NRP chaplain receives Ontario medal for citizenship
A Niagara Regional Police chaplain has been awarded the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship.
Lieutenant- Governor of Ontario Elizabeth Dowdeswell and Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Laura Albanese presented NRP chaplain Gary Page with the medal recently in Toronto.
Since 1973, the medal recognizes people for their exceptional longterm efforts and outstanding contributions to the well-being of their communities.
Page has been dedicated to his community for years, including in his role as NRP chaplain and member of the NRP’s auxiliary unit; a volunteer with Victim Services Niagara; his work with assisting refugees relocating to Niagara; and his work with local youth.
The medal, one of the province’s highest honours, was handed out to a number of civic-minded people, including leaders in health care, entrepreneurs, community advocates, and all around dedicated volunteers who continually put the needs of others before their own.
Albanese said the recipients represent “the best Ontario has to offer.”
“Many of them have faced hardships, yet they have used those hardships to fuel their determination to better the lives of others,” she said.
Albanese said Page is a “passionate advocate” for inclusivity and “weaves it into everything he does.”
She said Page has donated more than 1,400 hours as a service chaplain, and more than 1,000 hours to Victim Services Niagara, located at NRP headquarters in Niagara Falls.
Page is on the board of directors for Matthew House Refugee Ministries in Fort Erie, helping with the after-care program to support refugees entering Canada from the nearby border.
He also served for more than 15 years on the board of directors of Jericho House Youth Leadership, Justice and Spirituality Centre in Port Colborne, which trains youth for community service.
Page, who grew up in Toronto and has lived in Niagara for about 30 years, said he had a “disastrous high-school career,” as it took him seven years to graduate.
He said the turning point in high school was when a long-time friend got him involved in the junior Kiwanis key club.
“I had never been involved in service before, so that made an impact on me, made me take school and everything a little more seriously.”
Page said he then attended teacher’s college and taught in Toronto, Peterborough and Niagara.
The Welland resident said he was “overwhelmed” to receive the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship.
“You do what you do because it’s the right thing to do. I’d say the most significant thing in my life is being an organ donor. When that came up it was probably the easiest thing I ever did, it’s just so compelling.”
Page said he was “humbled” to be honoured alongside other civic-minded people from across Ontario.
“The youngest girl there, she had done a lot of work in her ethnic community to get the number of organ donors increased and she’s involved very much with high-school youth and organ donation,” he said.
“The oldest lady there, she worked for years on fair housing and the like. One fellow, 35,000 hours of hospital work. Unbelievable.”
Page said his advice to people is to serve.
“Nothing will grow you more and get you out of yourself more than serving other people. Helping others who don’t have the advantages you do. I’ve learned so much from working with the refugee community, it just blows my mind, truly.”
NRP Chief Bryan MacCulloch said he was “honoured” to attend the investiture service with Page and his family.
“Chaplain Page has given so much to the community,” he said.
“It was a privilege to witness his recognition by the lieutenant-governor for good citizenship. We are proud to have him as part of the Niagara Regional Police.”