CUSJ members were delighted at the news that Frances Deverell, long-serving board member and former president of the CUSJ, received the Knight Award at the May 16 online CUC annual meeting.
The Victor and Nancy Knight Living Tribute Award is presented at the CUC National Conference. The Award is made annually from the income of the fund to a living person, who has made a notable contribution to the furthering of liberal religious principles in Canada.
Frances received this honour in recognition of her many volunteer contributions at the national level. Highlights of these contributions include preparation of the first CUC’ s Social Justice Handbook and the 2015 CUC Social Action award. Substantive contributions at the international level include organizational duties when the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) was held in Vancouver (1999), facilitating the participation of First Nations representatives and planning the women’s service. She also was a representative at the UUNO, helping to establish an active Canadian role with respect to human rights and lobbying for attention to environmental issues.
Betty Donaldson, (2018 Knight Award recipient, on behalf of Christine Johnston, also Knight Award Recipient in 2014) announced Frances as the recipient of the Knight Award at CUC’s online national meeting on May 16.
In accepting the Award, Frances gave a humble, and passionate shout-out to our CUSJ Board Members and all the people who have supported her social justice efforts throughout her many years of membership in the CUC. Click here to read Frances’ acceptance speech.
Salute