Bresinger Award of Excellence
Lawrence D. Bresinger (1934 –1993) was a Founding Member and the first National Executive Director of The Kidney Foundation of Canada. During his 11 years as National Executive Director (1967-1978), the Foundation grew from a small group of individuals to an important Canadian volunteer health charity. His accomplishments at the Foundation were outstanding. In partnership with the volunteer leadership, he contributed to a rapid growth in the Foundation’s membership. Under his leadership, the Foundation saw an increase in public contributions from $3,000 to well over $1 million. This in turn established the Foundation as a vital contributor to the development of renal research in Canada. Lawrence Bresinger truly was instrumental in establishing a national movement of people dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of people living with kidney disease.
Created in 1979 to honour Lawrence D. Bresinger’s outstanding service and dedication to the Mission and goals of The Kidney Foundation of Canada, this award is presented in his name to a staff member whose outstanding effort and performance over a number of years has had an impact which has affected the Foundation on a national basis and has made a significant contribution to the growth and development of the Foundation as a whole.
Click here for more details on the Nomination Process
The latest recipient for the Bresinger Award of Excellence is:
2019 Elizabeth Myles, National Executive Director
Past recipients of this prestigious award include:
2018 Linda Pellas, National Director of Development
2017 Anthony Tirone, Ontario Branch - Director, Philanthropy & Community Development
2016 Karen Philp, British Columbia Branch
2015 Carole Larouche, National Director of Finance & Jim O'Brien, Ontario Branch Executive Director
2014 Nadine Valk, National Director, Programs & Public Policy
2013 Wendy Kudeba, Ontario Branch - Director of Marketing & Communications
2012 Silvana Anania, National Director of Operations
2011 Lorraine Gerard, British Columbia Branch - Executive Director
2010 Joyce VanDeurzen, Southern Alberta Branch and Saskatchewan Branch - Executive Director
2009 Wim Wolfs, National Office - National Director of Research
2008 Teresa Havill, National Office - National Director of Human Resources
2007 Guy Langlois, Quebec Branch - Executive Director
2006 Bryan Culver, National Office - Direct Mail Operations Manager
2005 Jeanne Bisson, National Office - Executive Assistant
2004 Dinny Holroyd, National Office - National Director, Volunteer & Staff Development
2003 Gavin Turley, National Office - National Executive Director
2002 Linda Pellas, Quebec Branch - Director of Fundraising
2001 Brenda Szabo, Greater Ontario Branch - Executive Director
2000 Linda Spencer, Southern Alberta Branch - Director of Programs
1999 Elaine Hayter,Greater Ontario Branch - Chapter Manager
1998 Rhonda O’Gallagher, National Office - National Communications Director
1997 Janet Bick, Central Ontario Branch – Manager ,Provincial Advocacy Program
1996 Francis Ashfield, New Brunswick Branch - Executive Director
1995 Merle Hodnett, Greater Ontario Branch - Director of Patient Services
1994 Dinny Holroyd, Saskatchewan Branch - Executive Director
1993 Valerie Bunz, Calgary Chapter & Southern Alberta - Director of Programs
1992 Joyce VanDeurzen, Calgary Chapter & Southern Alberta - Executive Director
1991 Catherine Serge,National Office - Research Grants Coordinator
1990 Judy Carwell, Edmonton Chapter & Northern Alberta - Executive Director
1989 Merle MacAulay, Manitoba Branch - Executive Director
1988 Don Lamont, Ontario Branch - Executive Director
1987 Ann Munro, British Columbia Branch - Executive Director
1986 Jim Irvine, Nova Scotia Branch - Executive Director
1985 Leona Ship, Ottawa Valley Chapter - Executive Director
1984 Shelley Paris, National Office - Director of Medical Programs
1983 Sheldon Zettler (posthumously), Manitoba Branch - Acting Executive Director
1982 John Sweeney, Ontario Branch - Executive Director
1981 Ruth Fisher, Nova Scotia Branch - Secretary
1980 Linda Pellas, Quebec Branch - Fundraising & Communications Coordinator
1979 Wyn Tyler, Ontario Branch - Office Manager