ELORA – Jane Rapp has been awarded the 2022 Florence Nightingale Community Service Award.
This is an accolade St. John’s Church gives to a community member every July for “outstanding service and commitment,” in partnership with The Elora Festival and The Elora Singers, stated a press release.
“The 2022 Florence Nightingale Community Service Award was presented to [Rapp] with deep affection and gratitude for all that she has given to countless numbers of patients, their families, St. John’s Church, The Elora Festival and The Elora Singers,” stated the release.
Rapp was presented the award on July 10.
“I don’t like being the centre of attention so it was a little uncomfortable, but I was thrilled,” she said.
Rapp first received a letter from Reverend Canon Paul Walker three weeks prior informing her she had been chosen and she “burst into tears.”
At the award presentation, Rapp was given a plaque by Elora Festival artistic director Mark Vuorinen, and flowers by The Elora Singers choir manager Christina Stelmacovich.
The service ended with a standing ovation.
In her nursing career, Rapp worked as a team lead for University Hospital in London’s neurological unit, and is one of the founders of the second palliative care unit in Canada, based in London.
Since moving to Elora in 2008, Rapp has been a volunteer with the Elora Festival and Elora Singers for 14 years, seven of which she’s spent working as volunteer manager, overseeing 150 volunteers.
“I really felt that The Singers were really important people… and I got to know a lot of them very well,” said Rapp.
In an email, Elora Festival and Elora Singers executive director Laura Adler said Rapp “has contributed so much to our community…
“She is a shining example to all of the benefits and importance of community service, and we are so grateful to her for all she has done to help our organizations.”
Rapp is also involved with St. John’s Church.
Walker spoke of Rapp’s professionalism, calmness, warmth and caring nature. He described Rapp’s ability to build trust quickly and offer it completely.
“[She] continues to offer her gifts of time and talent to St. John’s as a greeter, chalice bearer and most recently, as a member of the Pandemic Reopening Team,” stated the release.
Rapp said it feels great to have her efforts acknowledged.
“This is a wonderful community. I absolutely love it here,” she said. “People are so friendly, and I want to be here to help people.”
