Each year at PADS we gather to celebrate our people and our community. We truly appreciate the sacrifice AND gifts that come from leading a life of service. The sacrifice comes by way of time, energy and resources and generally speaking, it can take you away from things that one sometimes might rather be doing. But our hope for each of our volunteers is that the gifts far outweigh the sacrifice. You tend to say that you love PADS, you love our community, you love the dogs, you love learning and you love being part of such an extraordinary mission.
This page is a collection of the Volunteer Award Winners from 2019 onwards. Please join us in celebrating their accomplishments!
Covid Heroes
The 2020 -2021 year has been an undeniably challenging one – for all of us at PADS. It also has meant that new volunteer roles had to be developed on the fly to support new ways of doing business – many of these individuals took on increased workloads related to COVID-19 and some provided specialized expertise or skills that we’ve never needed before. To each of them we are grateful!
CTV News: Pickleball tournament to support PADS
Outlet: CTV News Date: September 20, 2023 Host: Mi-Jung Lee Author: Peter Bremner
Meet the adorable working animals of UBC: From fierce mousers to guiding paws
Outlet: UBC News Date: September 19, 2023 Author: Lui Xia Lee
Global TV: The healing power of PADS dogs
Outlet: Global New Date: September 16, 2023 Host: Jennifer Palma
Meet Christian and PADS Sadie
Join us on Tuesday, September 5th at 1:00 PM PDT for Tune-In-Tuesday featuring another one of our incredible Accredited Facility Dog Teams at the Vancouver Police Department – Christian and PADS Sadie.
Vancouver Sun: Canada’s first justice facility service dog, Caber, dies at 15
Outlet: Vancouver SunDate: August 22, 2023Author: Joseph Ruttle
CTV: ‘Our program is hurting’: Charity urgently needs volunteers to raise puppies in B.C.
Outlet: CTV VancouverDate: August 13, 2023Author: St. John Alexander
Burnaby Now: ‘Critical’: Volunteer shortage threatens supply of assistance dogs
Outlet: Burnaby NowDate: Aug 10, 2023 6:30 PMAuthor: Abhinaya Natesh
THANK YOU SOUTH BURNABY LEGION #83
We would like to thank the Burnaby Royal Canadian Legion Branch #83 for their generous donation of $2,500 from their Poppy Fund. Our Director of Communications, Tara Doherty, with PADS Cadence, visited the Burnaby Legion on BC Day, Sunday, August 6, 2023 during their...
Volunteer Canada
CALLING ALL CANADIANS Together we can enrich the lives of our fellow Canadians through our incredible assistance dogs! From coast to coast, assistance dog schools are calling out the need for more volunteers to help raise puppies as the demand for certified assistance...
THANK YOU SICAMOUS LEGION #99
We would like to thank the Sicamous Royal Canadian Legion Branch #99 for their generous donation of $10,000 from their Poppy Campaign. Our Executive Director Laura Watamanuk, with PADS Mudge, visited the Sicamous Legion Headquarters on Sunday, June 18, 2023 to receive...
Volunteers of the year
CTV News: Pickleball tournament to support PADS
Outlet: CTV News Date: September 20, 2023 Host: Mi-Jung Lee Author: Peter Bremner
Meet the adorable working animals of UBC: From fierce mousers to guiding paws
Outlet: UBC News Date: September 19, 2023 Author: Lui Xia Lee
Global TV: The healing power of PADS dogs
Outlet: Global New Date: September 16, 2023 Host: Jennifer Palma
Meet Christian and PADS Sadie
Join us on Tuesday, September 5th at 1:00 PM PDT for Tune-In-Tuesday featuring another one of our incredible Accredited Facility Dog Teams at the Vancouver Police Department – Christian and PADS Sadie.
Vancouver Sun: Canada’s first justice facility service dog, Caber, dies at 15
Outlet: Vancouver SunDate: August 22, 2023Author: Joseph Ruttle
CTV: ‘Our program is hurting’: Charity urgently needs volunteers to raise puppies in B.C.
