THE THOMAS SILL COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS

The Thomas Sill Foundation, in collaboration with the CPA Manitoba Foundation has established the Thomas Sill Community Service Award to honor Mr. Sill’s professional and charitable legacy in Manitoba. This $1,500 award is presented to up to two candidates, students or recent graduates in good standing with CPA Manitoba, who demonstrate a passion for leadership through volunteering in Manitoba. The selected recipient(s) will also have the opportunity to award up to $7,000 in financial support to a charity of their choice.*

2023 Thomas Sill Community Service Award Recipients

The Thomas Sill Foundation, in collaboration with the CPA Manitoba Foundation, is pleased to announce that Filipe Camarotti Ferreira da Rocha and Danielle Perron are this year’s recipients of the Thomas Sill Community Service Award – given to CPA students or recent graduates who demonstrate a passion for leadership through volunteering in Manitoba.

Filipe Camarotti Ferreira da Rocha

For the past three years, Filipe has volunteered as facilitator of New Pride of Winnipeg – Rainbow Resource Centre, a social and support group for 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers part of the Rainbow Resource Center, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to support the community. Filipe is proud to have been able to help keep the group running through the COVID-19 pandemic by running monthly group meetings, creating and facilitating engagement activities, hosting group participants, and making sure everyone felt comfortable and welcomed to a safe space.

Between 2017 and 2020, Filipe also volunteered at Thrive Thrift Store, a thrift shop part of the Thrive Community Support Circle Inc. As a newcomer to Canada, Filipe was eager to improve his English skills, learn more about the Winnipeg community, adapt to the Canadian culture, and make friends.

Danielle Perron

Danielle has been committed to volunteering and giving back to the community for many years in different capacities.
Throughout her life, Danielle has made it a priority to get involved in the community and make a positive impact wherever she can. Her love of giving back began as a child going door to door to raise money for various charities, such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation, to when she was older taking part in the CancerCare Manitoba Challenge for Life. Danielle is a firm believer that any one person can make a difference, no matter how big or small.

After participating in the CIBC Run for a Cure, she decided to join the volunteer committee to help with the next years run. It was a wonderful experience seeing everything come together. Danielle knew from that point on that volunteering was something that she would never stop doing.

In 2016 Danielle joined a team that was participating in an event called Motionball. Motionball is a one-day Marathon of Sport in which teams set a fundraising goal and if that goal is reached, compete in the Marathon. All funds raised go towards Special Olympics athletes. Each team is paired with a Special Olympic athlete to complete with them throughout the day and it was magical. Danielle was so touched by the athletes’ stories and the fun that was had throughout the day, that she joined the planning committee.

Most recently a friend introduced her to a nonprofit organization named K9 Advocates Manitoba. Having a dog of her own and having always been a lover of animals, she knew that she needed to be involved. Currently, she is the Social Media Director and has mentioned that this has been the most challenging volunteer position that she has held as most people are not aware that Manitoba has a dog overpopulation issue. It is a sad reality that needs more attention around it. K9 Advocates Manitoba’s goal is to provide rural First Nation communities with assistance to manage this overpopulation of stray dogs.

Previous Recipients

Calvin Loi

Calvin is a CPA candidate who believes that volunteering helps to build stronger communities and has targeted community involvement with increasing responsibilities and significance around three main pillars – celebrating cultural diversity, removing barriers to higher education, and empowering youth.

Calvin co-founded the Westland Foundation’s Scholars’ Committee with the goal of removing financial barriers for inner-Winnipeg youth accessing post-secondary education and even helped spearhead LEARN.ZINE – an electronic platform showcasing community initiatives. Through this project, Calvin gained public recognition from the Prime Minister for the valuable contribution made towards Canadian communities.

Calvin has been extremely involved with Folklorama in various roles throughout the years and has chosen to support the Folklorama Cultural Preservation Fund through the Thomas Sill Foundation so that individual and cultural communities can have access to additional funding to support projects for children and young adults that celebrate, educate, promote, and preserve culture.

Larissa Williams

Larissa is a CPA student who believes that volunteering is not only a worthwhile opportunity to help others, but also allows one to grow and learn new skills.

Larissa has regularly volunteered with the Girl Guides of Canada to help inspire young girls to be independent and strong individuals. Larissa was a Guide Leader for “Guides” (the formal program for 9 to 11-year-old girls) leading weekly meetings, participating in sleepovers and planning camping trips.

Larissa also volunteered as a Therapy Dog handler at the Misericordia Hospital visiting senior patients on a weekly basis and as an Indigenous Services Canada Treaty Payment Initiative Volunteer which allowed her more of an understanding of treaties and appreciation of Indigenous culture.

Most recently, Larissa has become involved with the Prairies Region of Cystic Fibrosis Canada and has chosen to support them through the Thomas Sill Foundation to help improve awareness and advance research about cystic fibrosis which affects the daily lives of thousands of Canadians.

Application Process

The application process for the awards is administered by the CPA Manitoba Foundation.  Further information on the awards and the application process and application form can be found on the CPA Manitoba Foundation website by clicking here.

Please note the application process opens in the fall each year with awards announced in the February following.

*Please note award recipients must select a Manitoba charity that is consistent with the Thomas Sill Foundation mandate and granting guidelines.