Awards

At University Hospitals Kingston Foundation (UHKF), our volunteers are valued members of our team, making a real difference in the lives of patients and their families in southeastern Ontario. 

Our volunteers are the friendly faces, tireless organizers, thoughtful advocates and quiet heroes who help ensure patients and families receive the best possible care.

The dedication of our volunteers makes a difference every single day—from raising critical funds and promoting awareness to offering kindness and compassion where it’s needed most.

UHKF's annual volunteer awards provide us an opportunity to honour those who give so much back to their community.

Ian Wilson Award

This award honours Ian Wilson, a former hospital board Chair and Chair of the UHKF 'Together We Can' campaign for Kingston's health-care facilities and tireless volunteer with a wide range of community and health-related organizations.

The award is granted annually to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding volunteer efforts in the solicitation of donations benefitting Kingston Health Sciences Centre and Providence Care through an event, organized campaign or informal activity.

Any volunteer, hospital staff member, hospital board or committee member, or third-party event organizer may be nominated. Nominations will be accepted from anyone within the hospital community.

2025 Award Recipient: Peter Kingston

Peter Kingston's decade-long commitment to end-of-life care advocacy has helped bring Kingston’s new hospice residence to life. As chair of the Hospice Kingston campaign cabinet since 2014, Peter led a dedicated team of volunteers in raising over $16 million. His passionate storytelling, tireless fundraising efforts and personal philanthropy culminated in the opening of Providence Care’s Hospice AB Smith Homestead House in March 2025, providing compassionate, residential hospice care for the community.

Previous Recipients
  • 2024
    Evelyn Maizen
  • 2023
    Richard Kizell
  • 2021
    John Armitage
  • 2020
    Michael Robinson
  • 2019
    Dr. Albert Jin
  • 2018
    Susan Creasy
  • 2017
    Erin Finn
  • 2016
    Martin teen Hove
  • 2015
    Jennifer Fisher
  • 2014
    Sherri McCullough
  • 2013
    Richard Kizell
  • 2012
    Chris Cunningham
  • 2011
    Chandra Davies
  • 2011
    Tanya MacDonald
  • 2011
    Mac Voisin

Davies Award for Philanthropic Leadership

This annual award recognizes individuals, organizations and community groups who have demonstrated outstanding philanthropic leadership benefitting Kingston’s healthcare facilities and the provision of healthcare for the people of Kingston and southeastern Ontario.

Nominations will be accepted from any member of the health care community, including staff, board and board committee members, patients, clients, residents, volunteers and donors.

Previous recipients of the award are eligible to be nominated again and can be selected for a second time if he/she is the best nominee for the award.

2025 Award Recipient: Stephen Sorensen, KidsInclusive's Kilometres for Kids Run/Walk/Roll, and Kin Club of Gananoque

Stephen Sorensen’s philanthropy is transforming patient care across the region. Stephen has championed the campaign for a second MRI machine at Breast Imaging Kingston. He also made a landmark gift to secure Kingston’s first portable MRI for KHSC’s Intensive Care Unit, offering rapid, bedside imaging for critically ill patients. He also made significant contributions to fund a second Interventional Radiology (IVR) suite at KHSC and HeartFlow (an artificial intelligence platform that quickly assesses anatomy and physiology of coronary artery disease from cardiac CT scans). Stephen’s visionary support is elevating health care in Kingston to new heights.

For nearly 30 years, KidsInclusive's Kilometres for Kids Run/Walk/Roll group has raised funds to support children with special needs and their families. The event has amassed over $460,000 to date, funding essential equipment, specialized programs, and family supports. In 2023, the event returned in-person following two virtual years, raising a record $58,000. The Kids Inclusive Run/Walk/Roll continues to make a tangible difference for families facing extraordinary challenges.

