Click Here for Bio Information for Mike Kennedy

Click here for Bio Information on Patty McCann

2024 SIMON MCDONAUGH HUMANITARIAN AWARD RECIPIENT:

Gordon Lippiatt

Gordon Lippiatt is a very modest man and his help is always behind the scenes. There is not a single task Gord has ever refused to help with. Gord is a longtime member of the UIS, having been involved for 19 years thus far. He has been a marshal for the Montreal St. Patrick’s Parade for many years, and manages the Reviewing Stand. Gord is always helpful at the UIS awards final banquet by keeping the group in line while folding the UIS flag. Importantly, he was an essential part of the UIS Christmas Basket delivery for many years when we delivered hundreds of food basket boxes. He has the toughest job of all and coordinates the delivery logistics, for which the association is forever grateful. 

Gordon is a proud veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces (Reserve) from 1972-1980, and was awarded the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, and the United Nation Disengagement Observer Force (Golan Heights) medal for his service during a United Nations Peacekeeping mission in 1975. 

Gordon has spent countless hours working in the background for the Innisfail Social & Sports Association, volunteering for the Greenfield Park Legion, and volunteering for the SGB ST John Bosco organization in Ville Emard, which helps to fundraise for the community & Children’s Hospital. He is always one of the first to volunteer at the Erin Sports Christmas Basket Program. He heads the Board of Directors for Maison Cross Roads, an organization that helps provide reintegration services for federal parolees. He acts as a caregiver for seniors and friends by shopping for groceries and accompanying them to hospital appointments. 

For all of the above reasons and more, The United Irish Societies is happy to present Gordon Lippiatt as the 2024 recipient of the Simon McDonaugh Humanitarian Award.

The United Irish Societies lost a dear and valued member in 1992, when Simon McDonaugh passed away. An award was established in 1993 for the community to remember Mr. McDonaugh’s dedication to his heritage and to the humanitarian acts performed during his life. Mr. McDonaugh’s association with the United Irish Societies and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade were longstanding: from 1940 to 1979 he served the organization and the annual parade as its Chief Deputy Marshal. During those years, he was an inspiration to the marshals and society members due to the successful execution of the parades. For many years, he and his colleagues were responsible for building the reviewing stands for dignitaries to review the parades. In later years, Mr. McDonaugh was presented with a Gold Card Membership in recognition of a lifetime of loyal and faithful service to the United Irish Societies and to the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The memory of Mr. McDonaugh’s humanitarian lifestyle lives on through this award.

2024 LIAM DALY HERITAGE AWARD RECIPIENT:

Janice Young

Janice Young began Irish dancing at a young age with the Marie Claude Rousseau School of Irish Dance, and danced at many shows with the UIS Entertainment group, including the Annual Verdun Mayor’s reception. Janice has continued to make incredible strides and continued to dance into adulthood. When her daughter was old enough to dance, they even danced together. 

Janice traveled to Ireland to obtain her certification and open her own dance school. She also obtained her adjudication certificate in 2016. Since 2009, she has owned an incredibly successful dance academy, The Young Academy of Irish Dance. The Academy provides dance instruction to both competitive and recreational dancers. This academy began in Verdun but has expanded to Ormstown, Chateauguay, NDG, and Westmount. It also extends to Prince Edward Island via online classes. Their competitive dancers compete all year long throughout Canada and the USA. Students from the Academy have also attended the Eastern Canadian Oireachtas, North American Championships, All Ireland Championships, All Scotland Championships, and World Championships in both solo and team events. 

The Young Academy prides itself in giving back to its community by volunteering to perform at various events throughout the year. They are also involved in the St Patrick’s Day festivities that take place in Montreal and Chateauguay every year. In August 2019, the Academy was very excited to host its first feis (competition) at John Abbott College.

It is with great pleasure that we name Janice Young the 2024 recipient of the Liam Daly Heritage Award.

A native son of Dublin, Ireland, Liam Daly, was proud of his Irish heritage. From the first day he arrived, through his talent, love and devotion, Liam volunteered his time to the continual presence of the Arts and the Irish Cultural in the City of Montreal Liam is missed by the Irish Community. As a tribute to him, the United Irish Societies of Montreal has created the Liam Daly Heritage Award which will be awarded to a worthy candidate who exemplifies Liam’s love of his heritage and promotes the Irish heritage through the arts.