The Honourable John Hogan, KC, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Seniors, today presented the 2025 Seniors of Distinction Awards at a ceremony held in St. John’s.
The Seniors of Distinction Awards recognize and celebrate the contributions, achievements and diversity of seniors and older persons throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
This initiative aligns with the Provincial Government’s ongoing focus to improve seniors’ well-being and support healthy aging as we continue to build a more inclusive and age-friendly province.
The Seniors of Distinction Awards are presented annually to current or past residents of the province, 50 years of age or older, who have made significant personal, professional or volunteer contributions to their communities.
This year there was a total of 22 nominations. The successful recipients are as follows:
- Clement Benteau
- Priscilla Boutcher
- Mireille Durand Thomas
- Dennis and Roxann Gill
- Linda Hickey
- Janet Hounsell
- Sheila Ann Lee
- Maureen E. Mennie
- Linda Oldford
For more information on each of this year’s Seniors of Distinction, please see the backgrounder below.
Quotes
“Congratulations to the 2025 Seniors of Distinction. It is an honour to celebrate 10 outstanding individuals who have made a profound impact on their communities and our province. Thank you for your passion and dedication to help make Newfoundland and Labrador a better province for all generations.”
Honourable John Hogan, KC
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“The Seniors of Distinction Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of seniors and older adults who are leaders in their communities. This year’s recipients contribute to our province through their knowledge, experience, volunteer work and active participation. Congratulations!”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Seniors
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BACKGROUNDER
Recipient Biographies for the 2025 Seniors of Distinction Award
Clement Benteau – Point May
Clement Benteau was born in 1949. For decades, Mr. Benteau has devoted his time to volunteer work and leadership roles in the community. He recently has been involved in the 50 Plus Club in Point May, showing his commitment to improving the quality of life for seniors. He also helped develop local recreational spaces, including the construction of a softball and soccer field, and played a key role in the Greater Lamaline Trail Association to secure funding for the establishment and expansion of the ATV trail system linking Point May, Lamaline, and Fortune. Mr. Benteau was an active member of the Greater Lamaline Development Association for 40 years and was president for nine of those years. An inshore fish harvester for 40 years, he has been an advocate for local fishers through the Local Fisherman’s Committee. He also served his community as a volunteer firefighter for 14 years. Mr. Benteau and his wife operated a convenience store which provided a vital service and gathering place for residents. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Mr. Benteau raised nearly $5,000 for the community centre by creating a virtual version of the long-running Point May Community Concert during the COVID-19 pandemic, preserving this tradition despite unprecedented challenges and uncertainty. In recognition of Mr. Benteau’s lifelong commitment and service, he was honoured by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador with the 75th Anniversary of Confederation Medal.
Priscilla Boutcher – Corner Brook
Priscilla Boutcher was born in Corner Brook in 1934 where she dedicated most of her adult life working hard to make improvements for her city and region, and the province as a whole. She served more than two decades on Corner Brook City Council as a councillor, deputy mayor and as Corner Brook’s first female mayor. Ms. Boutcher also served as a member and president of the Great Humber Joint Council and was an active member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador, the Corner Brook Winter Games Committee, and lead initiatives in the creation of the city’s Captain Cook’s Lookout. She displayed exceptional leadership through her volunteer work which includes supporting the Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Red Cross, Newfoundland and Labrador Lung Association, Interfaith Home Auxiliary, Catholic Women’s League, Corner Brook Carnival Committee, Parent Teacher Association, Parish Bereavement Committee and numerous other boards and committees. She also served as president of the Mount Patricia Association and is a long-term volunteer with Western Memorial Regional Hospital. In recognition of her professional and volunteer work, Ms. Boutcher has earned numerous awards and honours at the national, provincial, and municipal levels including, the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, Christening the HMCS Corner Brook in Scotland, Corner Brook’s Citizen of the Year, and the 75th Anniversary of Confederation Medal.
