Norfolk County announces 2025 Dogwood Award recipients

Norfolk County is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Heritage & Culture Dogwood Awards, which recognize individuals and groups who have made exceptional contributions to preserving and promoting local heritage.  

This year, two Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented:  

•    Ron Anderson, UE, former Councillor for the City of Nanticoke, is recognized for his lifelong advocacy for the preservation of Norfolk County’s built heritage and his continued promotion of Norfolk’s history through his publications. 
•    Betty Chanyi, former Norfolk County Councillor, is posthumously honoured for her lifelong dedication to her community and local heritage. Betty passed away in 2024, leaving behind a legacy of civic engagement and cultural stewardship.

 Two Group Awards will also be presented:

 •    Walsingham Women’s Institute, established in 1939, has played a vital role in heritage preservation and charitable initiatives across the community. 
•    Friends of the Educational Archives, formed to preserve the archives of the Norfolk Board of Education, the group has spent nearly three decades ensuring the educational history of Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk counties remains accessible to the public. 

Named after Norfolk County’s official flower, the Dogwood Awards were established in 2007 to honour excellence in local heritage and culture. Presented annually, the awards recognize grassroots efforts that help preserve and celebrate Norfolk’s unique identity. 
 
The 2025 Dogwood Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, November 16, at 2:00 p.m. at the Waterford Heritage & Agricultural Museum. All are welcome to attend and celebrate the achievements of this year’s honourees. 

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