Sally Henry Memorial Award Winner—2009
Lois Turk
by Pat Moynihan-Morris & Barb Holland
The Sally Henry Award is presented in memory of Sally Henry, a memorable Home Economist who had a great enthusiasm for life and many diverse interests well beyond her professional commitments. The recipient of the 2009 Sally Henry Memorial Award is Lois Turk.
Lois lives and breathes volunteering each and every day, and goes beyond “random acts of kindnesses”.
Her volunteer commitments have included the WWF - World Wildlife Fund - for over ten years, volunteering her time one day a week to help with any project or activity, everything from stuffing envelopes, answering phones or arranging events for WWF.
More recently Lois has been volunteering with Nature Conservancy, an organization founded in 1951 that uses science and partnerships to protect the Earth's most important natural places for us and future generations. With their commitment for a greener environment, it is an organization that Lois feels very passionate about. Whenever they need help, they know that Lois is just a phone call away!
Lois is also involved with Matthew House, OHEIB's charity this year (as chosen by Susanne Stark, last year's Sally Henry Award Winner). Lois graciously invited Anne Woolger-Bell, the Executive Director, to our AGM.
Lois has been an active volunteer with Meals on Wheels, delivering meals to seniors, and shut-ins. It was a rewarding experience for Lois to be able to deliver a hot meal and talk to seniors who probably have little interaction with others.
As a parent, Lois devoted over eleven years of volunteer time to her son's public schools, helping with PTA, in the classroom and organizing special lunch dates for the students.
As an active church member of two churches, Runnymede United in Toronto and Massey United Church (close to their North House), Lois has helped manage maintenance and decorating projects for both churches. Each year she organizes 'Shrove Tuesday', and cooks up pancakes and sausages for her Toronto church. She has organized and cooked many a fund-raising dinner for and at her churches, and usually with a theme, such as Newfoundland or a Galapagos Island themed dinners.
Lois has been active with OHEIB as our program co-chair with Sue Quirt for the past two years, organizing meetings for our members. Previously Lois worked with Pat Moynihan-Morris on the Program Committee.
Early in her career Lois worked as a Food Service Manager for Sears, managing staff cafeterias and supervising a staff of forty.
More recently Lois has enjoyed a varied career as a freelance home economist. For the last 3 years Lois has reigned as Kitchen Manager at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair's Journey to Your Good Health pavilion and presentation stage. Some of her other clients are Sunbeam Canada, and the Good Food Festival - helping Lianne Hubbard, the show manager with the set up and tear down of this consumer show. Lois makes sure everything runs smoothly for all the participants.
Lois Turk embodies all the attributes of a Sally Henry Award winner, her passion, her energy, and her commitment to helping others.
To Lois, in recognition of your contributions both to the profession of Home Economics and to the community, we honour and salute you.