Virtual Wall of Honour

2025 Inductees - Sylvia Biffis and Susan Iacoucci

Sylvia Biffis is a distinguished leader and philanthropist whose decades-long commitment has profoundly shaped New Tecumseth. A resident of Alliston for over 55 years, Sylvia has been instrumental in advancing healthcare, hospitality, and community development.

Her leadership at Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) is especially notable. Since 2016, she has chaired the SMH Foundation’s Campaign Cabinet, spearheading the “Because of You, We Can” campaign to fund a new hospital facility. She also co-led the Digital Mammography Campaign (2009–2011) and has supported maternal and child health services. In 2025, she joined SMH’s Community Advisory Council, ensuring community voices guide hospital redevelopment.

Beyond healthcare, Sylvia has been a driving force behind the Nottawasaga Foundation, helping raise over $7.8 million for local charities, food banks, scholarships, and healthcare. Under her leadership, the Foundation pledged $1 million over ten years to SMH, contributing $100,000 annually.

In hospitality, Sylvia has over 30 years of experience and currently serves as Director of Convention Sales at Nottawasaga Resort. As Chair of the Simcoe County chapter of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association since 2013, she has championed industry excellence and supported hospitality education at Georgian College.

Sylvia Biffis exemplifies visionary leadership, compassion, and dedication. Her tireless efforts have significantly enhanced healthcare access, community well-being, and economic growth in New Tecumseth, making her a truly deserving recipient for the Town’s Virtual Wall of Honour award.

Susan is a shining example of selfless community service in New Tecumseth. For over 15 years, she has dedicated herself to helping others, often quietly and without seeking recognition. Her contributions span multiple organizations and causes, each reflecting her deep compassion and commitment.

As a volunteer with Help the Kids Play, Susan helps raise funds to support underprivileged children’s access to extracurricular activities, organizing events like baseball tournaments and Tim Hortons’ Smile Cookie campaigns. She also serves as President of Our Town Food Bank, supporting Beeton and Tottenham residents. Susan goes beyond food distribution—delivering emergency supplies, organizing holiday meals, and ensuring families have gifts at Christmas.

Susan’s leadership extends to the Gibson Centre board, where she supports arts and culture, and the Tottenham Lions Club, where she contributes to community-focused initiatives. Her expertise in nonprofit work and event planning makes her a trusted and sought-after leader.

Quietly, Susan also ensures Stevenson Memorial Hospital has toys for children during the holidays—an act of kindness done without publicity, simply because it’s needed.

Always available to help, Susan is known for answering every call and question with care. Her tireless efforts, humility, and unwavering dedication make her an ideal recipient of the New Tecumseth Virtual Wall of Honour award. She is not just a volunteer—she is the heart of the community.

2024 Inductee - Peter James McCague

Raised on his family's dairy farm just outside Alliston, Peter's roots run deep in the Town of New Tecumseth where he also attended high school and later became a successful realtor for nearly three decades.

Peter's impact on the Town of New Tecumseth extends far beyond his professional endeavors. Peter was a leader within the Alliston Lions Club, dedicating himself to giving back and improving the lives of others. He held various positions within the club and at the district level, including the esteemed role of District Governor. His efforts were recognized globally with the prestigious "Progressive Melvin Jones Award" from Lions International, a testament to his exceptional service and leadership.

Peter's legacy of service, compassion, and dedication to making New Tecumseth a better place will forever be remembered. His selfless contributions have left a lasting mark on our hearts and in our community. 

2023 Inductee - Margaret Barber

Margaret Barber is recognized for her outstanding contributions to the Town of New Tecumseth

through her volunteer work and dedication to the Foundation and the Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH). As a lifetime resident of this area, Margaret has demonstrated a deep understanding of the importance of the Stevenson Memorial Hospital for the community in having quality health care close to home. Her commitment to the hospital's success is validated through her nearly two decades of volunteer service with the Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation (SMHF).

In addition to her volunteer work with the SMHF, Marg's professional experience at Baxter Corporation in Alliston provided her with the skills that she successfully applied in her volunteer work. Margaret’s involvement in quality and production improvement projects at Baxter Corporation enabled her to be an effective advocate and leader for the SMHF's fundraising campaigns.

Marg is a true leader and a dedicated volunteer whose contributions to the SMHF and the New

Tecumseth communities are immeasurable. Her distinguished, well-rounded record of community service has had a positive impact on the lives of the citizens of New Tecumseth, making the community a better place in which to live.

2022 Inductee - No Recipient

2021 Inductee - Wendy Gabrek

Wendy has lived in New Tecumseth for 44 years and is one of the most familiar faces in the community. Following in her mother's footsteps, Wendy has volunteered in her community through many different initiatives such as fundraising walks, the annual CRIC, Tottenham Chamber of Commerce, a judge for the South Simcoe Literacy Council Spelling Bee, Tottenham Community Week events, Tottenham Toot-n-Holler, Heart and Stroke "Big Bike" fundraiser and was also a volunteer at the Procyon Wildlife Service.

