Scarborough celebrates its Urban Heroes

Scarborough celebrates its Urban Heroes. Recipients of the Scarborough 2010 Urban Hero Awards were presented with their plaques Monday evening at the Delta Toronto East Hotel. Photo/MANNY RODRIGUES

In true hero fashion, the recipients of Scarborough’s first-ever Urban Hero Awards were humble and surprised to be recognized.

On Monday, May 17, evening, nine individuals and groups were honoured in six categories: arts and culture, community, education, environment, health and sciences, and sports. The awards were presented by The Scarborough Mirror to recognize grass roots volunteers and organizations working to make the community a better place.

"This is about our local heroes, our unsung heroes. Those who need to be recognized and aren’t always...Those who inspire other people," said Mirror publisher Betty Carr.

Winners, nominees and their families gathered for the awards ceremony at the Delta Toronto East, which also attracted Scarborough-Rouge River MPP Bas Balkissoon and Scarborough-Guildwood MPP Margarett Best.

"It is truly remarkable when we can get together to recognize individuals who give of themselves, their time and their effort without asking for anything in return," said Best, Ontario’s Minister of Health Promotion.

"I want to say congratulations to all the nominees...all of you have given much to our community and are deserving of this recognition."

Husband and wife Pat and Barry Rule said they were surprised to win the Urban Hero Award for Education.

"Barry and I are so honoured and appreciative to receive this very special award," Rule said. "This is amazing recognition for doing something that comes naturally to us and that we find very enjoyable."

The retired teachers volunteer their time running many extra curricular activities at Guildwood Junior Public School.

"Our reward is what we do on a daily basis, but this award that we were given tonight we will cherish for a lifetime," her husband added.

Eighty-two-year-old Gord Grills won the Urban Hero Award for Sports Award (individual category) for bringing together nearly 1,000 volleyball enthusiasts since 2001 to the beach volleyball courts at the Centennial Recreation Centre - an initiative he spearheaded.

"It’s just been a very enriching experience for me to meet so many new people," he said.

The recipient of the Urban Hero Award for Sports (group category) was the long running Robbie International Soccer Tournament, which has brought together thousands of youngsters and raised more than a million dollars for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation since its inception in 1967.

"This event is great. We didn’t expect recognition," said Bob Prouse, the Robbie treasurer. "It’s a real honour to have everyone get together and get recognized."

Prouse said the award didn’t just recognize those on hand to receive the honour, but it also acknowledged the hard work and dedication of the entire executive, all the volunteer referees, and everyone else who works to make the tournament a success each year.

Grade 12 students Jessica Vuong and Jordan Han accepted the Bethune Environmental Action Team’s environment award on behalf of the group’s 16 member executive and more than 100 student members at Bethune Collegiate. They were still in shock long after the group’s name had been announced as winners.

"It was really unexpected. The other nominees...the Friends of the Rouge, we volunteered with them before. They’re so amazing so to be alongside them is an honour enough," Vuong said.

Han was nearly speechless.

"When I walked into the door I thought everyone was so amazing. I never thought I’d be holding this," he said, the Urban Hero Award in his hands.

Theresa Laurico took home the arts and culture award (individual category) for her work around the world through the Love in Action movement she started. The arts and culture award (group category) went to the Wishing Well Lions Club for its annual Classical Piano Festival, now in it’s 35th year.

Glenn Kimmett received the Urban Hero Award for Community (individual category) for his years of dedication to the community through the Eastminster United Church, Habitat for Humanity Toronto, Wexford Heights United Church and Meals-on-Wheels.

The community award in the group category went to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 258 for its hard work in the community through its annual Canada Day parade in Highland Creek, Veterans’ Dinner and raising money through distributing poppies each year around Remembrance Day.

Dr. Paul Caulford and the Community Volunteer Clinic was awarded the Health and Science Award for its work providing care to people without Ontario medical insurance. The volunteer clinic has been helping people and advocating for expansion of health care to the uninsured since 2000.

Visit www.urbanheroes.ca, for more information.

Robbie International Soccer Tournament

Winner – (Group)

The Robbie International Soccer Tournament is still going strong after 43 years. The late John Wimbs founded the tournament and named it after his son Robbie who suffered from cystic fibrosis (CF). 

It has grown from a tournament of eight teams to more than 200 and has raised $1.35 million for CF research. Though diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at a time when many victims did not survive much beyond childhood,

Robbie Wimbs lived to the age of 33. He died in December of 1996.
 
John Wimbs died in 2004. 

The Wimbs were given a star on the Scarborough Walk of Fame in 2008. At the time, John Wimbs Jr. said his father would have been proud to have been honoured by Scarborough. 

“He was always very civic-minded,” said John Wimbs, Jr. “I think he would just be thrilled. I’m just over the moon.” 

He said his father was thrilled with the success of the Robbie and enjoyed watching it grow over the years. 

Mike Ellis, director of the Robbie International Tournament, said the continued success of the tournament is based on quality soccer, its charity involvement and the fact the City partners with them. 

“The Robbie has retained the reputation of the premiere youth soccer tournament of the summer,” he said. “Everyone who knows soccer thinks of the Robbie. It’s maintained that status since 1967.”
 
Its success is also because of its volunteers, he added. 

“We have about 300 who come out,” he said. “We couldn’t exist without the help from Scarborough soccer clubs. We go to them to do the convening.” 

He also gives credit to the referees who donate their time at the tournament. 

“They’ve never been paid in 43 years,” he said. “That’s absolutely unheard of. They’re our partners. We couldn’t do it without them. They’re our most important volunteers.” 

This year’s event will be held July 02 to 5 with 225 teams lined up to play.

The Robbie Mini-Soccer Festival is planned for June 26 and 27.

About 50 or 60 kids under nine years old participate. 

“It’s all about the kids having fun,” he said. “There’s a parade, the kids play some soccer and the event raises money for charity.” 

This year’s tournament is expected to raise $50,000.  For more information on the tournament visit their website at www.robbiesoccertournament.com

– Michele McLean