THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay CBC Reporter Jody Porter is being recognized for her bridge building in Thunder Bay with First Nations in Northern communities.
Ms. Jody Porter is the 2014 CBC/Radio Canada Fellow whose “Social justice work, not just as a reporter, but as an engaged citizen, has created numerous opportunities to build bridges with the First Nations in the Northern communities, including the radio/social experiments that take ordinary people out of their cultural comfort zones and bring them to cook and share a meal with members of the First Nations.”
The Clarkson Laureateships in Public Service, the highest honour the College awards annually to members of its community, this year go to two outstanding individuals:
Ms. Maripier Isabelle is a third-year Non-Resident Junior Fellow “Whose infectious enthusiasm for many causes is greatly admired by everyone at the College. Her activities can be hardly counted – from running Gown Run for Risk in support of Massey’s Scholars at Risk Program, volunteering for Out of the Cold at St. Thomas Church, creating a partnership with Moorelands to raise money for Christmas gifts for families in need, to co- organizing a debate on the Quebec Charter of Values.”
The awarding of Clarkson Laureateships was approved by Corporation in 2003 and the first awards given out in 2004, during the final year that Madam Clarkson, a Senior Fellow of the College, was Governor General of Canada. Corporation meant the award to honour her many years of service to Canada and at the same time to recognize those members of its community who also contributed to the common good. The call for nominations goes out in each issue of MasseyNews and the names of nominated community members are always kept on a long list for three years.
The committee met at the College on Friday, January 30th under the joint chairmanship of the Master and the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson. The other members of the committee are former recipients of a Clarkson Laureateship, Ms. Christine Karcza and Mr. David Pereira.
The Laureateships will be awarded at a special High Table on Thursday February 5 in the presence of the Laureates’ family and Massey College peers. The evening somewhat echoes the ceremonies Madam Clarkson presided over for the Order of Canada when she was Governor General and she herself attends to honour the awardees
