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Best Event of the Year – Cambridge Pride Week organized Organization of the Year (11 and Over Employees) – Langs
by Grand River Pride Community means everything to Langs. In fact, its mission is to
Grand River Pride has created a lasting impression with ensure that every person in its neighbourhood will have a place
its Cambridge Pride Week and brought together a long list to call home for health, wellness, and support. Langs empowers
of community partners who worked in sync to create an individuals with the skills needed to succeed and provides
unforgettable experience for thousands. Operating under the access to primary care, dental care, counselling, education, and
notion that a sense of belonging is critical when it comes to other essential services. Through many programs, it promotes
assisting queer people feel connected, Grand River Pride created positive activities for all ages. Langs also provides vital support
safe spaces to support artists by providing them with a stage services such as access to a Community Outreach Worker, food
and a voice, hosted eight music acts, comedians, drag artists, security programs, access to a food cupboard, access to showers
and 31 market vendors. By bringing support organizations to for those adults living without stable housing and monthly
their events, Grand River Pride helped people overcome unique community dinners.
barriers and assisted them find meaningful connections. The Lifetime Achievement Award –McDonald-Green CEO and
group welcomed more 6,500 people to 17 events, proving to founder Helen Jowett, former Waterloo Regional Councillor
members of the LGBTQ2 community that everyone is welcome for Cambridge
in Cambridge.
Helen Jowett’s sense of community took shape very early on in
Board Member of the Year Award – Nicola Melchers, her life while helping her mother, who operated a Scottish market
Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Galt, prepare the shop many early mornings for customers.
Nicola Melchers is that board member every organization Inspired by her mother, she went into business herself and has
seeks. Since joining the CMH board in 2016, she has offered operated a very successful HR consulting firm since 1994. Using
strong leadership and a drive to ensure the continued success her enhanced leadership training and skills, Helen became a
of the organization thanks to her passion for excellence. In positive force in the business community and in local politics
her role as Chair from 2022 to this past summer, she led this by serving two successful terms representing Cambridge at the
organization through much turmoil brought on by the pandemic, Region of Waterloo. During her time there, she was responsible
the development of a new strategic plan, plus the completion for several high-profile committee portfolios. As well, she
of a major Capital Redevelopment project. She has served on served as Chair of the Chamber Board from 2008 to 2010. Her
several board committees and on the CMH Board representative knack for leadership has propelled her involvement in many
on the CMH Foundation Board, where she has served as a other economic-based initiatives and organizations. Helen’s
passionate advocate for healthcare. She is fully committed commitment to community is only matched by her commitment
to local healthcare and CMH – devoting endless hours to the to her supportive family all of whom receive her full support on
organization and playing a clear leadership role in future- whatever path they travel because she believes success should
proofing the organization, with a particular focus on employee always be defined individually. “I always say follow your own
and physician wellness and wellbeing. journey because you can’t live someone’s else,” she once said.
“But surround yourself with people who will make you smarter,
Volunteer of the Year Award – Scott Wahl, Shelter Movers better, stronger and faster.”
Southwestern Ontario
Making an impact is something Scott Wahl has accomplished
since he began volunteering for Shelter Movers Southwestern
Ontario in 2021. In the past year, he has dedicated more than
400 hours of his own time to community events and fundraisers
for this group, but more importantly, assisted in more than 70
moves for this organization which helps women and children
get away safely from abusive situations. Scott continues to
make a lasting impact and wears many ‘hats’ for Shelter Movers,
including driver, lead mover supervisor, engagement coordinator,
orientation facilitator as well as mentor to new volunteers.

Organization of the Year (Under 10 Employees) – Cambridge
Memorial Hospital Foundation
Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation is an organization that
works with individuals, companies, cultural and service groups,
who are looking to make a difference. Cambridge Memorial
Hospital is the cornerstone of the community and having a strong
hospital attracts skilled medical practitioners to care for us, as
well as businesses. Last year the CMH Foundation surpassed its
revenue goal by raising more than $6.9M and attained its $5M
fundraising goal for a new MRI last March, seven months earlier
than anticipated after launching Spotlight MRI in September
2022. The group’s CMHReveal gala also raised an incredible
$506,000, surpassing the revenue of two such previous events.

www.cambridgechamber.com Winter 2025 9