TORONTO, Ontario – On Friday night in Toronto at the Ontario Community Newspaper Association annual BCN Awards Gala, Rick was presented with one of the premier association recognition awards for his work in his community and the work the newspaper does .
The Award is coordinated by the OCNF, with generous support of the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). Together, they are committed to recognizing dedicated newspaper employees who are constantly making a difference within their communities.
” I am very honored to have received this award” said Shaver ” the work I do in the community is to make it a better place to live, to build a stronger foundation for growth and for the next generation and to create a great home for those that live here. None of this would be possible if not for my great family, supportive friends and associations and my staff who works with me daily on helping the community.”
In 1985, Rick Shaver co-founded the Cornwall Seaway News with Dick Aubry and ensured the community newspaper remained just that – a very large part of its community. Despite changes in technology and the way readers receive their news, Rick’s commitment to the product has not changed. He continues to build relationships, encourages his staff to do the same, and provides the community with a gateway to share their stories.
Rick has a contagious positive energy and grin to go along with it. He is a recognized voice within the Cornwall community and frequently approached by leaders of organizations looking for help.
While Cornwall Seaway News prints ads and publishes editorials to help various organizations, Rick chooses to be a little more hands-on. He has been nicknamed the “Godfather of Pizza” and continues to work with the Kinsmen Club of Cornwall’s Annual Pizza Party, which pits eight local restaurants against each other in a friendly competition to discover Cornwall’s best pizza. Now in its 11th year, the fundraiser has collected $140,000 for local charities.
He also helps with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Cornwall’s Italian Night, which typically sells out and attracts roughly 300 guests each year to raises money for those affected by MS. Rick’s close ties with Big Brothers Big Sisters has seen him participate in bowl-a-thons, and he continues to support the Boys and Girls Club of Cornwall and the St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences. He was recognized for his tremendous volunteer contributions with a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
He has served the Ontario Community Newspapers Association’s board of directors for 16 years, acting as President in 2007 and lending his knowledge and passion for the industry. He somehow finds the time to sit on many other boards, including Cornwall and the Counties Community Futures Development Corporation and the Kinsmen Club of Cornwall, of which he has served as President and Chairman of many community events for a combined total of 25 years. Not to mention the number of organizations he has helped in the past, including the Canadian Community Newspapers Association, Cornwall Chamber of Commerce in various roles for 21 years; the Cornwall Carbon Reduction Committee and the Agapè Food Bank.
Rick is an industry leader and community role model, which is why the Ontario Community Newspapers Foundation (OCNF) and the Insurance Bureau of Canada is proud to recognize him with the 2016 IBC Community Award in Memory of Mary Knowles. Mary Knowles was a dedicated newspaper employee and active community member who died from breast cancer in 1996.
Rick accepted his award during the BNC Awards Gala on Friday, April 7 at the Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel.
Seaway News was also recognized at the awards presentations with a Second place award for Best Editorial, circ. over 10,000. Also a honorable mention for Best Vertical Product for the Cornwall Seaway News Cornwall and Counties Visitor Guide.
