Lifetime Achievement Award – Robert (Bob) L. Cunningham
Awarded to an individual who, over the past 20 years or more, has made significant contributions to the community and has improved the quality of life for citizens or whose accomplishments have brought recognition to the Waterloo Region.
This Award is not given to individual’s who are finished giving, it’s given to those who committed an incredible amount of their lives to their passion and done it without the need for gratitude, without the desire for awards or even the smallest of recognition, but because they believe it helps people, it helps community, it helps the cause they are so passionate about. This year’s winner is probably one of the most appropriate and fitting recipients of all. He has given all of his energy, efforts and passion for all of his life that I can remember. This individual worked for only one employer in town, and thankfully that employer just encouraged him to work, lead and give to community his entire work life. They recognized early, that their company would be served well by letting his passion give to Cambridge and the people of our City. An active Board Member, philanthropist and mentor to young and old, people who know him best, know him for his caring heart, his humble personality and his unique ability to help others find answers and solve problems. People who have been close to him, talk about how his wisdom guided them, how he could teach with compassion and caring, that he was an outstanding professional, how at times he navigated through tremendous change with poise and humility. He loved sports, but only some of his love was in playing, most of it was in helping youth grow, learn and lead. He believed he must give back, not because it was a calling, but because he could and should. We have been inundated with letters telling us that without question, he is a lifetime achiever, and at 79, thankfully for us, he’s not done yet. Congratulations Bob.