Wendy was the host of "Talking the Truth", a series on Rogers Television, where she would interview guests and highlight what initiatives they implemented within the New Tecumseth Community.

Wendy truly has brought the gifts and talents of others in our community to the surface and made people aware of what a great municipality we live in.  She has truly helped to make New Tecumseth a better place through her volunteer work and with the positive impact she has made in our community in order to make it a better place. 

2020 Inductee - Sherryl Edith Jackson

Sherryl Jackson moved to New Tecumseth in 1989 and has remained a community activist and volunteer at many different organizations. She has been a volunteer since 2010 in the local Good Shepherd Food Bank and she has also been a chartered member of the Women’s Probus Club of Alliston since 2004. She is a member of the St. John’s Ambulance Therapy Dog Program and she visited many residents giving them joy with her lovely dog, Skyler at Kingsmere Retirement home from 2014 to 2018. She also directed the Green Briar Men's Chorus in 2018 and 2019.

She is however, probably best known in the community as the Director & Conductor of GNO, “Girls Night Out” (GNO), a Ladies’ Charity Community Choir. Initially with only 12 singers, over the years GNO has grown to more than 50 members who have brought music to the community by singing for the citizens of New Tecumseth. GNO performs at community events in South Simcoe County and all proceeds from these concerts are donated to charitable organizations and projects in the community. Since its inception, the choir has donated over $80,000 to different Organizations in New Tecumseth to fund many various community projects.

Sherryl is a remarkable member of our community who has been tirelessly volunteering her time, energy and love of music & people to make things better for the Residents of New Tecumseth. 

2019 Inductees - Betty Tomlinson Anderson and Ralph Wilding

Betty Tomlinson Anderson moved to New Tecumseth from Hamilton in 1975. Gaining a keen interest in the history of the area, Betty served as the President of the Tecumseth and West Gwillimbury Historical Society before co-editing a history book entitled “Tecumseth Township – The Unforgettable Past” in 1984.  Betty was a founding member of the New Tecumseth and Area Arts Council establishing an award to encourage creative writing by local high school students in memory of her deceased husband.  Betty’s passion for music helped to excel local musicians by her writing letters to local papers to discuss and promote their performances.  Betty was the founding member of Achill Choral Society and was successful in bringing Al-Anon to Tottenham.

Ralph Wilding a long-standing member of the Tottenham Lions Club and a founding member of the Tottenham Conservation Committee was a regular volunteer at many festivals and events.  Ralph enjoyed talking and loved being involved within the community.  In 1983, Ralph began his career as a Town Crier after winning the Tottenham Centennial Crier competition and was the Town Crier for the Town of New Tecumseth since amalgamation in 1991.

2018 Inductee – Jack Tiernay

John Louis (Jack) Tiernay was born in North Bay, Ontario on April 7, 1921. At an early age Jack became fascinated with the yoyo and won a trip to England at 14, where he performed for the Queen of England, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. When WWII broke out he joined the Royal Canadian Navy where his railroad telegraph experience was put to good use upon the HMC Dunver as a telegraph operator. Having great talent for music, Jack formed a family band with his sons and played at private and community events with his portable electronic keyboard. Jack lived in Alliston for almost 50 years and was quite active in the Lions Club, the Air Cadets and the Royal Canadian Legion, where he served as president.

2017 Inductee – Joe McCarroll

Joseph-McCarroll-Wall-of-Honour Joe McCarroll served in Europe in World War II with the 6^th Infantry Brigade. After the war, he rejoined his father's meat business and continued with the help of his family until retiring in 1984. He was the first postwar president of the Legion Branch 171 Alliston and received the legion Meritorious Services Medal with Palm Leaf for community services. Joe served on multiple building communities including for the Stevenson Memorial Hospital and for St. Pauls. Joe always had a smile and a joke for everyone.

2016 Inductees – Jim Milligan and Shirley Gibson

Jim Milligan's hard work and dedication to his family's fifth-generation farm and his successful fuel business benefitted not only his own farm operations, but those throughout the community. Thanks to Jim's services and agricultural expertise, he made it his priority to help South Simcoe farmers have successful growing seasons. Jim's commitment to the community and to his family's heritage was remarkable. He was a key cog in the wheel of a farm operation.

Shirley Gibson was a truly extraordinary woman. There is not much in the Alliston area that Shirley did not affect. Her involvement in the community set the bar very high for everyone. So great was her impact that The Herald launched the South Simcoe Hall of Fame in her honour. Shirley's many accomplishments include being the founder of the South Simcoe Museum Board, president of the Alliston Historical Society and being a volunteer for everything from local sports teams to Meals on Wheels.