2023 SIMON MCDONAUGH HUMANITARIAN AWARD RECIPIENT:

Pam McEntee

Pam McEntee is one who constantly works to help others.

She is a great behind-the-scenes volunteer and worker. Pam always seems to seek out what needs to be done and makes herself available to help. She delivers meals to seniors on a regular basis. She is a personal caregiver to a person with physical challenges.

Pam volunteers at the NDG Legion and is always on hand to lend a hand at Innisfail. You will find her on our reviewing stand at the parade serving coffee.

Wherever she sees the need, she is there. She is just a giving person and never looks for recognition.

The United Irish Societies is happy to present Pam McEntee as the 2023 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.

2023 LIAM DALY HERITAGE AWARD RECIPIENT:

Grant Stewart

Since the onset of the pandemic, as quarantine and isolation took its toll on us all, Grant Stewart found a way to make days a little bit brighter for others. He took the opportunity to ask daily trivia questions in the UIS Marshals’ Facebook group, as well as the St. Gabriel’s Parish group, with very rare pauses.

For months on end, Grant would “remember” prominent members of our organization – past presidents, grand marshals, CROs, Queens, members, etc. He found a way to bring the Irish community together in a way that not many other people could have. Grant is a relatively quiet man. However, his daily posts have persistently given us pause to reflect on the impact the men and women that came before us have had on our organization and our community. He renewed a sense of community when it was needed most, and for that, many are grateful.

For his consistent and persistent work at remembering the UIS leaders and members who came before us, Grantland “Grant” Stewart was chosen as the recipient of the Liam Daly Heritage Award 2023.

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.