Rocca wins Macphail award

Leaside activist and realtor Patrick Rocca is the 2016 recipient of the Agnes Macphail Award.

He has been involved for more than five years with New Circles’ Prom Drive and with donating university scholarships to local students. He has been a member of the Leaside Rotary Club for more than 20 years.

A big supporter of breakfast programs in the city, Rocca’s contributions to the Toronto Foundation for Student Success have helped it serve more than 150,000 meals to kids across the city.

He was also a big part of the fundraising efforts to get the second ice rink at Leaside Memorial Gardens. 

Rocca is a previous winner of a Don Valley West Community Service Award.

Rocca will receive more than $2,000 to donate to the charities of his choice, Prostate Cancer Canada, New Circles and the Leaside Rotary Club.

The annual award is given to an East York resident who demonstrates leadership in the community. Named after Agnes Campbell Macphail, the first woman to be elected to the Canadian House of Commons and Ontario Legislature, winners are expected to follow the one-time Leaside resident’s motto: Think Globally, Act  Locally.

Rocca was nominated by Pancheta (Pat) Barnett of Eglinton Ave.

“It’s really humbling to receive this award,” said Rocca. “So many great people have won in the past. I really feel like I’m not worthy.”

Previous Leaside winners include Alan Redway, Lorna Krawchuk, Ruth Goldhar and George Hurst.

The ceremony will be held Thursday, March 24, at 7 p.m., in the True Davidson Council Chambers, of the East York Civic Centre, at 850 Coxwell Ave. Everyone welcome.