Dedicated volunteer honoured with YMCA medal

St. James Town resident and community leader Ali Moallim was awarded the 2008 YMCA Peace Medallion on Nov. 18.

The award recognizes individuals who have shown a commitment to peace through personal contributions made within their community on a voluntary basis. This year, Moallim was one of 14 honourees from across the GTA.

Margaret Coshan of Community Matters Toronto nominated Moallim for the honour, stating that he “knows that peace comes from the belief in the fundamental goodness of everyone. This is not difficult for him. This is not a blind faith or an interesting idea. It is simply who he is.”

Born in Somalia, Moallim’s character and values were shaped by his family. His mother was a community leader and his father a governor of Somalia. Peacemaking is the foundation of his family values—particularly after his sister was killed by mortar fire.

Moallim and his wife Sofia moved to Canada to raise their family of four, and as a dedicated Canadian, he helps others who are new to his adopted homeland to adjust and thrive here.

After more than ten years in banking, Moallim has returned to his community roots, working with his neighbours in St. James Town. He says, “When we take the first step in helping someone else, we are helped, often in ways that we do not know. We become part of a community that matters to us. We all matter, and the only way we know that is through the eyes and hearts of others.”

In his acceptance speech, Moallim added, “I tell people, Canada is your final destination, so it is time for you to decide to contribute, to be active, to be passionate and that your personal engagement is a common commitment to the first step to peace.”

To learn more about Moallim’s work, visit communitymatterstoronto.org.