Pictured are left to right are Dr. Art Linkletter (Kids Say the Darndest Things), Dr. Marlene Bryenton, and Dr. David Mason. Absent from photo are Dr. Mary Walsh (This Hour has 22 Minutes), Dr. Sam Sniderman (Sam the Record Man), and Dr. Kent Ellis.
Highlights of Lake of Shining Waters IODE chapter - Prince Edward Island, Canada
Six individuals received a University of Prince Edward Island Doctor of Laws Degrees, honoris causa in May 2003.
Pictured are left to right are
Dr. Art Linkletter (Kids Say the Darndest Things), Dr. Marlene Bryenton, and
Dr. David Mason. Absent from photo are Dr. Mary Walsh (This Hour has 22 Minutes),
Dr. Sam Sniderman (Sam the Record Man), and Dr. Kent Ellis.
The citation stated, "While some people make more than their fair share of contributions to the community in which they live, others make contributions of such magnitude that their actions have a major impact on innumerable lives, and on people they may never even know.
Marlene falls into this second category of exceptional people. Known to most Islanders for her exuberance, energy, and dedication to improving the lives and life expectancies of others, Marlene is undeniably an awesome individual. One of her many extraordinary efforts in recent years led to the "Baby Think It Over" project, which she initiated through the Lake of Shining Waters IODE chapter.
The Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park is a Lake of Shining Waters IODE Centennial Millennium Citizenship Project for which Marlene was given much credit. Planning, coordinating, fundraising, and literally getting her hands-in-the-mud during a chemotherapy-filled summer of 2001 gave Marlene a mission that got her through the illness, and in turn she gave the City of Charlottetown a wonderful respite from the daily grind - a beautiful park that honours someone very special to the Island, and a park also exemplifies Marlene's capacity for giving, and for living."
Charlottetown resident receives Avon Women of Inspiration Award.
Nominees
are a source of inspiration to those around. The award program honours extraordinary
achievements of Canadian women whose actions, commitment and passion contribute
to the enrichment of communities. The nominee is someone who has overcome personal
adversity and had the courage to use her experience to help others. It is also
designed for a woman of generous spirit whose compassion has made a difference
in the lives of others. She was chosen in the Health and Wellness Category.
The photo taken in the Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park by John Slyvester was published in the November 2002 issue of the Canadian Living Magazine. The park is the IODE chapter's Centennial Millennium Citizenship Project.
The magazine text included the following: "Marlene Bryenton is a living example of a simple credo: you make a living by what you get but you make a life by what you give.
Marlene has been a member of Lake of Shining Waters IODE - a volunteer organization commited to improving the quality of life for children, youths and those in need - for 30 years, and she is legendary in her drive to contribute in a meaningful way to the health and well-being of Prince Edward Islanders. Days after being released from hospital for a mastectomy in 1998, she began lobbying the P.E.I. government for a mammography machine. That success has led her to further her campaign for the province to purchase a linear accelerator radiation machine so that cancer patients will not have to leave the Island for treatments. For this and her countless other achievements, Avon Canada presented Bryenton with its prestigious Women of Inspiration Award (bronze statuette) at a gala evening in Montreal Oct.18, 2002. This was part of a weekend of pampering at the luxurious Mount Royal Omni Hotel. She was accompanied by her daughter.
Marlene developed and implemented Baby Think It Over, an infant-simulator program to help open young people's eyes to the responsibilities of parenthood. She also spearheaded an innovative letter-writing campaign designed to fill the shelves at local food banks."
The closing paragraph in Canadian Living Magazine quoted Marlene as saying, "I think it's crucial for young women today to volunteer. Young women are busy, but I think that they have to look outside their own circumstances and circles and realize that reaching out and helping others builds character."
Marlene Bryenton received The City Charlottetown Citizen Recognition
Award in recognition of dedication and commitment in making Charlottetown a
better place to live and work. The Mayor of Charlottetown, George
MacDonald presented the award for the tireless efforts and involvement
in the community over the past years.
The Citation read:
"Marlene Bryenton - It's the caring for others, the feeling of making
a
difference in somebody's life. It's a way of life and it's never
counting the hours spent helping out.
That's volunteerism and that's Marlene Bryenton.
She is a long-standing member of the Lake of Shining Waters IODE
chapter
in Charlottetown, and with their help she has accomplished much of her
work.
Her latest project is the Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park where she has
taken one of the most under developed parks in the City and has turned
it into one of the most beautiful parks.
