This award was established by the Board of CPC Ontario Division in 2000 to honour the memory of Jean Woodsworth, who died in 1995 at the age of 82, for her lifetime commitment and action on social issues as well as for her feistiness in overcoming social barriers, such as the YWCA's refusal, in the 1930s, to employ married women. Jean was a social worker; director of day care services; and a founder of the Immigrant Women's Job Placement Centre. She became involved in seniors' issues in the mid-1980s and in typical fashion became very active, serving on the Executive and as President of CPC for many years.

The Award is given for prolonged distinguished service to the community. This year's recipient is John Argue.

John was born in Ottawa and spent his early years there and in Kingston, Ontario. He has worked in cities across Canada, as well as spending a year in San Francisco. John has had a long career working and volunteering as a social activist. His work has included community development, working in community legal clinics and in community health centres. His volunteer activities included a stint in the late 1970s as President of the Board in the early years of the 519 Church Street Community Centre in Toronto. During that time he encouraged the participation of seniors in the Centre's activities and direction. In the early 1990s John was employed by the Ontario NDP government as a minister's policy advisor. John appreciated that experience of working inside government but decided to return to community work because he preferred "to help people more directly".

John Argue has been the Coordinator of the Ontario Coalition for Social Justice (OCSJ) since January 2005. It is in this role that I have come to know him as CPC is a member of the Coalition. OCSJ has been in the forefront of the movement to eliminate poverty in Ontario, recognizing the wide range of people affected by economic and social injustice.

The Coordinator's role is a challenging one as the Coalition consists of a large disparate group of people and organizations from across the whole of Ontario. This requires tact, compassion, a sense of humour and a lot of hard work. John is also a good listener who works quietly in the background to encourage and enable action. He is completely dedicated to the ideals of the social justice movement.

On behalf of the Ontario Division of Canadian Pensioners Concerned, I have great pleasure in presenting this year's Woodsworth Award and a year's honorary membership in CPC to John Argue.