Rona Brown

Brown was selected as recipient for going well beyond the call of duty in every facet of her career. Those who know her credit a woman who has dedicated her life to improving and protecting the lives of others. Not to mention bringing family violence to the forefront of the political landscape on Prince Edward Island and beyond.

Amidst the celebratory atmosphere Brown reminded guests, “While we gather here today to celebrate our work together, it is also a time of important reflection as we remind ourselves of the real reason we gather today, and that is to share our hope and our vision for a peaceful world where all human beings are afforded the basic human rights of safety and security. Peace truly does begin at home and when one of us does not live in peace, each of us is affected. The common thread woven among us is our humanity".

Bernard Richard

The Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation today presented Bernard Richard with its Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation Award. The Award, presented annually, is named in honour of the Foundation’s late patron, Muriel McQueen Fergusson, O.C., Q.C. P.C

In accepting the award Richard said, “Our recent work on child protection and mental health services for youth has garnered much attention over the past few months. But I could not imagine any stronger encouragement to keep at it than to be recognized by as prestigious an organization as the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation.”

Richard was selected as recipient for the body of his work as a social worker, practicing lawyer, MLA, Cabinet Member, and most recently as Ombudsmen and New Brunswick’s 1st Child & Youth Advocate.

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Madeleine Delaney-LeBlanc

The 15th annual Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation Award was presented to Madeleine Delaney-LeBlanc, social justice activist and founding chair of New Brunswick's Advisory Council on the Status of Women (ACSW).

Delaney-LeBlanc was selected as recipient for her life's work on behalf of women, children and vulnerable populations and as the champion behind the province's first Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

Chair of the MMF Foundation's Award Selection Committee, David Parkinson, stated, "Madeleine has devoted a significant part of her life to improving the situation of women with regard to equal treatment, economic independence and respect - factors that are all crucial components in the development of a society and a culture which seeks to eliminate family violence from our midst. ”

In accepting the award Madeleine said, “Given her outstanding contribution to the advancement of women, being associated with the name of Muriel McQueen Fergusson is in itself very rewarding. And it is with great pride and a lot of modesty that I'm joining the list of the Foundation's award recipients with such illustrious people as June Calwood and Her Excellency Margaret Norrie McCain, to name only a few”.

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Penny K. Ericson

Penny K. Ericson was selected as recipient for her long standing work in the area of family violence. During her 10 year term as Dean of Nursing with the University of New Brunswick, she was instrumental in reshaping the focus and development of curriculum for health care providers. Her focus on gerontological nursing and the special care required by Alzheimer's patients informed her acute understanding for the potential for abuse in the family and care giving context. A donation was made in Penny's name to the Charlotte Street Arts Centre.

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Margaret-Ann Blaney

Margaret-Ann Blaney was selected as recipient for her work on behalf of victims of family violence and as the champion behind the government's Action Plan on Violence Against Women. Minister Blaney chose to make her donation to the Coalition of NB Transition Houses.

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Senator Sharon Carstairs and Margaret Newall

Senator Sharon Carstairs and Margaret Newall were selected as co-recipients for their work on behalf of victims of family violence and as founding members of the Prairieaction Foundation (PAF), which was emulated from the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation. This Prairie-based organization was established in 1997 with a national mission to: 1) sustain the prairie research network called RESOLVE (Research and Education Solutions to Violence and Abuse) that seeks research and education for solutions to violence and abuse; and 2) support national community partnerships pursuing the same goal.

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Red Cross RespectED

RespectED program was selected as this year's recipient for its emphasis on prevention education as a means to stop the cycle of abuse and violence. The program helps to promote healthier relationships and safer communities. Built on decades of Canadian Red Cross experience in prevention education and community-based safety programs, RespectED is the only comprehensive national prevention program that addresses all types of abuse, harassment, neglect and relationship violence. The Foundation donated $1000 to the RespectEd program on behalf of the RedCross of Canada.

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Rina Arseneault

Rina Arseneault was chosen by the Foundation's Provincial Award Selection Committee as the recipient of the 10th Annual Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation Award, because of her community development approach to ending violence against women. The many letters of support spoke to the wide scope of her work, the dedication and commitment to women's equality in her work, and in the way she lives her life.

Tiny in stature but fierce in commitment, Rina has worked as a front line service worker and more recently as Associate Director and community liaison for action research at the UNB's Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research. She was sought out to Co-chair Minister Blaney's Working Group that brought together community and agencies with a mandate to develop a strategic plan around the issue of violence against women.