For more than 30 years, the Kin Club of Gananoque has demonstrated steadfast support for Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) and Providence Care. Despite being a service club rooted in Gananoque, the group recognizes the crucial role these facilities play for the entire region. The club’s generosity is highlighted by two major leadership gifts made in the past three years. In 2022, they contributed $50,000 to KHSC’s redevelopment campaign, followed by another significant donation in 2023 to support urgent hospital priorities. Their dedication ensures that communities benefiting from KHSC’s specialized care also have a hand in strengthening it.

Previous Recipients
  • 2024
    Dr. Gary Burggraf
  • 2024
    B’nai Brith Kingston Lodge
  • 2024
    Bentley Davidson
  • 2023
    KHSC, Volunteer Services to Hotel Dieu Hospital Site
  • 2023
    Cunningham Swan Carty Little & Bonham LLP
  • 2023
    Dr. David Cook
  • 2021
    Rose of Hope
  • 2020
    Limestone City Car Club; Shoppers Drug Mart; John (Jack) Keyes
  • 2019
    Knights of Columbus, Archdiocese of Kingston Diocesan Association; Dr. Romy Nitsch, Dr. Shawna Johnston and Dr. Graeme Smith; Josée Thériault
  • 2018
    Don Hay
  • 2017
    Peter and Carol Davy
  • 2017
    Royal Canadian Legion (District G Zone 1) and Ontario Provincial Command Branches and Ladies’ Auxiliaries Charitable Foundation
  • 2017
    J.E. Agnew Food Services Ltd.
  • 2016
    Lions Club District A3
  • 2015
    Brit Smith
  • 2015
    Liz Dobbs Jones
  • 2015
    B’nai Brith
  • 2014
    Child Development Centre Run/Walk Committee
  • 2013
    McKenna Modler
  • 2013
    Melo Family & Ambassador Hotel
  • 2013
    Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation
  • 2012
    John M. & Bernice Parrott Foundation
  • 2012
    Kinsmen Club of Kingston
  • 2012
    Empire Life
  • 2011
    Kids for Kids Hockey Tournament
  • 2011
    BMO Financial Groups
  • 2011
    Debbie and Dan Corcoran
  • 2010
    Geraldine Tepper
  • 2010
    Rose of Hope
  • 2009
    Larry Gibson
  • 2009
    Volunteer Services Hotel Dieu Hospital
  • 2009
    KGH Auxiliary
  • 2008
    Sally & Percy Robinson and Samuel Robinson Foundation
  • 2008
    Sisters of Providence
  • 2008
    RHSJ (Religious Hospitalers of St. Joseph)
  • 2006
    Homestead Land Holdings and Brit & Sally Smith
  • 2006
    Doug Hogeboom
  • 2005
    RBC Financial Group
  • 2005
    Sylvia Burkinshaw
  • 2004
    Bill Henderson

Sister Dorothy Fournier Award for Volunteerism

Recognizing outstanding volunteer commitment. 

In 2020, UHKF established the Sister Dorothy Fournier Award for Volunteerism to recognize the outstanding contribution of long-time UHKF volunteer, Sister Dorothy (“Sister D”).

The award is granted to an individual, organization or community group who has demonstrated outstanding volunteer commitment by dedicating their time to UHKF in support of work efforts, event preparation and mission moments, all to benefit health care in Kingston.

2025 Award Recipient: Emma Fitzgerald

Emma Fitzgerald is a passionate advocate for health-care philanthropy and an inspiring leader of Kingston’s next generation of changemakers. Since 2019, she has served as Chair of the YGK Healthcare Champions, fostering a culture of giving among young professionals. Emma actively contributes through fundraising, public speaking and professional development initiatives, including hosting a financial planning webinar for intentional charitable giving. Her ability to connect people with a cause and inspire meaningful involvement has made a lasting impact on health care philanthropy in Kingston.

Previous Recipients
  • 2024
    Sharon Vickers
  • 2023
    Brooklyn Tryon
  • 2021
    Jessica Hutchings
  • 2020
    Sister Dorothy (“Sister D”)