Oshawa announces winners of the 2026 Community Awards

The City of Oshawa congratulates the recipients of the inaugural Oshawa Community Awards.

Introduced this year, the Oshawa Community Awards program honours community members, businesses and organizations for their outstanding contributions to our city.

The program includes award categories that have been recognized by the City in previous years – the Accessibility Improvement Award, Citizen Volunteer Award, Community Legend Award, Culture Counts Awards, and E.P. Taylor Windfields Farm Champion Award – as well as a brand new category: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champions Award.

The recipients were recognized and presented with their awards at a Special Meeting of Council on Thursday, June 18. Congratulations to all the 2026 winners:

Accessibility Improvement Award
Boys and Girls Club Durham Aquatics Department
CIHMental Wellness Solutions
Matisse Hamel-Nelis

Citizen Volunteer Award
Gene Balson
Dave Briggs
Indra Deen
Gail Elliott
Ed Foley
Jillian Follert
Marie Harding
Denise Kettela
Jackie Kot
Marion Saunders

Community Legend Award
UndercoverDachshund

Culture Counts Awards
Professional Artist: Michael Drolet
Emerging Artist: Yongzhen Li
Innovation and Creation Champion: Oshawa Public Libraries

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champions Award
D.E.I. Youth Champion: Khushi Dhalla
D.E.I. Community Champion: Marisa Mei
D.E.I. Business Champion: Fairy Glen Day Care Centre
D.E.I. Organization Champion: Mission United Physician Services

E.P. Taylor Windfields Farm Champion Award
Marlene Grass

Visit oshawa.ca/Awards to learn more about the Oshawa Community Awards and the 2026 winners.

Quote:

“Congratulations to the winners of our inaugural Oshawa Community Awards! Your creativity, talents, leadership and service create a meaningful impact in our community every day and help make the great city of Oshawa a welcoming, inclusive and vibrant place for all.”

— said Mayor Dan Carter.