Inducted in 2002
Yvette Ward has dedicated much of her life to making Welland a better place to live. She founded the Welland Heritage Council and Multicultural Centre in 1976, was a charter member of the Welland Rose Festival in 1961 and an executive member for over 40 years.
Yvette Ward’s dedication to her community, country and people are listed and confirmed by her involvement in numerous groups over the past 56 years. She began the annual Heritage Folklore Festival, has served as an Executive Member of the Ontario Folk Arts Council and was Past Chair of the Canadian Association of Festivals. This offers an outline of the large magnitude of effort put forth towards serving her community and her many years of dedication in ensuring a better quality of life for others. Her list of accomplishments is seemingly endless. “If anyone is the mother of the festival industry, it is Yvette Ward”, says Michel Gauthier, Past President of Festivals and Events Ontario. “It was a pleasure for me to see her inducted. She certainly is deserving of the honor.”