Volunteers and Partners of the Year Honoured by Make-A-Wish  

May 1, 2025, Toronto, Canada – In celebration of National Volunteer Week, Make-A-Wish | Reves d’Enfants^® Canada is proud to announce the recipients of two distinguished awards: 48-Hour Ride Super Champions as National Volunteer of the Year and Blue Cross as the inaugural Corporate Partner of the Year.  Additionally, 30 other regional award winners under the categories of Community Impact, Rookie of the Year and Provincial Volunteer of the Year were selected from volunteers across Canada.

Introduced in 2023, the National Volunteer of the Year award honours volunteers who have made a significant impact through their selfless dedication and commitment to serving children with critical illness.

The Corporate Partner of the Year is a newly established accolade in 2025 designed to recognize a corporate partner that has demonstrated a strong commitment to making a difference on a national scale. Through forging lasting partnerships, engaging their employees and teams to support our mission, plus their commitment to community engagement, this recipient exemplifies the passion and commitment to make wishes possible for every eligible child.

“These outstanding winners have gone above and beyond in their commitment to bringing hope and joy to wish kids and their families,” said Meaghan Stovel McKnight, CEO, Make-A-Wish Canada. “Their generosity, passion, and unwavering support have made a lasting impact in communities across the country. We are incredibly grateful for their dedication — not only to the children we serve, but also to our mission of transforming lives, one wish at a time. It’s because of these groups and individuals that we can continue making wishes come true when they’re needed most.”

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER: 48-Hour Ride Super Champions, QC

The 48-Hour Ride Super Champions — a dedicated team of 15 volunteers, primarily from Greater Montreal — have been the driving force behind Make-A-Wish Canada’s largest fundraising event: the 48-Hour Ride. Their unwavering commitment, collaborative spirit, and operational excellence have elevated the event to national success. This exceptional group handles all logistical planning and on-site execution, ensuring a safe, welcoming, and inspiring experience for over 16,000 riders to date as well as the 300+ additional event volunteers. This creates a ripple effect of generosity, awareness, and volunteerism across Quebec and beyond.

Since its inception, the 48-Hour Ride has raised over $25 million to help grant wishes for children with critical illnesses, with $3.6 million raised in the last year alone. The Super Champions are more than volunteers — they are visionaries, leaders, and tireless advocates for our mission, empowering thousands of wish journeys and deserving national recognition. They are the heart of the 48-Hour Ride, and a shining example of what it means to go above and beyond.

CORPORATE PARTNER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER: Blue Cross

For over 35 years, Blue Cross has been a dedicated national partner of Make-A-Wish® Canada, helping to make more than 30,000 travel wishes possible for over 130,000 Canadian family members. As our exclusive travel insurance provider, Blue Cross ensures that every wish family can travel with peace of mind, knowing they are fully covered.

What truly sets Blue Cross apart is not only their generosity, but their deep culture of employee engagement and community involvement. Whether volunteering for events like Trees of Joy, Golf for Wishes, the boom 97.3 Thousand Dollar Make-A-Wish Minute, or the 48-Hour Ride, their team is always eager to roll up their sleeves and get involved. In 2024, five Blue Cross employees joined the Make-A-Wish Canada group wish trip —connecting directly with wish families and witnessing firsthand the impact of their support.

Blue Cross isn’t just a supporter — they are a champion of hope. Through sustained partnership, genuine compassion, and meaningful action, they have helped shape thousands of magical moments and lasting memories for children and families across Canada.

PROVINCIAL VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS:

• Alberta: Rita Vis Dube
• British Columbia: Branko Bejo
• Manitoba: Silver & Gary Peltier
• New Brunswick: Nancy Hickey
• Newfoundland & Labrador: Norine Taylor
• Nova Scotia: Dale Ling
• Ontario: Dave Lacey
• Prince Edward Island: Jeanette Wakelin
• Québec: Victoria Sauriol
• Saskatchewan: Dr. Heather Hodgson-Viden

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS:

• Alberta: Kari Homeniuk
• British Columbia: Jennifer Macmillan
• Manitoba: Emely Diaz
• New Brunswick: Elizabeth Richard
• Newfoundland & Labrador: Samantha Situ-Pham
• Nova Scotia: Suzan Park MacLeod
• Ontario: Lata Wadhwani
• Prince Edward Island: Hannah Mackenzie
• Québec: Yen Lee Siah
• Saskatchewan: Elizabeth Irving

COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD WINNERS:

• Alberta: MAW Golf Classic Committee
• British Columbia: Slo Pitch for Kids (SPFK) Committee
• Manitoba: Neil Haeusler – Grain Challenge
• New Brunswick: Roadbuilders
• Newfoundland & Labrador: His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) – St. John’s
• Nova Scotia: Shanna Burke
• Ontario: boom 97.3 – $1000 Make-A-Wish Minute Campaign
• Prince Edward Island: Bragger’s Cup Committee
• Québec: Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth
• Saskatchewan: Broda Group

For more information on how to get involved with Make-A-Wish Canada, visit makeawish.ca/volunteer-awards.