Sudbury senior honoured for decades of volunteer work
Reijo Viitala, a long time volunteer at Finlandia Village in Sudbury, has been honoured with a provincial award.
Dignitaries, residents, family and friends gathered Tuesday to celebrate Viitala’s accomplishments.
The Ontario Senior Achievement Award is handed out to just 20 people in the province each year.
“It’s a great honour to get recognized by your peers, and this reception here is basically designed to have the presentation in front of my peers, the people that I volunteer for and the seniors especially,” said Viitala.
The Ministry of Seniors Affairs reviews all nominations. The award is presented to honour outstanding seniors who have made significant contributions to their communities.
Jeanna de la Morandire, volunteer coordinator at Finlandia Village, nominated Viitala forward for the award.
“His parents are founding members of the village and so for over 40 years, Reijo has been very instrumental in engaging events and activities and groups mostly notably with the finish veterans association of Sudbury,” de la Morandire said.
Recipients are selected by an independent committee made up of representatives from the senior’s community.
“To hear that he has been recognized, it’s very exciting and we’re very happy for him and his family,” said de la Morandire.
Viitala said it’s touching to be recognized by his peers after four decades.
“I’d stress the importance of volunteering,” he said.
“Especially for the seniors, who are sometimes -- and now with COVID has brought that to the forefront -- have found themselves to be very lonely and volunteering opens up venues for them to come and celebrate.”
This isn’t the first time Viitala has been recognized for his work. In 2022 he received the Knight of the Order of Finlandia Award.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
BREAKING Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.