Helen Bryan and Katie Walker at the 2025 Audi Foundation – CEF Alumni Awards
Helen Bryan, from Great Lakes Education Fund (GLEF), was honoured for her exceptional service and commitment to local youth in her community with the 2025 Katie Walker Outstanding Service Award.
Presented as part of the CEF Awards, held at the Tim Fischer Fellowship Luncheon in October, the peer-nominated award honours a CEF volunteer who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to providing life-changing education and training opportunities for their local youth.
Helen Bryan
Local foundation:
Great Lakes Education Fund
Award:
2025 Katie Walker Outstanding Service Award
One of Helen’s most enduring contributions has been the creation and development of the Student Liaison Officer role; one she has held for the past 14 years. This role has become a vital pillar of GLEF’s success, as Helen maintains close, ongoing relationships with current students and alumni and offers support that spans emotional, logistical and financial domains.
Fellow GLEF committee member and nominator, Mary Browne, describes her compassion and dedication to the Great Lakes community.
“To students from Great Lakes, Helen is the face of GLEF; a symbol of care, connection and community. Her boundless energy, selfless service, and unwavering commitment are making a profound and lasting difference in the lives of countless young people year after year.”
”Drawing on her extensive experience as a social worker, Helen brings a wealth of empathy, insight and practical support for our students, particularly those facing significant personal and financial challenges. Her fierce advocacy and deep sense of social justice have made her not only a trusted advisor but a true friend to many.
Mary Browne
”I have found my involvement with GLEF to be extremely satisfying, giving me meaningful contact with young people in my community and raising awareness of the difficulties facing rural and regional youth. Volunteering for CEF is truly a worthwhile experience and I am very proud to be a part of it.
Helen Bryan
