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Bryan Keshen is a passionate leader, caring teacher, avid mentor and devoted friend. Mr. Keshen has dedicated his career to fostering a safe and nurturing environment that is inclusive and allows all individuals to grow and thrive as valued members of the community. As Chief Executive Officer of Reena, a social services agency that supports individuals with diverse needs, Mr. Keshen is instrumental in the organization’s continued success. Working tirelessly in his pursuit of excellence, Mr. Keshen engages in solution-based dialogue, attentively listening to staff and colleagues while discovering opportunities and new approaches to improve and expand the services Reena offers to the local community. Under his leadership, Reena has grown to provide multiple services to individuals living in Vaughan in several areas, including employment, housing, recreational and emotional support, and was recognized with the Vaughan Accessibility Award in 2019. Mr. Keshen’s passion for his community and commitment to service have allowed him to reach beyond his work at Reena. He has connected with many private, not-for-profit and professional sectors, including all levels of government ministries, in constructive dialogue to share his vision for supporting individuals with diverse needs and realizing new opportunities to expand and raise the standard of services across Ontario and Canada. Mr. Keshen’s dedication to and focus on Reena’s mission and values have enabled Reena to be recognized as a leader in the development services sector and a beacon of hope in the community. Reena is now the largest developmental service organization operating in Vaughan, thanks in great part to the trailblazing advocacy work of Bryan Keshen.
Elvira Caria is an active and engaged member of the Vaughan community. Through significant and meaningful community involvement, she has demonstrated a genuine and authentic desire to help her neighbours. For more than a decade, Ms. Caria has been a dedicated board member of Vaughan in Motion to Cure Cancer. Her civic leadership has helped raise funds for cancer care at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital. During her time as Director of Media and Sponsorship, Vaughan in Motion to Cure Cancer raised nearly $100,000 in support of cancer patients. Ms. Caria’s commitment to public service has been recognized by York Region Media Group through its Vaughan Citizen Readers’ Choice Awards. She was the recipient of the 2020 Diamond award in five categories, including Business that Gives Back to Local Community. Ms. Caria is also a past recipient of the City of Vaughan’s 2015 Ward 3 Civic Hero Award, the Portraits of Giving in York Region, and even has a local street named after her – Caria Court. For more than 20 years, Ms. Caria has represented the residents of Vellore Woods as the Chair of the Vellore Woods Ratepayers’ Association, working with residents and Members of Council on several Vaughan-based initiatives. Ms. Caria also empowered the local business community as the co-creator of Savour Vaughan, a campaign that encouraged residents to dine at Vaughan restaurants, with proceeds supporting the Vaughan Food Bank each Thanksgiving. During the global COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Caria’s giving spirit did not waiver. From fundraising to finding baby strollers, she dedicated her time to the Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women. For the last 30 years, Elvira Caria has dedicated herself in a very selfless way to her fellow citizens and the city she has called home since 1987.
Iolanda De Simone Masci has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to philanthropy and non-profit organizations. Her most significant accomplishment is the founding of Hospice Vaughan. In 1995, she was introduced to the concept of palliative care and hospice. At that time, there were no such services available in Vaughan, which left a considerable gap in the community. After identifying this urgent need, Ms. De Simone Masci instinctively answered the call of duty. She graciously and voluntarily embarked on the journey to ensure that her community would one day have the resources and services required for compassionate end-of-life care. Just one year later, in 1996, Hospice Vaughan was officially founded. Today, Hospice Vaughan has evolved into a 10-bed facility impacting many lives. Last year alone, Hospice Vaughan provided care to 500 clients, which had wide-reaching positive impacts to more than 2,500 people. It is estimated that over its 26 years of existence, Hospice Vaughan has affected tens of thousands of people. As a true community leader, Ms. De Simone Masci has been recognized on several occasions for her commitment to philanthropy. She has been celebrated for contributing to the lives of girls and women in Ontario, as awarded by The Honourable Harinder Malhi, Minister of the Status of Women; helping the settlement of newcomers in Canada through the Citizenship and Immigration Canada HOST program; providing a sense of belonging for seniors through CHATS community programs; community involvement as recognized by the City of Vaughan’s Volunteer Certificate of Appreciation; looking out for the interest of Italians in the world through the Comitato Tricolore Per Gli Italiani Nel Mondo; and many other great causes, including Polizia Sezione A.N.P.S., Heart and Stroke Foundation, North York General Hospital Foundation, Amica at Villa Da Vinci, Pine Grove Lodge, CAYRE (Community Alliance for York Region Education) Spirit of Community Award. Ms. De Simone Masci’s devotion to supporting her neighbours is indisputable and deserves to be celebrated.