Susan Fitzgerald has given countless hours of her time to the Canadian Red Cross, and in recognition of her contributions, she was recently recognized with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Susan was also a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal ten years ago.
Susan has been a devoted volunteer to the Society. She was a trainer and responder in the disaster management program and was one of the first members of the Peer Support Network. Over the years, she was deployed to a number of major disasters as a Red Cross volunteer. She worked at the SARS Crisis in Toronto; floods in the U.S. Midwest and Winnipeg; and the terrible Ice Storm in Eastern Ontario. She was also at Lester B. Pearson Airport in September 2001, helping those arriving after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre.
The United States Midwest saw flooding across nine states in 1993. While working there, Susan and her colleagues had to be evacuated themselves. In one of the villages, the waters rose and were cutting off their escape route. The local mayor and police arrived and told them they had to leave immediately. They were told that just enough brick was available to put into the floodwater to allow them to drive across. Susan was driving the third Red Cross vehicle to cross the water and can recall seeing the officials standing at the other side “with their fingers crossed”. It was a bumpy ride but they made it across safely!
In nominating her for the Diamond Jubilee Medal, fellow volunteer Dale Pyne said, “Susan demonstrates a life-long dedication for helping those displaced by tragedies and she inspires volunteers to go and help. She is a friend, a mentor, a peer support counselor and a believer in the fundamental principles of the Red Cross. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have Susan at the Halton Branches of the Red Cross."