developmental disabilities and dual diagnosis. She has also shown a strong desire to develop her expertise in the area of pharmacology.

In her private life, our winner has a vibrant fun-loving sister with special needs -- and she acted as her sister's maid of honour at her wedding last year. Our winner is  a  single mother who keeps busy raising and loving her 14 year old daughter. Our winner is also has been a pillar of strength for her father who was left with serious/ongoing injuries from a motor vehicle accident. Her personal and professional values continually show a deep and sincere sense of commitment and loyalty to family, friends and her professional work.

For 2001, RSA is proud to announce that our Award of Excellence goes to Lori Hooyenga.