74-year-old 'sparkplug' earns national volunteer award
Pat Clifford is the engine that keeps the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Goderich, Ont. running.
“If you need help, that’s the woman to go find,” said co-worker, Anne Marie Foucault.
“If not for her, I don’t think any of this would even be in existence, let alone where it is right now,” added co-worker, Justin Smith.
It’s for those reasons the soon-to-be 75-year-old has earned the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. It’s a national recognition for her 25 years of arduous, continuous volunteering, as the go-to person at St. Vincent de Paul’s store and food bank, to simply get things done.
Pat Clifford, working at St. Vincent de Paul thrift store and food bank in Goderich, Ont. on May 13, 2022. (Scott Miller/CTV News London)
“If someone’s down when they come into the store, I try to have them back up when they leave. A smile. A hug. I’m a hugger,” she said.
33 years as a waitress, plus her 25 years at St. Vincent de Paul — the past 20 as president — has given her perspective on helping Huron County’s less fortunate.
“I don’t shy away from anybody. Rich or poor. It’s me. What you get, if you don’t like it, well, I’m not changing for you. That’s the way I run this place,” she said.
Clifford, an incredible seven-time cancer survivor, is one of only four Ontarian’s to take home this year’s Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers.
“People can’t believe I work for nothing, day after day, after day,” said the affable Clifford.
Clifford has done everything from fix washing machines to installing security cameras at the St. Vincent de Paul store in Goderich, Ont. She doesn’t climb ladders anymore, but has no plans to slow down anytime soon.
The Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers, presented to Pat Clifford of Goderich, Ont. in May 2022. (Scott Miller/CTV News London)
“She just never ever stops. She’s like an electric car, with a solar panel on the roof,” said Smith, who manages Parson’s Used Furniture, a charitable business within the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
“I just love people. I love making them laugh. I love to help people,” said Clifford.
Clifford could have received the award at a special ceremony with the governor general, but instead decided to have the award mailed to her, and awarded in front of her friends and co-workers in Goderich.
Clifford will celebrate her 75th birthday on June 3.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Millions of cyberattacks per hour as B.C. government investigates multiple breaches
Careful attention to government statements and legislation is required to get a handle on the level of risk British Columbians’ information is under, as investigators probe multiple breaches under a continued barrage of attacks.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
New 'Lord of the Rings' film coming in 2026
The Oscar-winning team behind the nearly US$6 billion blockbuster 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies is reuniting to produce two new films.