Jean Hibbert Memorial Award

The EHS Jean Hibbert Memorial Award recognizes outstanding contributions to historical awareness and heritage preservation in Etobicoke, Toronto or Ontario. A recipient may be an individual, group, organization, or business.   EHS members are invited to submit written nominations for this award to the President, by the deadline of April 1st, of each year.  The award will be presented at the Annual General Meeting each May.

Past Recipients

2025 - Richard Jordan
2024 - Michael Freeman
2023 - Bill Zufelt
2022 - Tom Godfrey and The South Etobicoke News
2021 - Mary Louise Ashbourne
2020 - Paul Joseph O'Connor
​2019 - Joy Cohnstaedt
2018 - Madeleine McDowell
2017 - Nicholas Doran
2016 - Jeanine Avigdor
2015 - Joanna Twitchin
2014 - Wendy Gamble and Father Leo Burns
2013 - Denise Harris
2012 - Michael Harrison
2011 - Paul Chomik
2010 - Michael FitzGerald
2009 - Mike Filey
2008 - Douglas M. Willoughby and Robert A. Given
2007 - Katharine Williams
2006 - Molly Sutherland
2005 - The York Pioneer and Historical Society
2004 - Herbert Ashley
2003 - Jane Beecroft
2002 - Hilary J. Dawson and Wendy Lilly
2001 - Harvey Currell
2000 - The Humber Heritage Committee (Madeleine McDowell)
1999 - Robert Roden
1998 - J. Brian Gilchrist
1997 - Diana Clark Sythes, Elizabeth Ingolfsrud, and Alec Keefer
1996 - NO AWARD
1995 - Cliff J. Parsons
1994 - Glynford P. Allen 
1993 - Dennis Mills
1992 - Catherine and Gordon Sykes 
1991 - Norma Anne Carrier  
1990 - Lenora Milloy  
1989 - Linda Pedersen
1988 - Randall Reid
1987 - Carmen Rossi
1986 - Mary Appleby  
1985 - Lavonia Vivian  
1984 - James Gill
1983 - E. W. (Joe) Anderson,  Robert Given, Betty Hardie, Dorothy Hobbs, and Frank Longstaff  
1982 - Stewart East 

About Jean Hibbert

Jean Hibbert was a long-time resident of Long Branch, which is now part of the City of Etobicoke. During her life, she was keenly interested in the cultural aspects of her community. Her primary concerns centred around her church, the Etobicoke Safety Council, consumer responsibilities, and her concern for heritage.

Jean was most active as a reporter and photographer with the Toronto Star and The Lakeshore Advertiser Guardian, and she was also an officer with the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Affairs. She was also very active in civic affairs, and ran for Alderman in Etobicoke in 1972. In addition, she was president of the Queensway General Hospital Women's Auxiliary, and one of her last acts was to attend the annual meeting in a wheelchair. 

Jean was a charter member of the Etobicoke Historical Society, back in 1958.  In May of 1969, she was named to the Board of Directors, and the following month she took over responsibility for publicity. In June of 1971 she became Vice-President of EHS and she was President for two years from 1975 to 1977. From November of 1976, Jean was plagued by illness, and on September of 1979, she was confined to hospital. Shortly thereafter she died, and Etobicoke was saddened by the loss of one of its most active and community-spirited citizens. In 1981, the Etobicoke Historical Society created an award in honour of  Mrs. Jean Hibbert, for recognition of outstanding contributions to the preservation and historical awareness in the Borough of Etobicoke. 

    Submit a Nomination for the Jean Hibbert Memorial Award

    The Jean Hibbert award is given each year to a person who has made outstanding contributions to historical awareness and heritage preservation in Etobicoke, Toronto or Ontario. Nominations are reviewed by the Board and the best candidate is presented with the award at our Annual General Meeting. The recipient receives a plaque, and his or her name is included on a plaque of recipients in the Montgomery’s Inn Community Room.