For patients and families arriving at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC), a warm welcome can make all the difference. Whether it's helping someone find their way through the hospital, offering reassurance before an appointment, or simply sharing a conversation in their own language, volunteers are often among the first faces they meet.
This week, five of those volunteers were recognized with awards at the Ontario Volunteer Service Awards, a provincial honour celebrating individuals who have provided years of dedicated service to a single organization.
Among those recognized is Kid Tauchid, whose 20 years of service have made him one of KHSC's most familiar and beloved volunteers.
Now 92 years old, Kid can still be found welcoming visitors at the Burr 0 Information Desk, helping patients navigate the hospital and lending a hand wherever it's needed. But over the past two decades, his volunteer journey has reached far beyond one role. Alongside the information desk, he has supported Patient Relations, the cardiac program, mental health services, the Cancer Centre and through virtual patient-family visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I tend to say yes to just about everything," Kid said. "If I have time, I will do it."
For Kid, volunteering has never been about filling his retirement years. After a career that took him around the world with the United Nations, he returned to Canada determined to continue serving others.
"I always wanted to do something for the community," he said. "I think there's nothing more rewarding."
That philosophy has shaped every interaction he has had at KHSC. Having lived and worked in communities across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, Kid speaks several languages. He’s often able to surprise patients by greeting them in their own language and correctly pronounce their name.
"Suddenly it changes the mood," he said. "They're not just a patient - they're a person again."
His compassion extends beyond conversation. During the pandemic, when families were unable to visit loved ones in hospital, Kid volunteered to help connect patients with family members through video calls, ensuring they could still see one another during some of the most difficult moments.
For Lynda Laird, manager of Volunteer Services, Kid's impact is impossible to measure by hours alone.
"For two decades, Kid has been a familiar and reassuring presence throughout KGH. His warmth, multilingual abilities and genuine desire to help others have touched thousands of patients, visitors and staff. The impact of his nearly 7,000 hours of service extends far beyond the time he has given - it lives on in the people he has helped, and the welcome he has created for our community."
Kid believes volunteering is about more than giving time - it's about choosing to stay connected.
"You have to have it in your heart," he said. "Do something for the community. It gives you a reason to get up in the morning."
That spirit is reflected in every volunteer being recognized this year. In total, 14 volunteers were nominated for awards, among those volunteers the others recognized include:
- J.P. Morales for four years of service
- Judith Gould for 15 years of service
- Cheryl Turner and Brenda Bartlett for 20 years of service
Collectively, these volunteers have supported patients and families through countless moments of uncertainty, celebration and healing. Their roles may differ, but they share a common purpose - making KHSC a more welcoming, compassionate place for everyone who walks through its doors.
"At KHSC, we are proud to celebrate volunteers whose years of dedicated service have made a meaningful difference in the lives of patients, families, visitors and staff," said Laird. "Being able to nominate volunteers each year for the Ontario Volunteer Service Awards is an opportunity to recognize the extraordinary commitment, compassion and generosity they bring to our organization. These awards not only honour individual milestones but also celebrate the vital role volunteers play in strengthening healthcare and our communities."
For Kid, who recently celebrated his 92nd birthday, retirement from volunteering isn't part of the plan.
"As long as I can move," he said, "you'll see me somewhere."
