Nominate a Citizen Today!
Do you know an outstanding Métis citizen whose hard work deserves recognition? Nominate them for the Volunteer of the Year Award!
Since 2006, the Suzanne Rochon-Burnett Volunteer of the Year is presented to a Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) citizen at the Annual General Assembly who has made ongoing contributions to the MNO and their own community . If you know of a dedicated MNO citizen who deserves to be considered for the award please read the information below and complete the nomination form.
OBJECTIVE:
The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes individuals who contribute as a volunteer to the MNO year-round and have done so for a number of years. Each year a volunteer is named as the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year by a selection committee.
CRITERIA:
Individuals nominated must exemplify the kind of volunteer contribution demonstrated by Suzanne Rochon-Burnett. They will have: given generously of their time and effort; been strong advocates of the Métis Nation; have a firmly established record of selfless commitment; and be seen as caring, giving individuals that others look up to and admire. The candidates will have provided an extended period of service as a volunteer.
DEADLINE:
The deadline for the 2025 Volunteer of the Year nominations is August 8, 2025.
Celebrate the hard work and dedication of our community volunteers by nominating someone today!
Nomination Form
Use this form to Nominate a Volunteer of the Year! Any MNO citizen can nominate a volunteer by filling out the submission form below. All submissions will be evaluated by the SRB Volunteer of the Year Award Committee.
Should you have any questions, please reach out to aga@metisnation.org
Past Winners
2024 – Kim Powley
2023 – Anne-Marie Armstrong
2022 – Kathleen Anderson
2021 – Marie-Louise Perron
2020 – The 2020 Volunteer of the Year Award was unprecedented, as it was given to all the MNO Community Councils in recognition of their incredible efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. MNO Community Council members truly went above and beyond to reach out to their communities in the very difficult conditions presented by the pandemic.
2019 – Mitchell Case
2018 – Peter Coture
2017 – Greg Garratt
2016 – Joseph Paquette
2015 – Ernest Gatien
2014 – Bob McKay
2013 – Brenda Powley
2012 – Marlene Greenwood & Olivine Bousquet-Tiedema
2011 – Gordon Calder
2010 – Pauline Saulnier
2009 – Louise Goulding
2008 – Richard Sarrazin
2007 – Reta Gordon
About the Award
Dr. Suzanne Rochon-Burnett was a strong advocate for Métis rights recognition, both at the provincial and federal levels. Named to the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, Suzanne was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Brock University where she served on the Board of Trustees. She was a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation and the first woman inducted into the Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame. Suzanne passed away in 2006. To honour her memory and recognize her outstanding service as a volunteer the MNO named Suzanne as the inaugural recipient of the award which now bears her name.
