Congratulations Valerie!

On Tuesday, March 29th, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, presented volunteer Valerie Dennison with a Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award at Thunder Bay City Hall.

Valerie (Val) has been a valuable member of the Renal Services team at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) for 15 years, doing “little things” to make patients more comfortable, such as find them a warm blanket or cup of tea. Val spends quality time with patients who are undergoing Renal Dialysis. Dialysis treatments take a number of hours to complete and Val is there to sit and listen to their stories and engage them in conversation to help them pass the time. One staff member summed up what Val means to the patients in Renal Services: “patients just love her”.

“It is truly a privilege to work with someone who is so dedicated, competent, hardworking, and professional in all of her interactions with patients, visitors, staff, and fellow volunteers,” said Donna Jeanpierre, Manager of Volunteer Services at TBRHSC. “Val’s bright smile, positive attitude, kindness, and generosity have an immense impact on so many people in our hospital and the wider community.”

Created in 1995, the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award recognizes individuals who volunteer their time to help others and to build a smarter and more caring nation. The award also highlights the fine example set by these volunteers, whose compassion and engagement are so much a part of our Canadian character. It allows us to thank them for their contributions and for the positive impact they have had on the lives of others.