LCF Presents Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers to Karen Pincombe and Ronald C. Dawson
LCF Presents Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers to Karen Pincombe and Ronald C. Dawson
From left to right: Bill Brady, Karen Pincombe, Ron Dawson, Martha Powell
Originally established in 1995 as the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award, the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers honours Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast who care deeply about their communities, recognizing their compassion, generosity, and dedication to community building.
LCF has been facilitating nominations annually for the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers since 2013 as a way of acknowledging some of the incredible and caring leaders in London and Middlesex County who donate their time and knowledge, year after year, to their community. This year’s awards were presented by William J. Brady, Member of the Order of Canada and renowned London radio broadcaster who has done extensive volunteer work in the field of organ donation.
With that, we’re honoured to announce the two newest additions to the long list of amazing Londoners recognized by this prestigious award: Karen Pincombe and Ronald C. Dawson.
Karen Pincombe
Karen Pincombe retired from Mountsfield Public School in 2019, where she taught music for 25 years. A professionally trained musician with a Master of Music Performance, Karen has spent her career fostering the creativity of young Londoners through her work in liberal arts education – work complemented by decades of volunteering in her community.
As the founder and director of Arts 4 All Kids for over 30 years, Karen has helped provide free fine arts programming to thousands of children across London and Middlesex County who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to learn and deepen their relationship with art and music.
Karen has been a volunteer board member at the London Food Bank since 1987, organized the yearly benefit concert for Canadian Aid for Southern Sudan since 1999, and has taught Sunday School at the Wesley-Knox United Church for eight years and counting.
"I am proud to live in a country that values and recognizes volunteer work,” says Karen. “I’d like to thank the Governor General’s office, London Community Foundation, all my fellow volunteers, friends and family for their love and support. This is an unexpected and humbling honour which I will treasure always.”
Karen Pincombe
Bill Brady (left) presenting the Soveriegn’s Medal for Volunteers to Karen Pincombe (right)
Ronald C. Dawson
Ron Dawson is a lifelong Londoner, business person, and retired Captain in The Royal Canadian Regiment. Over the years, Ron established multiple successful businesses in the manufacturing and property management sectors in London, and while business was the focus of his career, his community was always his priority.
Ron has held an incredible number of volunteer positions on various boards and committees throughout the City. Just to name a few, at various points throughout the 80s and 90s, Ron sat on the boards of the Rotary Club of London, University Hospital, London Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and London Regional Art & Historical Museum. Ron has only recently retired from the boards of the Canadian Club of London, Diabetes Canada, and Junior Achievement, and these days is an active volunteer with Banting House.
"I am amazed and humbled. No one who does voluntary or community service looks for any reward nor award – it is just stuff that needs to be done,” says Ron. “I am especially honoured to be presented the award by Bill Brady, whose own volunteer service to London, Ontario and Canada, is legendary."
Ron Dawson
Bill Brady (left) presenting the Soveriegn’s Medal for Volunteers to Ron Dawson (right)
Ron’s humble generosity has surely touched thousands of lives through his philanthropy and volunteering, and Karen’s passion for education, art, and her community is truly inspiring.
At LCF, we feel privileged to be able to meet, foster, and help amazing community champions like Karen and Ron and we’re thrilled to be able to help give back to them just a little of what they’ve given our community.