Whitby resident Catherine Vandenhoogen has been named the 2026 Mayor's Senior Volunteer Award winner.
The recognition comes during the same year Whitby's 55+ Centre is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
In a Q&A published by the town, Vandenhoogen said volunteering gives back to her as much as she gives to the community.
She described a long record of service, including serving veterans dinner at Sunnybrook Hospital, volunteering at Tennis Canada in stadium control, helping in classrooms after retiring as a program support teacher, and volunteering at the Grandview Kids golf tournament.
Vandenhoogen also said she is in her eleventh year volunteering on the palliative floor at Lakeridge Health, a role she connected to the care her mother received at the hospital.
The award recognizes the contributions of older volunteers in Whitby. The town says more information about the 55+ Centre is available at whitby.ca/55Plus.
Source: Town of Whitby - https://www.whitby.ca/news/posts/meet-whitby-s-2026-mayor-s-senior-volunteer-award-recipient-catherine-vandenhoogen/
