NIAGARA UNITY AWARDS

A celebration of Niagara’s sexual and gender diverse community and its supporters.
See all of our past winners listed below.

10th Annual Niagara UNITY Awards: 2023

ED Eldred Unity Award - Jonathan Belgrave

Jonathon Crawford Unity Award - Willow Arts Community

Community Involvement Unity Award – Matthew Aiello

Brenda Baldwin Unity Award - Bri Irvine

Outstanding Young Person Unity Award - Shyann Jenkins

Outstanding School/Gay-Straight Alliance Unity Award - Niagara College Rainbow Knights

Commitment Unity Award – Meridian Credit Union

2SLGBTQ+ Positive Business Unity Award - Fonthill Butcher and Banker Pub

Community Culture Unity Award - Blackowned905 – Natasha Bell

Best Performance of the Year Unity Award - Richard Krieger aka Rhonda Richards

9th Annual Niagara UNITY Award: 2022

ED Eldred Unity Award - Dick Moore

Jonathon Crawford Unity Award - Willow Arts Community

Community Involvement Unity Award – Niagara’s PrEP Clinic

Brenda Baldwin Unity Award - Liam Clarke-Coward

Outstanding Young Person Unity Award - Meg Clemmensen

Outstanding School/Gay-Straight Alliance Unity Award - Oakridge Public School Equity Team

Commitment Unity Award – Meridian Credit Union

LGBTQ2+ Positive Business Unity Award - Dispatch

Community Culture Unity Award - Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre

Best Performance of the Year Unity Award - Strong Water Women Drum Circle

8th Annual Niagara UNITY Awards: 2021

The ED Eldred Award Goes to - Rick Kennedy

The Jonathon Crawford Award Goes - Dustin Wood

The Community Involvement Award - Street Works

The Brenda Baldwin Award Goes to - Jermaine Marshall

The Outstanding Young Person Award Goes to - Lauren Fleming

The Outstanding School/Gay-Straight Alliance Award Goes to - Brock Pride

The Commitment Award Goes to - Vegan Hippie Chick

The LGBTQ+ Positive Business Award Goes to - Mahtay Café

The Community Culture Award Goes to - St. Catharines Public Library

Performance of the Year Award Goes to - Deb Pearce aka Mann Murray

7th Annual Niagara UNITY Award: 2020

The LGBT+ Positive Business Unity Award -Mahtay Café

The Outstanding Young Person Award - Emily Squires

The Community Culture Unity Award – Quest Pride Prom Planning Committee

The Best Performance of the Year Award - Alix Sobchuk aka. Raven S. Klawe

The Brenda Baldwin Award- Lindsay McCormick

The Outstanding School or Gay-Straight Alliance Award - LOVING OUT LOUD- Niagara College

The Community Involvement Unity Award -Quest's Rainbow Niagara LGBTQ+ Services

The Commitment Unity Award -TD Canada Trust

The Ed Eldred Award - Levi Barton

The Johnathon Crawford Award - SAINT STONE

6th Annual Niagara UNITY Awards: 2019

Ed Eldred Unity Award - Noreen Spagnol

Johnathon Crawford Unity Award - Alix Sobchuk

Community Involvement Unity Award - Silver Spire United Church

Volunteer Excellence Unity Award - Lorne Gretsinger

Outstanding Young Person Unity Award - Milo Boccinfuso

Outstanding School GSA Unity Award - Laura Secord Secondary School

Commitment Unity Award - Niagara Casinos

LGBT+ Positive Business Unity Award - Mahtay Café

Community Culture Unity Award - The Bell Tower

Best Performance of the Year Unity Award - Michael Dore

5th Annual Niagara UNITY Award: 2018

The ED Eldred Award - Shane Antonio

The Jonathon Crawford Award Answered: - Kathleen Driscoll

The Community Involvement Award: - Positive Living Niagara

The Volunteer Excellence Award: - Dusty Balfour (Ray Hayhurst)

The Outstanding Young Person Award: - Lacey Cooper

The Outstanding School/Gay-Straight Alliance Award - Saint Francis Catholic Secondary School

The Commitment Award Answered- Dignity Memorial

The LGBT+ Positive Business Award - Barber Will Barbershop

The Community Culture Award Answered: - Transgender Niagara

Performance of the Year Award: - Patrick Alexander

4th Annual Niagara UNITY Awards: 2017

ED Eldred Unity Award: Ted Mouradian

Jonathon Crawford Unity Award: Kyle Miller

Community Involvement Unity Award: Scott dePass

Volunteer Excellence Unity Award: Michael Thomson

Outstanding Young Person Unity Award: Jessica Victoria

Outstanding School Gay-Straight Alliance Unity Award: Ridley College Positive Space Group

Commitment Unity Award: Lancaster, Brooks & Welch LLP

LGBT Positive Business Unity Award: Hernder Estate Wines

Community Culture Unity Award: Dennis Eveleigh

Performance of the Year Unity Award: Niagara Women’s Drum Group - Linda Hampton

3rd Annual Niagara UNITY Awards: 2016

Ed Eldred Unity Award -Ken Leavoy

Johnathon Crawford Unity Award -Sean Parkinson

Community Involvement Unity Award -House of MNSM

Volunteer Excellence Unity Award -Brian Hay

Outstanding Young Person Unity Award -Justin Preston

Outstanding School or Gay-Straight Alliance Unity Award Laura Secord Secondary School

Commitment Unity Award -TD Canada Trust

LGBT Positive Business Unity Award -Mahtay Café

Community Culture Unity Award -Phil Gourlay

Best Performance of the Year Unity Award -Shannon Unrau

2nd Annual Niagara UNITY Awards: 2015

The Ed Eldred Award:: Sarah Burtch - Positive Living Niagara

The Johnathon Crawford Award:: Lorne Gretsinger - Hamilton Gay Mens Chorus

Community Involvement Unity Award:: Rise Against Bullying

Volunteer Excellence Unity Award:: Betsy Tauro - Beamsville District Secondary School

Outstanding Young Person Award:: Zander Meister - ZeeTransendence

Outstanding School or Gay-Straight Alliance Award:: Grimsby Secondary School GSA

Commitment Unity Award:: Meridian Credit Union

LGBT Positive Business Unity Award:: BBBlooms Floral Studio

Community Culture Unity Award:: The City of St. Catharines

Best Performance of the Year Award:: Hamilton Gay Mens Chorus - Spring Concert 2014

1st Annual Niagara UNITY Awards: 2014

The Ed Eldred Award - Cathy MacKenzie PFLAG Niagara

The Johnathon Crawford Award - Shannon Unrau

Community Involvement Unity Award - AIDS Niagara

Volunteer Excellence Unity Award - Justin Preston – Rise Against Bullying

Outstanding Young Person Award - Adam Coleman

Outstanding School or Gay-Straight Alliance Unity Award - Brock Pride

Commitment Unity Award - The Lancer Family Restaurant

LGBT Positive Business Unity Award - ENVY Lounge

Community Culture Unity Award - Brandie Lancione – DSBN

Best Performance of the Year Unity Award - Nathan Drake Productions – Grease

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