Outlet: CTV VancouverDate: August 13, 2023Author: St. John Alexander
Burnaby Now: ‘Critical’: Volunteer shortage threatens supply of assistance dogs
Outlet: Burnaby NowDate: Aug 10, 2023 6:30 PMAuthor: Abhinaya Natesh
THANK YOU SOUTH BURNABY LEGION #83
We would like to thank the Burnaby Royal Canadian Legion Branch #83 for their generous donation of $2,500 from their Poppy Fund. Our Director of Communications, Tara Doherty, with PADS Cadence, visited the Burnaby Legion on BC Day, Sunday, August 6, 2023 during their...
Volunteer Canada
CALLING ALL CANADIANS Together we can enrich the lives of our fellow Canadians through our incredible assistance dogs! From coast to coast, assistance dog schools are calling out the need for more volunteers to help raise puppies as the demand for certified assistance...
THANK YOU SICAMOUS LEGION #99
We would like to thank the Sicamous Royal Canadian Legion Branch #99 for their generous donation of $10,000 from their Poppy Campaign. Our Executive Director Laura Watamanuk, with PADS Mudge, visited the Sicamous Legion Headquarters on Sunday, June 18, 2023 to receive...
Spirit of PADS award
This award is awarded to volunteers that demonstrate extraordinary commitment to PADS and our community in their efforts to support PADS’ mission and vision and is awarded each year to one or more volunteers (or household).
CTV News: Pickleball tournament to support PADS
Outlet: CTV News Date: September 20, 2023 Host: Mi-Jung Lee Author: Peter Bremner
Meet the adorable working animals of UBC: From fierce mousers to guiding paws
Outlet: UBC News Date: September 19, 2023 Author: Lui Xia Lee
Global TV: The healing power of PADS dogs
Outlet: Global New Date: September 16, 2023 Host: Jennifer Palma
Meet Christian and PADS Sadie
Join us on Tuesday, September 5th at 1:00 PM PDT for Tune-In-Tuesday featuring another one of our incredible Accredited Facility Dog Teams at the Vancouver Police Department – Christian and PADS Sadie.
Vancouver Sun: Canada’s first justice facility service dog, Caber, dies at 15
Outlet: Vancouver SunDate: August 22, 2023Author: Joseph Ruttle
CTV: ‘Our program is hurting’: Charity urgently needs volunteers to raise puppies in B.C.
Outlet: CTV VancouverDate: August 13, 2023Author: St. John Alexander
Burnaby Now: ‘Critical’: Volunteer shortage threatens supply of assistance dogs
Outlet: Burnaby NowDate: Aug 10, 2023 6:30 PMAuthor: Abhinaya Natesh
THANK YOU SOUTH BURNABY LEGION #83
We would like to thank the Burnaby Royal Canadian Legion Branch #83 for their generous donation of $2,500 from their Poppy Fund. Our Director of Communications, Tara Doherty, with PADS Cadence, visited the Burnaby Legion on BC Day, Sunday, August 6, 2023 during their...
Volunteer Canada
CALLING ALL CANADIANS Together we can enrich the lives of our fellow Canadians through our incredible assistance dogs! From coast to coast, assistance dog schools are calling out the need for more volunteers to help raise puppies as the demand for certified assistance...
THANK YOU SICAMOUS LEGION #99
We would like to thank the Sicamous Royal Canadian Legion Branch #99 for their generous donation of $10,000 from their Poppy Campaign. Our Executive Director Laura Watamanuk, with PADS Mudge, visited the Sicamous Legion Headquarters on Sunday, June 18, 2023 to receive...
Verne Trevoy award
Verne Trevoy was a Calgary volunteer, a PADS client, and an extraordinary gentleman. With his partner, PADS Service Dog Charlie, at his side, was the heart and soul of the Calgary program. Verne was single handedly responsible for recruiting countless volunteers, donors and even staff to our cause with his gentle, yet passionate, dedication.
This award is presented to a Calgary volunteer (or household) when there is a recipient who exemplifies Verne’s passion and dedication.
CTV News: Pickleball tournament to support PADS
Outlet: CTV News Date: September 20, 2023 Host: Mi-Jung Lee Author: Peter Bremner
Meet the adorable working animals of UBC: From fierce mousers to guiding paws
Outlet: UBC News Date: September 19, 2023 Author: Lui Xia Lee
Global TV: The healing power of PADS dogs
Outlet: Global New Date: September 16, 2023 Host: Jennifer Palma
Meet Christian and PADS Sadie
Join us on Tuesday, September 5th at 1:00 PM PDT for Tune-In-Tuesday featuring another one of our incredible Accredited Facility Dog Teams at the Vancouver Police Department – Christian and PADS Sadie.
