Community Service Award
For generously volunteering time to programs and services that make our community a better place.
Award Presented By: Hannah Feeney and Henrique Reis, reis Informatica
Community Service Nominees
Wafa Agha
Wafa Agha is the founder of Live with SWAY, leading with heart and a deep commitment to community. Through a range of initiatives such as SWAY's Annual Ramadan Market, she strategically supports small businesses and meaningful community programs. Her work has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs, building bridges across communities and empowering individuals to pursue their dreams, while creating opportunities for youth to give back and contribute in meaningful ways. Wafa’s genuine care, inclusive leadership, and passion for community continue to create lasting impact. She has led and been part of many initiatives, including wellness challenges, pop-up cafés focused on belonging, and diverse cultural events.
Morgan Braganza
Morgan Braganza has been a Waterloo Region resident since the age of 8. Since then, she has committed thousands of hours (in addition to paid employment, now as a professor and researcher) engaged in many diversified volunteer activities. As a youth, she volunteered in different ways such as by supporting nursing home residents. Later, she began helping people achieve their self-identified goals through mentorship, research, education, and training. This includes voluntarily engaging in event planning and conference organization activities. She has served on several working boards (e.g., establishing policies). After gaining academic training in research and program evaluation, she volunteered her expertise to assist not-for-profit organizations and academic institutions produce research, reports, peer-reviewed publications, and conference presentations. Given her training as a social work researcher, she is passionate about sharing knowledge, and has voluntarily provided training sessions to different groups on topics such as burnout prevention, ethics, program evaluation, and how to constructively navigate diversity. She voluntarily mentors children, youth, students, and adults by supervising research projects, supervising internships, running leadership programming, and helping youth self-organize civic engagement initiatives such as food and backpack drives. Since 2013 when she co-founded the not-for-profit organization Kung-Fu for Christ Canada, she has voluntarily engaged in teaching free kung-fu classes and workshops (e.g., women’s self-defense, PD day camps, seniors’ fitness) to vulnerable children, youth, and adults alongside youth and adult leadership development, administration, fundraising, marketing, and research activities. At the heart of her voluntary work is a commitment to serving individuals, families, and organizations and building meaningful relationships.
Nicole Detlor
Nicole Detlor, P.Eng., M.Sc., is a national leader in food systems innovation, applied research, and community impact. As Director of the Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab (CFRIL), she expanded the lab from 2 to 70+ projects annually, supporting 220+ companies, 100+ student researchers, and securing over $1.8 million in funding. Her partnerships with the Cambridge Food Bank and Food Banks Canada strengthen food recovery and distribution, increasing both the volume and nutritional quality of meals for those experiencing food insecurity. Nicole also volunteers with the Scorpions Volleyball Club and the City of Guelph Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee.
Laura Galbraith
Laura Galbraith is a Waterloo Region community leader dedicated to strengthening connections between the technology sector and local community organizations. As Director of Community Impact at Vidyard, she leads initiatives that drive social impact and civic engagement. Born and raised in Waterloo and a graduate of the University of Waterloo, Laura has built her career within the region's innovation ecosystem, including earlier work at Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Educational Outreach, which sparked her ongoing passion for student STEM/STEAM programming. Through her leadership, Laura continues to mobilize individuals, companies, and communities to contribute meaningfully to Waterloo Region.
Carrie Gusé
Carrie Gusé is a dedicated advocate for the Waterloo Region, committed to building relationships and making a lasting difference in her community. Her professional life is defined by service; she is the Morning Show Co-host on Faith FM and champions the needs of local children as the Community Engagement Coordinator for Food4Kids Waterloo Region. A lifelong resident of the region, Carrie has raised her children here and loves to serve her community with heart. Her background includes extensive leadership in the creative arts, where she served various churches, Community networks, has been on non-profit Boards and assists with live music at local funeral homes. Carrie is known for her ability to connect with people in any room she enters and her passion for this community is evident in everything she does.
Marcella Habermehl
Marcella is 76 year young and has dedicated over 40 years to coaching youth bowling, inspiring generations of young athletes with her fiery passion and expertise. Her unwavering commitment to the sport has not only helped players refine their skills but also instilled confidence, sportsmanship, and a lifelong love for the game. Through her guidance, countless kids have grown both on and off the lanes, making her a cherished mentor and role model in our community. She is now coaching the children of the children that she once coached.
Heidi Hallman
Heidi is the lead site associate for McMaster University PG Family Medicine Program at the Waterloo Regional Campus in Kitchener. She has held this role for 17 years. She is a mother of 7 and enjoys time with her 9 grandchildren.
Lucia Harrison
Lucia Harrison is a long-serving leader at the KW Multicultural Centre who has dedicated 36 years to community service advancing immigrant inclusion, settlement, and community belonging in Waterloo Region. Through her leadership, she has helped tens of thousands of newcomers successfully integrate, while building strong cross-sector partnerships that strengthen social cohesion, support the development of grassroots organizations and celebration of cultures. Lucia’s work has shaped local approaches to community and health services, multiculturalism, equity, and inclusion, leaving a legacy that will continue to influence how Waterloo Region welcomes, supports and celebrates diverse communities well into the future.
Colleen James
Colleen James is an award-winning municipal leader, Regional Councillor for the Region of Waterloo representing Kitchener, and Founder & CEO of Divonify. With over 15 years in municipal government, she is recognized for advancing equity, inclusion, and civic engagement across Waterloo Region. A trailblazer in representation, she is the first Black woman elected to Regional Council. Colleen is also the founder of Democracy in Action Waterloo Region, promoting civic participation and community dialogue. Her leadership continues to inspire collaboration and strengthen communities.
Mona Loffelmann
Mona Loffelmann is a dedicated community leader who has spent over a decade advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. She develops outreach programs supporting Black and marginalized communities, including housing assistance, a Black Mental Health Campaign for youth, and health initiatives addressing diabetes, hypertension, and mental health. Mona also leads senior support programs, wellness activities, and community workshops. As Project Coordinator and Cultural Navigator and Executive Director of AFRO, she collaborates with partners to deliver impactful services. Her compassionate leadership and commitment to uplifting others make her an exceptional nominee for the Oktoberfest Woman of the Year
Chrissy McKenty
Chrissy founded and runs Miss Dixie's foundation. A distributor of food and supplies for animal rescues, food insecurity programs, and food banks
Chanelle Seguin
Chanelle has called Kitchener home her whole life. She's worked for Kitchener Public Library for 3+ years as a programmer. It brings her great joy and purpose to facilitate safer, engaging spaces for the community. Her interests are vast and she believes this makes her a valuable service member for Kitchener. She's sold local produce at St. Jacobs Market, shared food literacy skills with some of our most vulnerable community members, advocated for queer safe spaces by participating in Spectrum Sports events, documented local women’s sports, and created space for the French and German languages to be celebrated.
Dorothy Wilson
After being raised in Southern Ontario and, because of her desire to work with people, Dorothy pursued a career in nursing. She did community nursing with the VON and Public Health, worked as a case manager at Surrey Place in Toronto (an agency that provided services to developmentally delayed children and adults), and taught Childbirth Education classes at Sheridan College in Brampton and Mississauga. She also worked for Peel Region Home Care (later know as the Mississauga-Halton Community Care Access Centre) from 1988 until her retirement in 2009. Throughout Dorothy's career, she developed and honed her exemplary motivational and leadership skills.