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We’re thrilled to share the 2025 Spirit Award winners:

Community Impact Award: YWCA Cambridge
Outstanding Workplace Campaign (Small- to Mid-Size): GrandBridge Energy
Outstanding Workplace Campaign (Large): BMO
Spirit of Community Award: Waterloo Regional Police Service
Volunteer of the Year Award: Corporate Trivia Founders: Tonya Taylor, Rebecca Tascona, Laura Galbraith, and Rob Connell
Ken Seiling Community Leaders Award: Rita Westbrook

We’re thrilled to share the 2025 Spirit Award winners:

Community Impact Award: YWCA Cambridge
Outstanding Workplace Campaign (Small- to Mid-Size): GrandBridge Energy
Outstanding Workplace Campaign (Large): BMO
Spirit of Community Award: Waterloo Regional Police Service
Volunteer of the Year Award: Corporate Trivia Founders: Tonya Taylor, Rebecca Tascona, Laura Galbraith, and Rob Connell
Ken Seiling Community Leaders Award: Rita Westbrook

Event Photos

Thanks to our incredible partners at Onward Media Group, Conestoga College Digital TV, and Stan Switalski.

Event Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Thank you to our Spirit Awards sponsors!

sPIRIT aWARD Nominees & Recipients

SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARD

The Spirit of Community Award honours an individual, group, or organization that personifies exceptional community spirit, teamwork, and generosity through their significant partnership with United Way, thereby deepening our community-building partnerships.

Award nominees
  • Waterloo Regional Police Service
  • Borealis Grille & Bar
  • Canadian Western Bank
  • Enbridge Gas Inc.
  • University of Waterloo
  • Chantelle Moore (Gore Mutual Insurance)
Award Recipient:

Waterloo Regional Police Service

Volunteer of the year award

The Volunteer of the Year Award honours an individual or group for outstanding volunteer service, celebrating the selfless dedication that defines their efforts.

Award nominees
  • Ali Qizilbash
  • Daisy Martin
  • Michelle Owusu
  • Jennifer Ward
  • Corporate Trivia Founders:
    • Tonya Taylor
    • Rob Connell
    • Rebecca Tascona
    • Laura Galbraith
  • Michelle Almeida-Hann
Award Recipients:

Tonya Taylor, Rob Connell, Rebecca Tascona, Laura Galbraith​ (Corporate Trivia Founders)

Community Impact Award

The Community Impact Award is presented to a funded partner that, through their collaborative efforts with United Way, demonstrates outstanding leadership and dedication while continuing to drive change and impact in the community.

Award nominees
  • The Literacy Group
  • The AIDS Committee Of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo & Area (ACCKWA)
  • Sanguen Health Centre
  • Muslim Social Services
  • Canadian Arab Women’s Association
  • Cambridge Shelter Corporation
  • YMCA of Three Rivers
  • YWCA Cambridge
Award Recipient:

YWCA Cambridge

OUTSTANDING WORKPLACE CAMPAIGN AWARD (Small-mid)

The Outstanding Workplace Campaign Award (Small – Mid Size) recognizes the Employee Campaign Manager and workplace that have demonstrated exceptional dedication in engaging and informing employees, while also increasing donations in a smaller workplace setting, defined as having 200 or less local employees.

Award nominees
  • P&H Milling Group
  • Virtek Vision
  • Grandbridge Energy Inc.
  • Enbridge Gas Inc.
  • Intact Public Entities
  • WSIB
Award Recipient:

GrandBridge Energy Inc.

OUTSTANDING WORKPLACE CAMPAIGN AWARD (Large)

The Outstanding Workplace Campaign Award (Large) recognizes the Employee Campaign Manager and workplace that have demonstrated exceptional dedication in engaging and informing employees, while also increasing donations in a large workplace setting, defined as having 200 or more local employees.

Award nominees
  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC)
  • University of Waterloo
  • Wilfrid Laurier University
  • BMO
  • TD Bank
  • RBC Royal Bank
Award Recipient:

BMO

Ken Seiling Community Leaders Award

The Ken Seiling Community Leaders Award recognizes an exemplary public leader or leaders who, through extraordinary contributions and outstanding commitment, have driven the spirit of community through personal involvement in our community and with United Way Waterloo Region Communities.

Award Recipient
  • Rita Westbrook