Many Islanders have benefited from the volunteer hours that Marlene
has freely given. Caring and sharing are a way of life for her which
comes very naturally. She has helped to make the lives of others more meaningful by her
expressions of generosity and kindness. Her actions and innovative
ideas to help others for many years have spoken louder than words."
Marlene Bryenton is highlighted as
Volunteer of the Week on the
International Year of the Volunteer Website.
You can visit this site at
www.iyv2001.org.
Bryenton
Acknowledged for Community Service 
Marlene Bryenton was acknowledged in the Reader's Digest and The Canadian Living Magazine for her novel food stretching idea which assisted the local Food Bank and was one of the many projects done by her chapter during IYSH. She also received the Order of Prince Edward Island in 1998 for her many years of dedicated service with the Lake of Shining Waters IODE Chapter. Her IODE chapter submitted this nomination.
Lake of Shining Waters IODE nominated Marlene Bryenton for the 1999 Flare Magazine Volunteer Award. She is the chapter's Communications Officer and Baby Think It Over Coordinator.
The Flare Award was presented by the Honourable Hilary M. Weston, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, at a luncheon ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel on May 12, 1999. The third annual FLARE Volunteer Awards recognize women whose volunteer work has made their community a better place to live. This year, five women were chosen from across Canada to honour volunteer service.
Chosen
by a panel of judges from over 150 nominees, the five award recipents include:
Kelly Peters, Jacqueline Davis, Jasmine Kaur Aujla, Dr. Marina Roma-March, Marlene
Bryenton.
Four National Chapter of Canada IODE officers and a representative from the William H. Kaufman Foundation attended the ceremony in Toronto.
"What is most impressive about these women is the very wide scope of their contributions to society," said FLARE publisher David Hamilton. "They are creative leaders who see a need, find a solution and make it work."
The FLARE Volunteer Awards program is Canada's only national award program honouring women volunteers. Created in 1996, the program encourages and celebrates the voluntary work of Canadian women and inspires others to follow their lead.
"I am very honoured to have been chosen for this Flare Magazine Award, and to represent Lake of Shining Waters IODE," said Marlene Bryenton. "This award shows how hard work, dedication and teamwork can benefit others through volunteerism." She exemplifies the words of William Bennett who wrote, "We are here to help one another along life's journey."
As a 27-year member of the Lake of Shining Waters IODE, Marlene has not only identified innovative ways to make others' lives better, but has put her ideas into practice. She spearheaded her chapter's fundraising efforts for the IODE Food for Thought Program, providing snacks for children who were going to school hungary. She found sponsors to bring a baby simulator program to schools in PEI. The program, recently launched by National Chapter of Canada IODE, aims to help prevent teen pregnancy. A breast-cancer survivor, Marlene led a successful campaign to reinstate a second mammogram machine at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and founded Friends of the Food Bank.
For more information about the 1999 FLARE Volunteer Awards visit www.flare.com
Lake
of Shining Waters IODE wins PEI Premier's Crime Prevention Award
"The Baby Think It Over Program helps young adults experience first hand the emotional, financial and social costs of parenting by providing infant simulators to schools as an innovative abuse prevention teaching tool."
Best First Time Entry Award
The chapter won first prize for Best First Time Entry in the 1994 Gold Cup and
Saucer Parade.
This float
linked the caring and sharing movie, A Christmas Carol with the National Chapter
of Canada IODE Food For Thought Program which provides nutritious snacks to
children who have come to school hungry for any reason. Lake of Shining Waters
IODE supports 14 schools in the IODE Food For Thought Program all across the
Island. A very special thank you to Canadian Feed the Children and to Bob from
Winnipeg for their financial support.
Donations from Roy Birt's Christmas Village Wishing Well in Brackley assisted
this program from 1997 to 1999.
Our chapter was honoured with the Prince Edward Hotel Room at the Inn Program during 1995. This program enabled us to host a reception for our many fundraising sponsors and the media. We also distributed complimentary rooms to low income families. The beautiful Prince Edward Hotel ballroom provided an excellent venue for the Laura Smith / Barachois Fundraising Concert.
Innovative Projects
Lake of Shining Waters IODE was chosen from 537 IODE Chapters all across Canada as doing the most innovative projects during International Year of Shelter For the Homeless (IYSH) in 1987. The chapter was recognized by the National Chapter of Canada IODE.
