Judge: Frank O'Dea
July 9th, 2010

CBC and Outpost Magazine have launched a six-month search for the Top Canadian volunteers, Canada’s Champions of Change. And, they have named the entrepreneur, speaker and humanitarian, Frank O’Dea, as the Chair of the panel of judges who will select the finalists for this Canada-wide, people’s choice award.

　Do you know someone who volunteers? Perhaps it is someone who collects door to door for charities; works in a soup kitchen; digs wells in Africa or pushes wheel chairs at the local hospital? Here is your chance to give him or her some well deserved recognition. Go to the CBC website and fill out a nomination form, then get your colleagues and friends to do the same.  <Champions>

After the nomination period closes on September 30, 2010 the Top Ten finalists will be selected by an independent panel of community and volunteer leaders. They are the Canada's Champions of Change judges.

Part of the judges' discussion will be on taped on camera for later broadcast and some judges will be interviewed about the process, the selections, and volunteering. The judges will score candidates on a multi-point report card and choose one national and one international finalist in each of the five categories.

The five national finalists and five international finalists will become the 'Top Ten' who will be put forward to the Canadian public for voting. The national and interational finalists who receive the most votes will be the winners of Canada's Champions of Change.

The two winners will receive a $25 000 each for the charitable organization of their choice. The eight other finalists will receive $10 000 for the charitable organization of their choice. The awards come from Manulife Financial, the presenting sponsor of Canada's Champions of Change.

Frank O'Dea

A champion of change himself, Frank O'Dea is the chair of our selection committee, the Top Ten Panel. "It is marvelous that CBC, Manulife and Outpost Magazine have created this opportunity to recognize the power of volunteerism in this country", says Frank, "I am very excited to be a part of it" Frank is a man who has transformed his own life and since has helped many others transform their lives.Today, Frank is an Officer of the Order of Canada, and an inspiring speaker and author, who shares the secrets of his business success as a founder of The Second Cup and Proshred Security as well as his life philosophy.. | Read More »