Orillia’s 2022 Citizen Of The Year Named
By John Swartz
UPDATED
Cam Davidson is Orillia’s 2022 Citizen of the Year. The selection of Davidson was announced today during an Orillia council meeting.
This year’s finalists included Davidson, Ruth Watt, Madeleine Fournier, Ruth Fountain, Stephen Davids, and Sylvia Smith.
“On behalf of Orillia City Council and the Citizen of the Year selection panel, I’d like to congratulate Cam Davidson on being named the 2022 Citizen of the Year,” said Mayor Don McIsaac.
“Cam’s contributions towards affordable housing in Orillia and other volunteer efforts have had a very real impact on the residents of this City. His persistence, dedication and continued commitment have earned him respect among peers and we are lucky to have him in our community. A sincere thank you to all nominees for their contributions that add to the quality of life in our City.”
Davidson was a key advocate for the establishment of Hillcrest Lodge, a 31 unit not-for-profit residence designed to serve vulnerable seniors age 55 or over. It opened in 2008 and since then Davidson advocated the City of Orillia establish an affordable housing reserve to provide assistance to new housing projects and advocated for the creation of the City’s affordable housing committee to which he was named and currently eves as its chair.
As a member of the committee he advocated council cooperate and do all it could to assist in the construction of the County of Simcoe’s housing project on West Street, which will open in 2024 and other affordable housing projects like the one planned for the Federal Building in the downtown core.
Davidson, a former teacher, received several letters of support from nominators. He is described by his nominators as passionate about community needs, especially when it comes to housing, and eager to bring new initiatives forward. Nominators also pointed to Davidson’s vision for the community, intentions, initiative, and perseverance as admirable qualities.
“Cam Davidson has been volunteering in the City of Orillia for the last 20 years. He has focused on advocating for affordable housing for people in the vulnerable sectors such as seniors and disabled, single parent families, the low socioeconomic, and for the homeless. Cam has a determination and flare for connecting agencies, people, services, and government officials to accomplish a common goal,” said nominator Dr. Lynn Dowswell.
“(I was) surprised,” Davidson said when he heard his name spoken by Mayor McIsaac as the Citizen of the Year.
“This is not about me. This award, It’s an honour to have it, it’s a great privilege to have it, but, this is about the homeless and people who need affordable housing, food security, they need many other things. I’m just the messenger who puts it out there and hopefully gets some funding or something.”
Davidson was a key advocate for the establishment of Hillcrest Lodge, a 31 unit not-for-profit residence designed to serve vulnerable seniors age 55 or over. It opened in 2008 and since then Davidson has advocated the City of Orillia establish an affordable housing reserve to provide assistance to new housing projects and advocated for the creation of the City’s affordable housing committee to which he was named and currently eves as its chair.
As a member of the committee he advocated council cooperate and do all it could to assist in the construction of the County of Simcoe’s housing project on West Street, which will open in 2024 and other affordable housing projects like the one planned for the Federal Building in the downtown core.
The 2022 Citizen of the Year selection panel consisted of Mayor Don McIsaac (non-voting member) and former winners Marci Csumrik, Michael Gordon, Fred Larsen and Stan Mathewson, as well as Pure Country 106 morning host Carey Moran, Orillia Matters editor Dave Dawson, and the Orillia Rotary Club’s Mario Tulipano.
(Photos by Swartz- SUNonline/Orillia)
