Thunder Bay is recognizing local residents and groups who make the city a safer place and more inclusive place.

The 11th annual Mayor’s Community Award winners have been announced, and were broken down into three categories:

Community Hero Award – For an outstanding individual effort that contributes to a safer community.
Young Leader Award – For outstanding contributions by a youth who demonstrates and encourages active participation in community safety. The youth is a leader in a project in their community.
Outstanding Community Project Award – For outstanding results in community safety or crime prevention through partnership and collaboration. Up to four projects may be awarded.

“I’m honoured to once again be a part of the Annual Mayor’s Community Safety Awards. Now in its 11th year, these awards have impacted so many deserving people and organizations in our community who work so hard to make Thunder Bay a better place,” said Mayor Bill Mauro “This year’s winners are no different, and their efforts to make change in our community deserve to be celebrated!”

This year’s winners include:

Community Hero Award: Anishinaabe Elder Ma-Nee Chacaby

Ma-Nee’s community and volunteer work in Thunder Bay is extensive. She spends time counselling youth who find themselves at risk of poor outcomes, individuals that struggle with homelessness and addiction, as well as people living with HIV. Ma-Nee has been important in raising awareness for 2SLGBTIQ+ experiences and Indigenous history.

Young Leader Award: Cornelius Beaver

Since 2017, Cornelius has volunteered with the Regional Multicultural Youth Council to plan and lead community events for peers at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School. They welcomed First Nations students from remote and rural northern communities and provided outreach and support to children and youth in public housing. Through Magnus Theatre in Education Project, Cornelius has helped produce plays that focus on residential school, reconciliation, consent, migration, invisible disabilities, and more.

Outstanding Community Project Award: Matawa Safe Sobering Site

The Matawa Safe Sobering Site supports Matawa students from Aroland, Constance Lake, Eabametoong, Ginoogaming, Long Lake #58, Marten Falls, Neskantaga, Nibinamik, and Webequie who need safe and supervised detoxification and stabilization support. Matawa Safe Sobering Site is located on site at the Matawa Education and Care Centre (MECC) and provides a safe, culturally appropriate space for intoxicated students to stabilize.

Outstanding Community Project Award: On-Call Crisis Response

On-Call Crisis Response service provides respectful, culturally-appropriate after-hours support to ensure students’ well-being and safety. On call workers frequently check known ‘hot spots’ where students might engage in unsafe activity, report incidents, track calls, follow up with students receiving medical attention, talk to boarding parents, ensure students are home by curfew, and become part of the students’ lives.

Outstanding Community Project Award: Care Bus

The COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk for people experiencing homelessness, leading to the establishment of Care Bus. It was a result of community groups calling for immediate response to help individuals who have limited supports and access to warm spaces. The Care Bus was implemented for a 7-week period in March 2021.

Outstanding Community Project Award: Indigenous Food Circle

Since 2016, the Indigenous Food Circle (IFC), a coalition of Indigenous-led and Indigenous-serving organizations in the Thunder Bay region, has worked to increase Indigenous food security and food sovereignty. When COVID-19 struck, federal and philanthropic funding allowed IFC to connect pandemic response teams in remote communities with regional food suppliers and distributors so they could develop their own relationships for bulk food ordering.

More on the winners can be found here.