IDI GTA has been giving Public Heroes Awards since 2011 to recognize the outstanding service of Toronto Police, Fire and Paramedic Services in maintaining public safety in the city of Toronto. In 2014, upon recommendation from its advisory board, IDI GTA has decided the extend the scope of the awards to whole Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
The goal of the awards is to recognize the dedication and excellence of individual members or team members of police, fire and paramedic services in GTA (including RCMP, OPP, ORNGE and Corrections Ontario) for delivering their services in an ethnically and culturally diverse environment.
Award recipients are selected by a hosting & selection committee based the following three criteria: “Altruism”, “Dedication” and “Community Involvement”.
Members of the Hosting & Selection Committee
Armand La Barge Retired Chief, York Regional Police
Bill Blair MP, Scarborough Southwest
Bruce Farr Retired Chief, Toronto Paramedic Services
Bruce Newton Superintendent, Toronto Paramedic Services
Chuck Mercier Former Mayor, Township of Scugog
Colin Carrie Member of Parliament, Oshawa
Dave Ralph Retired Commander, Toronto Paramedic Services
Deryn Rizzi Deputy Chief, Vaughan Fire Department
Jagmeet Singh MPP, Bramalea-Gore-Malton
Johnny Bobbili Constable, Toronto Police
Mike Ewles Retired Chief, Durham Regional Police
Rahul Bhardwaj President & CEO, Toronto Community Foundation
Rick Stubbings Staff Superintendent, Toronto Police
Rose Buhagiar Director, Toronto South Detention Centre
Tony Warr Retired Deputy Chief, Toronto Police
Usha George Dean, Faculty of Community Services, Ryerson University
Nominations, Selection Process and Awards
One staff member or a team from each service in all four regions of GTA (Peel, York, Toronto, Durham) as well as members of RCMP, OPP, ORNGE and Correctional Services will be awarded with Public Heroes Award. Nominations will be submitted online via a designated web page by members of the public. Deadline for nominations is March 1st, 2016. Selection committee will cast their votes online to determine the award recipients.
Awards Ceremony for Public Heroes 2016 will be held on April 14th at Mississauga Convention Centre.
Click here for Public Heroes Awards Ceremonies from previous years…