Vancouver Sun: Canada’s first justice facility service dog, Caber, dies at 15
Outlet: Vancouver SunDate: August 22, 2023Author: Joseph Ruttle
CTV: ‘Our program is hurting’: Charity urgently needs volunteers to raise puppies in B.C.
Outlet: CTV VancouverDate: August 13, 2023Author: St. John Alexander
Burnaby Now: ‘Critical’: Volunteer shortage threatens supply of assistance dogs
Outlet: Burnaby NowDate: Aug 10, 2023 6:30 PMAuthor: Abhinaya Natesh
THANK YOU SOUTH BURNABY LEGION #83
We would like to thank the Burnaby Royal Canadian Legion Branch #83 for their generous donation of $2,500 from their Poppy Fund. Our Director of Communications, Tara Doherty, with PADS Cadence, visited the Burnaby Legion on BC Day, Sunday, August 6, 2023 during their...
Volunteer Canada
CALLING ALL CANADIANS Together we can enrich the lives of our fellow Canadians through our incredible assistance dogs! From coast to coast, assistance dog schools are calling out the need for more volunteers to help raise puppies as the demand for certified assistance...
THANK YOU SICAMOUS LEGION #99
We would like to thank the Sicamous Royal Canadian Legion Branch #99 for their generous donation of $10,000 from their Poppy Campaign. Our Executive Director Laura Watamanuk, with PADS Mudge, visited the Sicamous Legion Headquarters on Sunday, June 18, 2023 to receive...
Juanita Valentine award
The Juanita Valentine Award is named for this fiesty lady that spent a lifetime supporting PADS with ferocious tenacity, perseverance, and love. This award is now presented only when there is a recipient that reflects her remarkable spirit and commitment. May be presented to any volunteer (or household) in British Columbia.
CTV News: Pickleball tournament to support PADS
Outlet: CTV News Date: September 20, 2023 Host: Mi-Jung Lee Author: Peter Bremner
Meet the adorable working animals of UBC: From fierce mousers to guiding paws
Outlet: UBC News Date: September 19, 2023 Author: Lui Xia Lee
Global TV: The healing power of PADS dogs
Outlet: Global New Date: September 16, 2023 Host: Jennifer Palma
Meet Christian and PADS Sadie
Join us on Tuesday, September 5th at 1:00 PM PDT for Tune-In-Tuesday featuring another one of our incredible Accredited Facility Dog Teams at the Vancouver Police Department – Christian and PADS Sadie.
Vancouver Sun: Canada’s first justice facility service dog, Caber, dies at 15
Outlet: Vancouver SunDate: August 22, 2023Author: Joseph Ruttle
CTV: ‘Our program is hurting’: Charity urgently needs volunteers to raise puppies in B.C.
Outlet: CTV VancouverDate: August 13, 2023Author: St. John Alexander
Burnaby Now: ‘Critical’: Volunteer shortage threatens supply of assistance dogs
Outlet: Burnaby NowDate: Aug 10, 2023 6:30 PMAuthor: Abhinaya Natesh
THANK YOU SOUTH BURNABY LEGION #83
We would like to thank the Burnaby Royal Canadian Legion Branch #83 for their generous donation of $2,500 from their Poppy Fund. Our Director of Communications, Tara Doherty, with PADS Cadence, visited the Burnaby Legion on BC Day, Sunday, August 6, 2023 during their...
Volunteer Canada
CALLING ALL CANADIANS Together we can enrich the lives of our fellow Canadians through our incredible assistance dogs! From coast to coast, assistance dog schools are calling out the need for more volunteers to help raise puppies as the demand for certified assistance...
THANK YOU SICAMOUS LEGION #99
We would like to thank the Sicamous Royal Canadian Legion Branch #99 for their generous donation of $10,000 from their Poppy Campaign. Our Executive Director Laura Watamanuk, with PADS Mudge, visited the Sicamous Legion Headquarters on Sunday, June 18, 2023 to receive...