This award has been named in Memory of Sgt. John Joseph Lowell. John Lowell was a dedicated grass-roots volunteer of the National Capital Region Chapter of the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada.

In the beginning when the Foundation was nothing more than an answering machine and a handful of volunteers, John always committed his personal time to help with any fundraising or wish-granting event. He could be counted on to do anything, small or large, without hesitation. He served as a member of the Ottawa Police Service for 33 years and demonstrated a strong commitment to the community in which he lived.

He was a role model to his colleagues by encouraging and recruiting them to volunteer with him at CWF events. He was a devoted brother, a loving husband and a proud father and grand-father. John’s favourite CWF event was the annual Wishnic - a picnic for all of the wish children and their families.

Year after year he could be found flipping burgers and helping wherever help was needed. At Wishnic 2004 John cooked burgers for the kids for the last time. He passed away suddenly a week later. It is thanks to the dedicated, grass-roots volunteers like John, that the National Capital Region Chapter of the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada has grown into the organization that it is today.

This award has been created to recognize and honor an individual (or group) who demonstrate outstanding achievement in volunteerism and extraordinary dedication to the National Capital Region Chapter of the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada and the community in general.

The award will demonstrate and celebrate the commitment of the CWF-NCR to volunteerism and to the community. It will promote and publicize the need for volunteers in our community and sub-chapter regions.