Community Advancement

For Bradley Box, his dedication to advancing Indigenous initiatives in Kingston took root as a college student and has since led to significant breakthroughs for the region. Through his volunteer work, he mentors students as an alumnus of the Indigenous Education Council at his alma mater. He also serves as secretary of the board of directors for Tipi Moza, an Indigenous-centred housing provider, where he helps spearhead several successful housing initiatives. In recognition of his community work, Box was celebrated by his employer, Defence Construction Canada, with a regional Diversity and Inclusion Award.

Dale Boyle is the founder of Safer Spaces and executive director of the Gilbert Centre. What began as a student-led initiative has grown into a nationally recognized, revenue-generating social enterprise that helps organizations create safer, more inclusive environments for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. Under Boyle’s leadership, Safer Spaces has delivered workshops across health care, education, policing and other sectors, while reinvesting in vital community supports such as youth groups and food security. A proud advocate and member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, Boyle has advanced inclusion at every level, helping to transform both systems and lives through his commitment to equity, education and lasting social change.

Jessica Compton is a resilient mental health advocate who has transformed her lived experiences into powerful support for others. Having overcome her own childhood trauma, addiction and incarceration, she is steadfast in her mission to help at-risk youth. Over the past two decades, Compton has drawn from her own challenges to foster healing through empathy, education and advocacy — first as a dedicated volunteer, then as a child and youth worker, and now as an educational assistant. She’s also the founder of Tree of Stars, an organization that promotes mental health and addiction recovery through storytelling, music and community connection.

Kim Decker advocates for women, children and gender-diverse individuals, including survivors of intimate partner and gender-based violence. She has influenced government policy at all levels, established social services and created life-changing programs for families across Ontario. Over a decades-long career — from leading a domestic violence shelter to serving as CEO of YWCA Cambridge — Decker has received widespread recognition for her efforts to educate and empower others in support of community well-being. She has helped secure millions of dollars in grant and donor funding and has been honoured locally, provincially and nationally through awards including the King Charles III Coronation Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and YWCA Canada awards.

Kelly Elliott has spent more than 20 years supporting causes that empower children and families in need — a focus that has defined her career across organizations with global reach. In senior leadership roles at SeriousFun Children’s Network, founded by Paul Newman, Elliott helped expand the organization to include 30 camps and programs on four continents, providing camp experiences to more than two million youth. She currently serves as chief strategy officer at Experience Camps, a U.S.-based non-profit recognized for initiatives supporting the more than 6.3 million children expected to lose a parent, sibling or primary caregiver before graduating high school.

A survivor of the Rwandan genocide, Dada Gasirabo came to Canada in 1997.With support from Oasis Women’s Centre, she became actively involved in supporting French-speaking immigrant women and addressing domestic violence. As co-founder of La Maison, she supports women in transition to safe housing. As director of Oasis since 2010, she has doubled the clientele and tripled the services offered, including legal aid, employment, entrepreneurship, anti-human trafficking and men’s allyship initiatives. A committed feminist and member of dozens of committees, she supports more than 5,000 women each year in reclaiming their power and independence.

Aaron Dale and Jeremy Burns — police officers and Canadian Armed Forces veterans — co-founded the Military Veterans Wellness Program (MVWP) in 2019, a nationally adopted and globally expanding initiative that equips police to support veterans in crisis. Now in place at more than 90 police agencies, the MVWP has provided training and resources to over 18,000 officers across Canada and connected hundreds of veterans with urgent care. Endorsed at all levels of government and recognized by international policing bodies, the program helps to reshape policy across borders. As Ontario college graduates, Dale and Burns draw on their education and lived experience to advance public safety and save lives.

Calissa Ngozi, a mental health professional, educator and speaker, brings more than two decades of experience to her work. A graduate of Centennial College’s child and youth worker advanced diploma program, she is now a professor at Mohawk College, where she shares her expertise with aspiring professionals. Through her private practice, in collaboration with Bartimaeus Inc., she provides mental health and behavioural support services to individuals and families. Outside of her professional roles, Ngozi mentors youth, helping them navigate mental health challenges and build resilience.

Lanre Tunji-Ajayi is an internationally recognized patient advocate and leader in supporting people living with sickle cell disease, the most common inherited blood disorder in Canada. She is the founder, president and CEO of the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario, and co-founder and founding president of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Canada. Her long-standing efforts have provided education, counselling and grant support to the sickle cell community, while also raising awareness and advancing policy aimed at improving access and care for patients. Tunji-Ajayi has received several awards for her contributions to health care policy and patient advocacy.

Jennifer Urosevic is a respected advocate for those with sight loss in Canada and globally. She is president and CEO of Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada, overseeing a clinical services portfolio that supports tens of thousands of clients annually, operates dozens of clinic locations across the country, and generates a large annual revenue. Urosevic has been instrumental in establishing clinical standards in her organization, testing and implementing innovations, leading workforce development initiatives and creating partnerships in Canada and abroad.