Computer expert earns civic award as volunteer
Chris Taylor has received the Mayor’s City Builder Award for his exemplary volunteerism, providing educational presentations on computer-related topics as a member and current president of the Ottawa PC Users’ Group.
Taylor has been an active member of the not-for-profit group since 1984 and was elected to its executive board in 1986.
His involvement with the Ottawa Public Library’s community events program, since it began in 2008, has provided hundreds of free technology-based presentations to the community at various library branches across the city.
Through the Ottawa Public Library, the Ottawa PC Users’ Group has delivered more than 220 free two-hour educational presentations to the Ottawa community on computer-related topics, based on the group’s philosophy of “users helping users.”
Taylor has worked tirelessly and selflessly for more than 10 years, often giving two or three presentations a week on timely topics ranging from how to buy a PC to protecting your computer to how to secure a wireless home network.
Having delivered more than 200 presentations as of 2014, Taylor has demonstrated leadership, outstanding community service, and a strong commitment to educating and enlightening Ottawa residents. This dedication to public education continues with his commitment to additional presentations this year with the library on topics including digital cameras, photo editing, how the Internet works, media streaming and computer security.
The Mayor’s City Builder Award was created by Mayor Jim Watson to recognize an individual, group or organization that, through outstanding volunteerism or exemplary action, has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to making the city a better place today and for the future.
This may include lifelong service, outstanding acts of kindness, inspiring charitable work, community building, or other exemplary achievements.
Individuals, groups or organizations may be nominated by members of city council or the public. The award is presented at the beginning of each council meeting.