Three Blakes Employees Receive Firm's Volunteer of Distinction Award 2010

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Louise Guay, a secretarial assistant in our Montréal office, was recognized as Exceptional Volunteer of the Year from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Louise is among six recipients of this award, which recognizes and pays tribute to the great contributions that the philanthropic community has made.

Louise has volunteered with numerous organizations throughout her life for causes such as poverty, education and music. In 1976, Louise co-founded a housing facility for young women in Québec. The facility blossomed into a full-time soup kitchen called Café Rencontre du Centre-Ville, as well as a clothing counter for the poor called La Manne à Linge in St-Roch.

Since Louise's arrival at Blakes in 2003, she has organized fundraising concerts in Québec and Montréal with proceeds going to soup kitchens or food banks. She now serves as development adviser to the board of the Société d'histoire du Protestantisme franco-québécois with a mission to raise funds for the creation of a Museum of French Protestant History in Québec.

Jennifer Sargeant, a secretarial assistant in our Calgary office, has been with the Firm since 2000. Jennifer’s contributions to Blakes are varied and numerous. She works tirelessly every year on our United Way campaign to ensure a successful and fun United Way project. She also sits on our Recognition and Reward Committee and, for the past three years, has provided valuable input and strength into maintaining this creative initiative for the Blakes Calgary office.

However, her main focus of volunteerism is and continues to be the Canadian Red Cross and organization of our Calgary Blakes Blood Donor Clinic. At present, she is working with the Canadian Red Cross/Canadian Blood Services to brainstorm ideas to increase awareness around blood donations and the importance of same. She is a planning a "What’s Your Type" session in the new year, where people can drop in and find out what their blood type is, while learning more about blood donations and the ease in which each of us can save a life.

Marianne Smith, an Associate in our Toronto office, is actively involved as a volunteer and board member with a variety of organizations that seek to provide support and assistance to those in need. For example, as a board member of St. Judes Community Homes from November 2006 to May 2009, Marianne has provided her legal and governance knowledge and experience to an agency that provides housing and support services for individuals struggling with mental illness.

As a current member of the board of Sherbourne Community Health Centre (since June 2009) and a member of the executive committee and co-chair of the governance committee, Marianne is bringing her extensive knowledge in law, governance and government to an organization that is helping improve the health of individuals in one of the neediest communities in Toronto.

Marianne is also an active member of the Firm's pro bono initiatives. She supports Evergreen and Parkdale Community Health Centre with her time and service. She has continuously committed herself to the development of the Firm's human resources. She commits herself to a variety of Firm activities, including her participation as a member of the Student Committee, her participation in student events, recruiting, mentoring, Coffee Talk with students and the United Way campaign.

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