Mireille Durand Thomas – St. John’s
Originally from Marseille, France, Mireille Durand Thomas arrived in Newfoundland and Labrador in 1964 at the age of 20. She settled in St. John’s after marrying her husband; both secured teaching positions at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). Ms. Durand Thomas taught French at MUN until her retirement in 2005 and is recognized as a pioneer of Francophone culture and bilingualism in Newfoundland and Labrador. In the late 1970s, she was actively involved in the creation of the Association Francophone de Saint-Jean. She also became involved with the Fédération des Francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador (FFTNL) and contributed to the publication of Le Gaboteur, the province’s first French-language newspaper. In the early 1980s, she became President of the Association Francophone de Saint-Jean, which helped enable the community to celebrate events and holidays in French. From 1990 to 1995, Ms. Durand Thomas served as president of the FFTNL and was a driving force behind the construction of the Centre Scolaire et Communautaire des Grands-Vents (Grands-Vents School and Community Centre) in St. John’s. Her hard work and dedication also led her to become a member of the Board of Directors of the Association canadienne d’éducation de langue française (ACELF) of which she was named a permanent honorary member in 1998. That same year, Ms. Durand Thomas officially represented the French government in Newfoundland and Labrador, becoming the honorary consul of France. She also helped translate and adapt a Grade 5 English textbook into French for the French and French immersion students throughout the province. Ms. Durand Thomas also served on several committees, including the province’s Advisory Committee on Bilingualism, the provincial public service’s Advisory Committee on French-Language Services, the organizing committee to establish a Centre of Excellence in multimedia in the Atlantic region, and the implementation committee for the Centre Scolaire et Communautaire des Grands-Vents. Now retired, she continues to volunteer with seniors’ organizations, including MUN’s Retiree Program, and serves as a provincial representative for the Fédération des Aînées et Aînés francophones du Canada (FAAFC). Throughout her lifetime, Ms. Durand Thomas has received numerous awards and honours, including the Roger Champagne Award, the Ordre des Palmes Académiques from the French Government, the FAAFC’s National Leadership Award, the St-Pierre et Miquelon Medal, the ACELF National Award of Excellence, and recognition as a semifinalist and finalist in the Dictée des Amériques.
Dennis and Roxann Gill – Pilley’s Island
Born in 1952 and 1959, respectively, Dennis and Roxann Gill, married for 46 years, live in picturesque Pilley’s Island, where they raised their two children. Their son, Danny, born in 1980, has profound intellectual and physical disabilities, and uncontrollable epilepsy, dating back to three months of age. For over four decades, Mr. and Mrs. Gill have been advocating for accessibility and equity, not only for Danny, but also for others with disabilities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2018, Mr. Gill was appointed to the Buildings’ Accessibility Advisory Board, where he expressed his passion for inclusion. He led the board as Chair through a review of the Buildings Accessibility Act and its regulations. Mr. and Mrs. Gill have actively participated in advocacy for persons with disabilities for many years. Dennis has served as president, for 12 years, and immediate past president, for the last two, of Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador. Mrs. Gill is a long-time member of Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador as well. For the past seven years, Mr. Gill has represented Newfoundland and Labrador as a director on the Board of Inclusion Canada. In 2020, Mr. and Mrs. Gill launched an initiative called Inclusion with Dignity. Their goal was to create accommodating family washrooms equipped with powered adult change tables that create a safe space for the person with a disability and their caregiver(s). Their vision was to have 25 of these accommodating family washrooms in public health care facilities across Newfoundland and Labrador by 2025. As of February 2025, 23 have been established, and by the end of the year, the number is expected to reach 26. Drawing from their own lived experience, they continue to educate and to bring about positive and diverse change for persons with disabilities and enhance accessibility throughout our province. The Gills have also selflessly served on community committees, school committees, church committees, and the Pilley’s Island Come Home Year 2020 Committee.
Linda Hickey – St. John’s
Linda Hickey was born in 1957. For more than three decades, Ms. Hickey has dedicated her time to keeping Newfoundland and Labrador’s culture and heritage alive while forming deep community connections. Founder and chapter queen of the Red Hat Society Chapter, Royal Ruby Belles, she created a lively and inclusive community for senior women. Ms. Hickey is the president and founder of Creative Cultural Experiences as well as the president of the Bell Island Heritage Society and the Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. Through her diverse roles she continues to promote education and awareness initiatives that highlight the culture and history of the province. She is also the performance director for Hamilton Sound and plays a crucial role in organizing and managing performances that celebrate Newfoundland and Labrador’s musical heritage. To encourage heritage tourism, cultural events, and community initiatives, Ms. Hickey enjoys content creating and social media marketing and is remarkably successful with these online platforms. Beyond volunteering, she is the Manager of Engagement and Development for Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador and continues to strengthen the province’s tourism sector. Ms. Hickey has been involved in many celebrations and events including the Canada 150 Sesquicentennial Celebrations, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and many more.
Janet Hounsell – Glovertown
Janet Hounsell was born in 1951. Originally from Prince Edward Island, Ms. Hounsell arrived in Newfoundland and Labrador to begin her career as a young home economics teacher. After retirement in 2004, she began tutoring and, in her spare time, organized and supervised Red Cross Door-to-Door Canvassing for 20 years. She also served in the role of emergency response team member with the Red Cross for another four years. Ms. Hounsell has devoted her time to volunteering for multiple organizations, including serving as treasurer for the Alexander Bay 50 Plus Seniors Club and treasurer for her church, spending time with other parishioners counting the Sunday offerings. She has also participated in community clean-ups and served as a member of Crime Stoppers. Ms. Hounsell also spent several years organizing the breakfast program at Glovertown Academy and continues to donate to this program annually. In addition, to her many works at home, she has been selflessly working with an international organization called Help a Village Effort (HAVE) which raises money to install wells in small communities in rural India. Ms. Hounsell raises sponsorship money through fundraising walks and, over the years, has raised more than $48,000 for the construction of 12 wells in India as well as a small water reservoir to provide water in a small Nigerian village in Africa.