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Dr. Sandra Byers

Sandra Byers, clinical psychologist, UNB psychology professor, wife and mother of two, was instrumental in helping develop the concept for the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre with its collaborative approach to researching family violence. Dr. Byers had the wisdom to understand that whatever the results of research, if we wanted to truly learn about how to end family violence, research findings have an action-orientated approach. That was almost fifteen years ago and since then the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre has flourished to have a regional approach including 15 teams comprised of over 250 community and academic volunteers. Dr. Byers received the 9th Annual Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation Award at an evening reception Thursday, May 24th, 2001.

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Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre

Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, whose mission and basis of unity focus on action, prevention and education, was chosen by the Foundation's Provincial Award Selection committee because of the wide scope of work, and the commitment of the volunteers whose contribution to the elimination of violence against women and children is without comparison. If you were to ask any of the volunteers they would say it's truly the leadership and commitment of Lorraine Whalley, the Centre's Director of 23 years who sets the example. The Centre was described in one of the nomination support letters as having survived only “through sheer guts and determination”. This must be true in order to have maintained a service which is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, for over thirty years.

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The Body Shop Canada

Guided by the principal that businesses must give back to the communities they trade in, The Body Shop Canada has been working to stop family violence since 1994. Each year, the organization donates staff time and expertise to run a STOP Violence Against Women campaign using its 121 shops across Canada as action centres for the issue. These campaigns help raise awareness about family violence and raise funds for violence prevention and recovery programs. On a community level, franchisees work with local partners to help provide creative, sustainable solutions to help end violence. The Body Shop has been applauded by women's groups, the media, violence prevention workers and even the United Nations for its efforts to help stop family violence. A donation was made to the Canadian Women's Foundation on behalf of The Body Shop of Canada.

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"Making Waves"
Linda Legere
Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre
Debrah Westerburg
Woodstock's Sanctuary House
Simone Harris
Saint John's Hestia House

Linda Legere of the Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, Debrah Westerburg of Woodstock's Sanctuary House, and Simone Harris of Saint John's Hestia House joined forces to create what the National Crime Prevention council chose as a model across Canada. Making Waves is a province wide, bilingual program. This youth driven program strives to educate youth about dating violence and get them involved in prevention activities. It gives young people the skills, awareness and sensitivity they need to deal with a dating violence situation should it arise in their relationships. Making waves has been in place for nine years. In addition to developing resources for teens, they also develop resources for teachers, guidance counsellors and administrators.

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Dr. Donald G. Dutton

Dr. Dutton received his PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Toronto in 1970. He is currently a psychology professor with the University of British Columbia. He has written numerous articles and seven books related to family violence. His books include: Stalking of Inmates, The Domestic Assault of Women: Psychological and Criminal Justice Perspectives, and The Batterer: A Psychological Profile. From 1979 to 1995 Dr. Dutton was a therapist in the Assaultive Husbands Project. The project was a court mandated treatment for men who were convicted of assaulting their wives. It was for this project and his books that Dr. Dutton was chosen as the 6th recipient of the MMFF award.

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Sister Cecile Renault

Sister Cécile Renault was born in Campbellton, New Brunswick in 1925 and died on April 17, 1996 of cancer. Sister Cécile belonged to the order of the Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph for almost fifty years. Sister Renault was recognized by MMFF for her tireless efforts to eradicate family violence. She was very instrumental in the organization of the New Brunswick Coalition of Transition Houses and served as their charter president from 1987 to 1992. In 1990 she was named person of the year by the French newspaper L'Acadie Nouvelle.

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Margaret Norrie McCain
The Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick

The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain has always been very supportive of education and the arts, women's rights and social equality. She is the founding member and lifetime member of the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation. She has also found time to work with organizations such as the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Ontario's Promise, a non-partisan initiative for children and youth and the National Ballet School . More recently, she has served on the board of directors for the Canadian Women's Foundation.

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Dr. Peter Jaffe

Dr. Jaffe is the Founding Director for the Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System (1975 - 2001) and currently a Special Advisor on Violence Prevention for the Centre, which is a children's mental health centre specializing in issues which bring children and families into the justice system in London, Ontario. He is a member of the Clinical Adjunct Faculty for the Department of Psychology and Professor (Part time) for the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Jaffe was recognized for his outstanding work with the management committee for London police department's family consultant service among other numerous panels he sits on.

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June Callwood

June was named the first recipient of the MMFF award for her extensive work towards the elimination of family violence. Throughout her life, Callwood has always been a compassionate woman concerned with social issues, in particular the issues that affect women and children. Despite having a busy career life she has founded or co-founded over fifty social action groups. Some of these include Digger house, a youth hostel; Jessie's, a centre for youth parents; Casey House Hospice for those with AIDS and Feminists Against Censorship. Besides the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation Award, June's volunteer work has earned her many more honours, including the Order of Canada in 1986.