Tireless Volunteer Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
Each year Victoria’s Leadership Awards program acknowledges the commitment of our city’s local heroes and today Leadership Victoria announced its 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is community activist and fundraising dynamo Jane Heffelfinger.
The award—in recognition of long-term service exemplifying the highest standards of ethical behaviour and community leadership—is one of six individual awards being presented through the annual program, first established in 2004 in partnership with the Rotary Clubs of Greater Victoria and the University of Victoria.
“This Lifetime Achievement Award is an honour that is both humbling and uplifting,” Heffelfinger says. “I am deeply moved by the generosity shown toward me by all concerned.”
“Jane is a true mirror for us all, a reflection of what is truly best about our city,” says Bernadine Rudichuk, program director for Leadership Victoria, an association providing comprehensive leadership training to community members since 2000. “For decades, she has selflessly poured her support into projects that have contributed significantly to the vibrant and thriving sense of community in Victoria, and we join the applause for Jane’s outstanding contributions over the years.”
Heffelfinger has led with inspiration and unflagging commitment in support of local health care, the performing arts and broadcasting. Her past roles include chair of the Better Together $12 million campaign for the Greater Victoria Hospitals Foundation in 1995-97; co-founder and president of the board of Pacific Opera Victoria from 1988-95 (she is still an active member of the board); a trustee of Pearson College; a director of the board of the University of Victoria Foundation; a director on the board of the CBC; and governor for the Victoria Commonwealth Games. Heffelfinger is currently a member of the TELUS community board, and a judge of the Top 40 Under 40 Awards. She mentors people of all ages and also counsels various organizations on fundraising and campaign strategies.
Heffelfinger has also spread her talents across the country. In the past, she has been an actor for the Manitoba Theatre Centre; a puppeteer and producer for the Winnipeg Children’s Theatre; chair of the Winnipeg Children’s House; a co-chair of the Canadian Foundation for Refugees in Ottawa; and a press secretary for the Minister of State for the Government of Canada and also for the Minister of Financial Institutions for the Government of Quebec.
The winner of many awards and honours, Heffelfinger will accept the Lifetime Achievement Award at the fourth annual Victoria’s Leadership Awards fundraising luncheon on Wednesday, January 23 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa in Victoria. The recipients of the other five individual awards in four categories—the Rotary Community Leadership Awards, the University of Victoria Community Leadership Awards and the Vancity Youth Award—will be announced at that time.
A list of this year’s nominees is available at www.leadershipvictoria.ca.
The award—in recognition of long-term service exemplifying the highest standards of ethical behaviour and community leadership—is one of six individual awards being presented through the annual program, first established in 2004 in partnership with the Rotary Clubs of Greater Victoria and the University of Victoria.
“This Lifetime Achievement Award is an honour that is both humbling and uplifting,” Heffelfinger says. “I am deeply moved by the generosity shown toward me by all concerned.”
“Jane is a true mirror for us all, a reflection of what is truly best about our city,” says Bernadine Rudichuk, program director for Leadership Victoria, an association providing comprehensive leadership training to community members since 2000. “For decades, she has selflessly poured her support into projects that have contributed significantly to the vibrant and thriving sense of community in Victoria, and we join the applause for Jane’s outstanding contributions over the years.”
Heffelfinger has led with inspiration and unflagging commitment in support of local health care, the performing arts and broadcasting. Her past roles include chair of the Better Together $12 million campaign for the Greater Victoria Hospitals Foundation in 1995-97; co-founder and president of the board of Pacific Opera Victoria from 1988-95 (she is still an active member of the board); a trustee of Pearson College; a director of the board of the University of Victoria Foundation; a director on the board of the CBC; and governor for the Victoria Commonwealth Games. Heffelfinger is currently a member of the TELUS community board, and a judge of the Top 40 Under 40 Awards. She mentors people of all ages and also counsels various organizations on fundraising and campaign strategies.
Heffelfinger has also spread her talents across the country. In the past, she has been an actor for the Manitoba Theatre Centre; a puppeteer and producer for the Winnipeg Children’s Theatre; chair of the Winnipeg Children’s House; a co-chair of the Canadian Foundation for Refugees in Ottawa; and a press secretary for the Minister of State for the Government of Canada and also for the Minister of Financial Institutions for the Government of Quebec.
The winner of many awards and honours, Heffelfinger will accept the Lifetime Achievement Award at the fourth annual Victoria’s Leadership Awards fundraising luncheon on Wednesday, January 23 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa in Victoria. The recipients of the other five individual awards in four categories—the Rotary Community Leadership Awards, the University of Victoria Community Leadership Awards and the Vancity Youth Award—will be announced at that time.
A list of this year’s nominees is available at www.leadershipvictoria.ca.
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Media contacts
Bernadine Rudichuk (Program Director, Leadership Victoria) at 250-386-2269 or bernadine@leadershipvictoria.ca
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Keywords: tireless, volunteer, wins, lifetime, achievement, award