Catherine Vandenhoogen named Whitby's 2026 Senior Volunteer of the Year

Whitby resident Catherine Vandenhoogen has been named the 2026 Mayor's Senior Volunteer Award winner.

The recognition comes during the same year Whitby's 55+ Centre is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

In a Q&A published by the town, Vandenhoogen said volunteering gives back to her as much as she gives to the community.

She described a long record of service, including serving veterans dinner at Sunnybrook Hospital, volunteering at Tennis Canada in stadium control, helping in classrooms after retiring as a program support teacher, and volunteering at the Grandview Kids golf tournament.

Vandenhoogen also said she is in her eleventh year volunteering on the palliative floor at Lakeridge Health, a role she connected to the care her mother received at the hospital.

The award recognizes the contributions of older volunteers in Whitby. The town says more information about the 55+ Centre is available at whitby.ca/55Plus.

Source: Town of Whitby - https://www.whitby.ca/news/posts/meet-whitby-s-2026-mayor-s-senior-volunteer-award-recipient-catherine-vandenhoogen/