The list of 20 Ontarians being honoured for their public service includes three from Windsor-Essex.
The recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship were recognized on Tuesday by Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont during a reception at Queens Park in Toronto.
The three local winners are Windsor businessman and philanthropist Sam Sinjari, St. Clair College professor and fertility advocate Stacey Robert-Tobin, and health and disability advocate Dean Paul La Bute.
Sinjari, a business consultant, serves as the chairman of the Community Service Projects Committee at the Rotary Club of Windsor (1918). A noted philanthropist, he has supported groups such as the Downtown Mission by purchasing the turkeys for its Thanksgiving meals. He also hosts a podcast where he spotlights local charities.
Robert-Tobin has taught civil and criminal law, social justice, sociology, and psychology. She had previously worked for the Canada Border Services Agency, according to her LinkedIn page. She used her personal battles with infertility to found Fertility Friends, which now serves over 800 individuals and families. She is also the region's delegate for Fertility Matters Canada.
La Bute has used the loss of his sight in early adulthood as motivation to dedicate his life to helping others. He has spent six decades working with groups that promote accessibility, health equity, and advocacy for marginalized populations. Among the organizations he has worked with are the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Standards Advisory Council, and the Canadian Association of Retired Persons.
Dumont presented the award for 2024 and 2025 during the Queens Park reception. Robert-Tobin was included among the 2024 honourees. Sinjari and La Bute were in the 2025 group.
The Queen Elizabeth II Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship was first presented in 1973 to recognize Ontarians for exceptional leadership and volunteer service. It was named after the late British monarch in September 2024 and is considered second only to the Order of Ontario in prestige.
