Woo Hoo! Joan and Ray!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012 by: SooToday.com Staff
NEWS RELEASE
CITY OF SAULT STE. MARIE
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Joan M. Foster and The Honourable Ray Stortini to receive Community Recognition Award
SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - The 2012 recipients of the City’s Community Recognition Award are Joan M. Foster and the Honourable Ray Stortini, retired Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
The Cultural Advisory Board Community Recognition Award is presented annually by the Corporation of the City of Sault Ste. Marie.
This award recognizes cultural contributions for activities considered to be particularly outstanding, innovative, or which have demonstrated long-term commitment to culture as defined in the City’s Cultural Policy.
Joan M. Foster receives the award for contributions in the performing and literary arts and the Honourable Ray Stortini is recognized for contributions in the heritage arts (see attached backgrounders).
The Community Recognition Awards for 2012 will be presented at the October 22, 2012 City Council meeting.
Congratulations to this year’s recipients.
Backgrounders
Joan M. Foster
Joan Foster has been a volunteer for the Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie & District for many years.
She has served as a board member, and chaired many fundraising events and activities including silent auctions and bonanza draws.
Through World Religion Day, Joan has made people from diverse backgrounds and faiths feel welcome.
Her dedication and commitment to many organizations helps make Sault Ste. Marie a better place to live.
The following are some of the organizations for which Joan has volunteered for:
• Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie and District
• Over the Rainbow Children’s Entertainment Series
• Sault Theatre Workshop
• Musical Comedy Guild
• Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Corps
• Sault Area Hospital - Cup of Comfort idea
• Co-moderating World Religion Day
• Women In Crisis - 100 Years of Fashion/History Show
• Business & Professional Women’s Club Sault Ste. Marie Homecoming Event – dedication and creativity to this unique festival
• Spirits Rising - naming of the structure
• Sportsmen’s Show - combining the arts with the outdoors
Joan is a role model for seniors, showing by example the importance of becoming active in the community and supporting our charities to better the quality of life for all citizens.
She raised over $10,000 for the cancer clinic at the Sault & District Area Hospital. Her submission was accepted in the naming of the Spirits Rising structure on the City’s waterfront.
As a member of the Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Corps Joan has greeted many visitors at important events in the Sault.
Because of Joan’s dedication and determination over the years, many partnerships have developed between businesses and organizations in Sault Ste. Marie and the arts and culture community.
The Honourable Ray Stortini
The Honourable Judge Ray Stortini is of Italian descent, having been raised in Sault Ste. Marie’s Italian community.
He is a retired Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and became one of the first judges of Italian origin in Ontario when he was appointed as judge of York County at Toronto in 1971.
He is the recipient of the Judge I. A. Vannini Award (2007) recognizing individuals who have achieved distinction in having made an outstanding contribution locally and nationally in the field of culture.
In 2012, the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration presented him with Ontario’s highest honour – the “Order of Ontario.”
The Honourable Ray Stortini has been and is still involved in the Italian community as well as being attuned to the issues of the Aboriginal community.
He has been instrumental in the revision of the Elettra Marconi Ladies Club and Club Calabrese constitutions, bringing the revisions up-to-date regarding fundamental principles according to which these Italian organizations are acknowledged to be governed.
Ray Stortini organized the committee for revitalization of the James Street neighbourhood, once known as “Little Italy,” where he was raised.
In 2006, Ray Stortini published a book: Only in Canada: Memories of an Italian Canadian.
In it, Ray chronicles his experiences of being raised in the west end of the city of Sault Ste. Marie.
He also published Act 2 of Arrow of the Moon which was performed by Cree students in Sault Ste. Marie.
This was also performed at the Premier’s Performance of the 1967 Canadian National Exhibition.
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