Volunteer Award

Each year the CSTD honours a person who has volunteered extensive time and expertise to help enrich the society and its members.  The selection is based on the following criteria:  membership status, professionalism, past and current volunteer activities and an ability to follow through with volunteer commitments.  A CTDP designation is preferred. If you would like to nominate a voluteer contact us with the name and title of the individual, a description of CSTD volunteer activity, background information such as the number of years in training and development and professional affiliations and a list of their professional designations and educational history.  

The most recent recipient is the Bridge to Africa Training Team.  For a full list of past recipients visit our volunteer award archives.

Peter Taylor, CTDP | Alison Patterson, CTDP | Leigh Geraghty | Mary Lou Di Paolo In 2005, President’s Award winner Stephen Lewis inspired CSTD members with his work in raising awareness of international issues, especially HIV/AIDS in Africa. Lewis made a plea to members of CSTD, challenging them to use their skills to address the crisis in Africa.

Inspired by Stephen Lewis’s work, teams of volunteers were formed to raise funds to send a team of trainers to Africa. Further efforts were expanded by volunteers and a partnership was formed with Youth Challenge International.

In February 2009, Peter Taylor, CTDP, Mary Lou Di Paolo, Allison Patterson, CTDP, and Leigh Geraghty traveled 12,600 km from Toronto to Kenya to make a difference. The team implemented a five day Train-the-Trainer program in Mombasa and Malindi, developed from St. Francis Xavier’s internationally recognized Diploma in Adult Education program.