Richard Sarrazin, SUDBURY
Average Hours Volunteered per month: 160

Richard Sarrazin recalls his proudest day was in 1999 when he found the link that proved his Métis ancestry and was able to receive his Métis Nation of Ontario Citizenship Card. Since then Richard has volunteered tirelessly. He donated his time to drywall and paint the new office space, takes time to drive clients of mno Long Term Care program to appointments, he takes people on their errands and much more.

“They don’t have a vehicle but need to get stuff done, I have the time so I help them out,” says Richard.

Being the Captain of the Hunt for Region 5, Richard is extremely busy as the fall hunting season approaches. Meeting with local Métis people over a coffee to ensure that their forms are completed properly to obtain an mno Harvesters Certificate, is a daily ritual for Richard.

Richard is fondly known to those within the mno as the man who will “harvest on demand”, going out to harvest moose meat for the sick and elderly as well as for Métis Nation of Ontario functions across the province, including Louis Riel Day in Toronto.

Richard says he is fortunate to be pensioned off so he can use his time to focus on his duties of being Community Council President. On average Richard is at the Council Office 3 to 4 days a week striving to strengthen the Métis Nation. Always approachable and willing to help out, Richard is one of many elected officials within the Métis Nation who selflessly devotes his time and energy to help our people.

Lisa Pigeau, OTTAWA
Average Hours Volunteered per month: 60

Lisa was working as a mainstream home-based health services provider when a job posting for Long Term Care worker landed on her desk in 1999. That was a busy year for Lisa as, after an eight year search to trace her Métis roots, she received her MNO Citizenship Card and was hired to work in the MNO Health Branch. Her dedication to her job is exemplary, but Lisa only works for the mno from Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, what does she do with her time off? She volunteers for the Métis Nation!

Like many of the mno’s staff across Ontario, Lisa goes above and beyond the call of duty for the Métis Nation. After leaving work you could find Lisa delivering donated furniture or clothes to clients in need, coordinating Ottawa Community Council meetings, preparing for traditional workshops, providing emergency client services, or cooking traditional meals upon request.

“Since the arrival of Lisa and her dedication the Ottawa Métis Community is growing. Two years ago I wasn’t even aware that there were a lot of Métis in the Ottawa area, now I go to functions and see so many faces” says one of the clients of the MNO. “I look at it as ‘pay it forward’,” says Lisa. “Most people are only one step away from being in our clients shoes.”

Jean Dorian, MIDLAND
Average Hours Volunteered per month: 70

Jean Dorian came to the Métis Nation of Ontario (mno) when she was doing volunteer work for other organizations in the area when she heard that the mno needed drivers for their clients. A perfect fit for a woman that loved to drive. Jean volunteered as a driver for the Long Term Care (ltc) Program from 1999-2005 and was invaluable to the clients of the mno and to the program.

A client that knew Jean well recalls “Jean came to be part of our life 10 years ago when my husband had cancer and we would have to travel from Midland to Toronto and even down to London for appointments. If it weren’t for the mno Program and the Volunteers I don’t know what we would have done”. These sentiments are common when talking to clients of the MNO.

Jean would do more for clients than just transport them to their appointments. Bingo was a regular event for some of the ladies, while even going grocery shopping was another. If a client needed a ride to do something other than just see the doctor, Jean would do this. Jean was always willing to invest the time, as would any member of the Midland LTC Driving Team.

Another client said, “I live in the boon docks and Jean would come to my place weekly to check on me to make sure that I was doing ok. I don’t know what I would do without the volunteers of mno’s ltc Program”. As is normal with most volunteers of the mno, family at times can be pushed to the sidelines. Jean’s daughter fondly recalls, “at one point Mom was so busy we would jokingly make appointments so that we could see her”.

Sadly, Jean succumbed to health problems of her own in 2006; she will be missed by all the people lucky enough to have met her.

Jean Dorian November 1936 – August 2006