A Lorne Park resident since 1983, Yagar and her husband Joe raised three sons while she worked as a law clerk. During those years, she participated in her local ratepayers' association and sat on school parent councils. However, it wasn't until she went back to school at age 43 to become a lawyer that Yagar's community contributions really blossomed.
Yagar was one of a number of community volunteers honoured last night at the Civic Centre during the City's semi-annual Civic Award of Recognition evening.
Over 100 Mississauga residents, including 19 volunteers at Credit Valley Hospital, and local members of victorious baseball (the major midget Twins), synchronized skating (Ice Precise masters and adult teams, Mississauga Motion novice and junior teams), soccer teams (Erin Mills Golden Eagles, Dixie Dominators under 16s) and the Mississauga Mustangs Ringette team, were honoured.
Yagar, who joined the board of Community Living Mississauga (CLM) in 1996 as a member of its housing committee, has been a stalwart of the board ever since. Joanna Okolisan of CLM nominated the 61-year-old for the award on behalf of the group.
"Right from the beginning, Bonnie embraced the values and goals of Community Living and freely gave of her time and expertise," says Okolisan. She became board chair, helped get a rare three-year accreditation for CLM (there are just three in Canada) and became founding chair of the rights committee, which allows the agency's developmentally challenged clients to bring forth concerns they have about the service they receive.
Her experience with CLM caused Yagar to question why Peel's social services are so badly-underfunded compared to other areas of the province. She subsequently became chair of the Peel Fair Share Task Force which is lobbying for a better deal.
The Osgoode Hall graduate also sits on the United Way's planned giving committee, on the advisory committee for Peel Activities and Rehabilitation and the champions committee of Success by Six, which supports individuals with mental health services.
Her crowded volunteer portfolio has recently been expanded to include sitting on the donor development committee of Community Foundation of Mississauga and working with a steering committee that is working to re-establish — what else — the Volunteer Centre of Peel.
The wills, trusts and estates lawyer says that she enjoys each of her volunteer experiences in different ways. None more than her participation with CLM, however. "It's a wonderful cause to support," she says. "I've made great with the friendships with people who are supported. You really feel able to make a difference in their lives."
Despite her busy practice at the long-established Pallett Valo law firm in the city centre, Yagar is able to balance her professional, volunteer and family lives by "compartmentalizing" her time. "My family knows I won't be home until late on weeknights but I reserve my weekends for them."
Yagar cooks, sews, makes most of her own clothes, knits and is an avid gardener both on her shady Lorne Park lot and at the family's Muskoka cottage.
The last thing she ever wants to do is volunteer just for the sake of it, she says. "I wouldn't do it if I didn't think I could make a contribution," she says. "I'm not going to meetings for the sake of going to meetings. I have to add value."
Okolisan ended her nomination submission by saying that Yagar, "is an enthusiastic, dedicated and industrious volunteer. Her leadership, the level of commitment and the spectrum of work performed over the years demonstrates that Bonnie has truly spent her life giving back to others."
jstewart@mississauga.net
