THUNDER BAY — The City of Thunder Bay on Monday evening recognized two individuals and four community projects with the 2019 Mayor's Community Safety Awards.
Street outreach worker Tessa Debruyne received the Community Hero award.
Debruyne works as a driver with the Shelter House SOS program.
In announcing the award the city said "As navigator and cheerleader, she works constantly to connect people to resources and services, and invests immeasurable emotional labour into ensuring the most vulnerable people in our community are safe and well."
Debruyne, the announcement said, feels privileged to work with vulnerable people and get to know them personally.
Yamaan Alsumadi, who arrived in Thunder Bay four years ago, received the Young Leader award.
She is an anti-racism activist with strong ties to her cultural community at the local mosque.
The city's citation said she has helped youth build resiliency skills, positive identity, and self-esteem to motivate change in their lives and the lives of others.
Alsumadi helped to create Thunder Bay We Want, described as an inclusive community committed to reconciliation, improved race relations, and safe schools and neighbourhoods.
An award for Outstanding Community Project went to Giant Hearts.
The program began when a group of parents saw gaps in the community, and began picking up garbage and discarded needles in public places.
The grassroots volunteer group expanded to a weekly street outreach, and for a little over a year has been installing Blessing Boxes around the city, full of non-perishable food, hygiene products and baby necessities.
Wake the Giant also received an Outstanding Community Project award.
A group of Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School Teachers set out to help improve the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Thunder Bay.
Their first effort saw more than 300 businesses place Wake the Giant decals in their windows as beacons of welcome and safety for Indigenous citizens.
This was followed by the Wake the Giant Music Fest.
The third Outstanding Community Project award went to the Thunder Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking.
To increase community awareness, it was initiated by representatives of Thunder Bay Counselling, the Ontario Native Women's Association and Beendigen Native Women's Crisis Home.
The coalition represents a diverse group of over 30 individuals and organizations building awareness about all forms of human trafficking, and the supports and services available to victims.
"It's an honour to stand with these outstanding individuals tonight who work tirelessly, day in and day out, to make Thunder Bay safer and more inclusive for everyone," Mayor Bill Mauro said at the presentation ceremony.
Each winner received a $1,000 award from a sponsor to support community safety efforts.
