The Linda Buchanan Award

Do you know someone who has made a difference?

The Linda Buchanan Award is given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of volunteer engagement. It is named after Linda Buchanan, a visionary of human capacity and a pursuer of community improvement. Linda served as a Village Councillor in Port Stanley and was the first recipient of the award in 1991. She inspired those around her to reach new heights and helped individuals realize their potential in their own unique way. Linda was a family person, a mentor and a friend to many people. She was a professional and above all, she was proud to be herself in a most natural way.

Just a short seven years after Linda was awarded for her contribution to volunteer administration, she was taken away from us in a tragic car accident. Earlier on in that fateful day she had been kite-flying with a number of volunteers. The activity of kite-flying is a fitting example of Linda’s zest for life, optimism and vision for new heights. To commemorate her lasting legacy, PAVRO renamed the Outstanding Administrator Award in her honour and memory.

Nominations are invited each year from our membership - a colleague who deserves this special recognition, an administrator who has inspired and mentored, someone who has strengthened the volunteer force in their organization or community.

The winner of each year's Award will serve on the Awards Selection Committee for the following year. Please Note: Nominees must hold current PAVRO memberships.

Join us in congratulating the recipient of the 2024 Linda Buchanan Award - Erin McLean!   

Erin McLean holds a Master's degree in Political Science with a focus in Conflict Resolution, from the University of Waterloo, as well as a certificate in Fundraising and Volunteer Management from George Brown College. 

 

Since starting her career as a volunteer engagement professional, she has experience in both provincial and national organizations, with a successful track record in targeted community recruitment, inter-organizational collaboration, resource development and program implementation. Located in Ontario, Canada, Erin’s current role is as Director of Alumni and Volunteer Engagement at Trails Youth Initiatives. 

 

Erin is the recipient of the 2016 PAVRO Young Leader Award, and the inaugural winner of the 2020 DRAVA Leader of Volunteers Award, as well as first place honours as 2020’s Emerging Leader Award Recipient from VMPC (Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada). Driven by the potential of volunteer impact, Erin is passionate about influencing that potential in the work she does and as an active member of the volunteer engagement community. Eager to connect and collaborate with peers, Erin currently volunteers as the Chair of Regional Engagement for VMPC and also sits on the Engage Editorial team as Co-Editor of the Ethics section. In 2022, Erin also spent time with Conestoga College as an Instructor for the Volunteer Management Certificate Program and has also been published in Engage (formerly e-Volunteerism). In addition to her volunteering, Erin is also an experienced workshop presenter and conference panellist.

When not working or volunteering, Erin loves to spend time with her husband, daughter, and puppy! She enjoys cooking, and travel and is a huge Toronto Maple Leafs fan! 

Past recipients of the Linda Buchanan Award

1991	Linda Buchanan	2004	Alison Caird	2017	Erin Spink
1992	Marg Warriner	2005	Joan Cox	2018	Lorraine McGrattan
1993	Lorraine Pollock	2006	Syrelle Bernstein	2019	Kathy Magee
1994	Carissa Urquhart	2007	Not awarded	2020	Charmaine Cades
1995	Nan Einarson	2008	Emanuela Gennaccaro Ducharme	2021	Adriane Beaudry
1996	Magda Rigo	2009	Anna Grenier	2022	Lynn Felker
1997	Marilyn MacKenzie	2010	Karen Sacke	2024	Erin McLean
1998	Anthea Hoare	2011	Elizabeth Straiton
1999	Colin Thacker	2012	Lori Gotlieb
2000	Carol Anne Clarke	2013	Faiza Venzant
2001	Doug Miron	2014	Michael Fliess
2002	Beth Schroeder	2015	Loretta Turpin
2003	Andrea Cohen	2016	Kathleen Douglass