Sheila Ann Lee – Riverhead
Sheila Ann Lee was born in 1951 and was a primary school teacher for 30 years. Ms. Lee takes deep pride in her community and enjoys helping others. This pride of community and desire to serve pushed her to serve as Mayor of Riverhead. She has been a champion for recycling and was a driving force behind establishing a recycling depot in Riverhead. She also worked with the Provincial Government to begin a matching program where government matches funds schools raise through the collection of recyclables. Ms. Lee has served on numerous committees including the Recreation Committee, as chair; the Riverhead Days Committee; the Come Home Year Committee; the Church Committee; and as a member of the Holyrood Pond Development Committee. Ms. Lee also served on The Rural Secretariat working with representatives of communities and various government departments to advance the sustainability of communities in the Avalon region. She was a member of the Local Legion Branch’s Ladies’ Auxiliary for over 50 years and served in various executive and volunteer positions with Branch 62 Royal Canadian Legion. Due to Ms. Lee’s passion for preserving history, she published books that have family members sharing stories about their ancestors and had murals painted on the town council walls depicting scenes from the past. She also had storyboards installed that feature local war veterans near the Legion. For her environmental endeavours, Ms. Lee was a recipient of a lifelong environmentalist award and in 2001 she received the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Personal Contribution and Achievement in Community Service.
Maureen E. Mennie – Corner Brook
Born in Scotland in 1939, Maureen Mennie moved to Newfoundland and Labrador with her husband, Ian, in 1968. Ms. Mennie was a librarian before studying political science and Russian history at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). She then gained employment as a researcher for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, before returning to library work. As chair of the Corner Brook Regional Library Board, she improved programs for the library’s patrons for eight years and remained a champion for the library after stepping down from her role as chair. Ms. Mennie’s volunteer work includes working with dementia patients at the Corner Book long-term care facility and supporting Syrian refugee families settling in the city through the Corner Brook Refugee Support Group. She has also been a strong supporter of the NL West SPCA and Beagle Paws and has donated drawings to both organizations for fundraising raffles. During various events of remembrance, or historical discussions concerning World War II at MUN’s Grenfell Campus, Ms. Mennie gave presentations and engaging speeches about her experience as a child during the war. The Mennie’s took part in a Scottish theatre festival in the early 1960s where Ms. Mennie made a replica of the standard banner hoisted by the Earl of Mar as a stage prop. Her replica was of such quality, it was made a permanent display in Braemar Castle. Decades later, she found out her stage prop replica was still on display at the castle and insisted on making a new one more fitting of permanent display. She and Mr. Mennie spent countless hours making a new banner known as The Banner of the Braemar Royal Highland Society displaying the society’s coat of arms and motto which hangs in the society’s committee room and is used for official gatherings and events.
Linda Oldford – Gander
Linda Oldford was born in 1954. She retired in 2008 after 35 years of service with the Federal Government. During her career and in retirement, Ms. Oldford has lived a life of service punctuated by many firsts. She was the first Public Service Alliance of Canada Director for Women in Newfoundland and Labrador and served as the first female chairperson of the Provincial Advisory Council on Aging and Seniors. She is currently the first female president of the Newfoundland and Labrador 50 Plus Federation in 25 years where she supports more than 130 clubs with approximately 7,000 members. Ms. Oldford’s strong belief in fairness and equality led her to fight relentlessly during the 16-year pay equity struggle in the federal public service – a battle that resulted in equal pay for work of equal value. In Gander and provincially, she has served on the steering committee of the Central Wellness Coalition, the Town of Gander Seniors’ Committee, the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, the Gander Crime Prevention Committee, the Alzheimer’s Association of NL, the Federal Retirees Association, First Light St. John’s and as a Family Experience Advisor for Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services. Ms. Oldford has also served on the steering committee for the promotion of safe medication use through SaferMedsNL. In Burnside and Eastport, she has also devoted much time and effort to organizations such as the St. Alban’s Vestry, Burnside Community Association, Burnside 50+ Club and the Time in the Hall Square Dancers. Her motto, If you are not going to help, get out of my way! is one to be taken seriously. As a result of her hard work and dedication, Ms. Oldford received the King Charles III Coronation Award, the Lifetime Commitment Impact Award at the International Women’s Day Gala, and the Royal Canadian Air Force 100th Anniversary Coin. Ms. Oldford and her husband have two children and five grandchildren.