Mr. Rocca receives award from Councillors Janet David and Mary Fragedakis
Realtor Patrick Rocca has received the 2016 Agnes Macphail Award before a gathering of about 120 people in the True Davidson Council Chamber at East York Centre Thursday night. Mr. Rocca spoke with humility at being chosen for the award. He thanked his parents for their example at “giving back” and noted that his father continues to this day to sponsor young immigrants to Canada. Rocca thanked his wife, his children and the many people who nominated him for the award. These included Councillors Jon Burnside (Ward 26) and Josh Matlow (Ward 22).
HIS OWN MONEY
Pancheta Barnett spoke on behalf of the Rocca nominators and cited many fine qualities of the recipient including the generous giving of his own money to people and causes, frequently spontaneously. The meeting was chaired by Bob Lister and his wife Lis, former Macphail Award winners. A charming moment was a brief photo opportunity at which past recipients of the award posed (video below). The meeting heard from Olivia Walsh, a student at St. Anselm’s Catholic School on Bessborough Drive, co-winner of the Macphail public speaking award who addressed those present on the matter of homelessness.
,MACPHAIL’S WIT
The Hon David MacDonald was introduced by former MP and East York Mayor Alan Redway. Mr MacDonald’s keynote remarks about Agnes Macphail were witty. He recalled Macphail’s early encounters with male MPs wherein one asked her if she didn’t really want to be a man. “No,” she replied. “Don’t you?” Mr. Rocca received honours from last year’s winner, Muhammad Masood Alam and accepted the City’s Scroll from Councilors Janet Davis and Mary Fragedakis. Former recipient and organizer Lorna Krawchuk was also present.
WOMAN ON A BANK NOTE
Organizers of the meeting spoke of a newly-formed campaign to have Agnes Macphail’s picture placed on a Canadian bank note. The Trudeau government recently said it is a goal to decide on such figure by 2018. At that time the person so honoured would have had to have been dead for at least 25 years.
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