Niagara-on-the-Lake Resident Receives Lincoln M. Alexander Award

For Immediate Release February 24, 2017

-Niagara-on-the-Lake- Local resident Alexis Spieldenner was presented with the Lincoln M. Alexander Award by Her Honour Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of , on Thursday, February 23, at Queen’s Park.

Each year the Ontario government recognizes three young leaders with the Lincoln M. Alexander Award for their outstanding efforts to end racial discrimination and promote positive social change. There are two student awards and one community award.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Town Council nominated Alexis Spieldenner for the Community Award for her contributions to improving race relations. Alexis co-founded Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts and the North Star Festival to commemorate the contributions of people of African descent in the Niagara region and to foster unity and cross-cultural understanding.

“I am incredibly honoured to receive the Lincoln M. Alexander Community Award,” said Alexis Spieldenner. “I would like to thank Wilma Morrison of the Niagara Black History Association and Donna Ford of the Central Ontario Network for Black History for their continued support of Bravo Niagara!’s North Star Festival, as well as Betty Disero and Niagara-on-the-Lake Town Council for the nomination.”

“On behalf of the Town, I wish to congratulate Alexis on receiving this distinguished award,” stated CAO Holly Dowd. “We’re proud of Alexis’ accomplishments and the example she is setting for our community.”

For more information, please contact: Holly Dowd, Chief Administrative Officer 905-468-3266 L-R: The Honourable Laura Albanese, Her Honour the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Alexis Spieldenner, and The Honourable Mitzie Hunter