Bob Paradis's Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers

On October 29, 2025, Perley Health proudly celebrated Robert “Bob” Paradis, Superintendent (Ret'd), RCMP, as he received the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers, one of Canada's highest honours for volunteer service. The Medal recognizes the exceptional volunteer achievements of Canadians from across the country in a wide range of fields and pays tribute to the dedication and commitment of volunteers. Honorees receive The Medal, as well as a lapel pin for everyday wear and a certificate signed by the Governor General.

The Medal, presented to Bob during a ceremony at Perley Health, recognizes Bob's extraordinary contributions to the community. Over the course of the last 24 years, Bob has contributed more than 9,000 volunteer hours, including 7,400 hours volunteering at Perley Health, and 1,671 hours with the Ottawa Children's Treatment Centre (OCTC). From crafting adaptive furniture for children with complex disabilities to creating woodworking kits, busy boards, and countless special projects for residents and Veterans, Bob's craftsmanship and compassion have touched countless lives.

“Bob joyfully shares his talents, his charm and his whole heart with everyone he interacts with and, in doing so, makes our healthcare settings more welcoming and enjoyable for all,” says Rachel Stoparczyk, Manager, Volunteer Services. “He is truly deserving of this special recognition by the Governor General of Canada.”

This was not the first time Bob's volunteer work and career has been honoured. in 2006 he took home the Volunteer of the Year award at OCTC; and in 2021, he took home Perley's Volunteer of the Year Award, recognizing his exceptional kindness to staff and families and his consistently excellent work. 

Bob started his volunteer career by answering a 2001 advertisement seeking woodworkers to build adaptive furniture for OCTC clients. For this role, Bob was required to use his home workshop, where he built equipment prescribed by Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists who supported children with complex physical and developmental disabilities. Each child had very unique needs, and Bob was happy to consult with the therapists to find solutions outside of standardized plans for each project; he built every item in a way that promoted independence for children whose needs could not be met with off-the-shelf furniture. Bob finished each of his pieces with his trademark heart-shaped motif, a fitting symbol of the pride and care he takes in his work. During his time with OCTC, Bob completed more than 80 handmade pieces of equipment that families may not have been able to afford. 

Bitten by the volunteer bug, Bob took on a second role in the woodshop at Perley Health starting July 2010, constructing kits with fellow volunteer woodworkers that would later be assembled, decorated, and enjoyed by Seniors and Veterans in the Ozerdinc Grimes Family Therapeutic Recreation and Creative Arts programs. These kits include toys, model airplanes, birdhouses, jewellery boxes and more. Over the course of the last fifteen years, Bob has continued to volunteer two full days per week. In addition to the thousands of kits made for the woodworking classes over these last fifteen years, he also created “busy boards” for the Specialized Behaviour Support Unit to occupy seniors with advanced dementia, as well as shelving to meet the unique needs of Perley Health's Chaplain.

Beyond his role as a woodworking volunteer, Bob has also accepted other volunteer roles and assignments at Perley Health. During the pandemic, Bob was also one of the first volunteers to return as soon as it was permitted. Though the Creative Arts program was still shuttered, Bob helped wherever he could- supervising outdoor visits for long-term care residents and their families, and escorting families to the hearing clinic that had been set up on site to help the province deal with a backlog of infant screening tests, and more. Several years ago, he recognized the challenge his fellow volunteers faced in the very busy Ice Cream Parlour and began using his breaks from the woodshop to go downstairs and assist the team by helping to scoop ice cream during the rush.

We are so grateful to have you as part of the Perley Health team and as a champion for our community, Bob. We are privileged to celebrate this award alongside you. Congratulations, Bob, on this well-earned and deeply meaningful honour!

The Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers is a national award that recognizes the volunteer achievements of Canadians from across the country in a wide range of fields. It is the highest honour for volunteer service that an individual can receive within the Canadian Honours System. The Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers program was created in 2016 to replace its predecessor, the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award (CCA), conceived in 1995 by then-Governor General the Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc. The Medal builds on the legacy and spirit of the CCA by honouring the dedication and commitment of volunteers. 

- Written by Rachel Stoparczyk, Manager, Volunteer Services, Perley Health Volunteer

The Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers is one of Canada's highest honours for volunteer service. The Medal recognizes the exceptional volunteer achievements of Canadians from across the country in a wide range of fields and pays tribute to the dedication and commitment of volunteers.