Carol Gardner has been with Kanatek for almost six years and balances her administrative workload with bringing up a young family. Despite her commitments, she finds time to help out with Candlelighters ( www.candlelighters.net ), a charity that provides comfort and resources to young cancer patients being treated at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Carol says, "As a mother of young children, it's especially heartbreaking to see children, and families, in pain. Candlelighters does so much good work to ease that pain, that I love to be involved".

Brian McKerness Every January since 1996, the Alzheimer Society of Ottawa ( www.alzheimerott.org ) has organised a Walk for Memories to raise funds to fight this chronic, degenerative brain disorder. Brian McKerness, who works in Kanatek's finance department, takes time to join the Walk in Carlingwood Mall, and to raise much needed funds. Almost two-thirds of the Society's income comes from fund-raising and donations, so volunteers like Brian, who donate their own time, are vital. Brian comments, "The Walk is really a fun event & I'm honoured to have the opportunity to help them out in this way."

Gaby Kourie Tour Nortel has become as much a fixture of the Ottawa calendar as Winterlude. Now in its fifteenth year, it has become a celebration of walking, running, cycling and life itself, as it raises funds for CHEO  ( www.cheo.ca ), the Perley and Rideau Veterans' Health Centre ( www.prvhc.com )  and the Queensway Carleton Hospital ( www.qch.on.ca ). Gaby Kourie, who manages inventory, integrations, warehousing and the grounds at Kanatek, is a regular participant. He has cycled hundreds of kilometres and raised thousands of dollars for the event. Gaby puts it simply, "When you help others, it's a gift from god."

Many of Brent Sharpe’s family have been lost to breast cancer, including his grandmother, his great aunt and his aunt. As part of his personal goal to get back in to shape this year, Brent wanted to raise money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (http://www.cbcf.org/) and took part in its 5k run in Toronto, raising a significant amount of money for the cause. Brent now plans to run, and raise sponsorship money, every year and says, “As someone who has lost multiple family members to breast cancer, I can think of no more deserving cause”.

The Tender Wishes Foundation helps grant wishes to children in the Niagara region that are suffering life threatening illnesses. Bob Scott started to actively support them over five years ago by participating in events and fund-raisers, and he and his family have made it a part of their annual charitable giving. "This is just a small way of helping out a very worthwhile cause," said Bob, who works in Kanatek's sales operations. "When you hear some of the stories about how these children suffer, it puts everything else in to perspective".

The annual Salvation Army Santa Shuffle attracts close to 10,000 people across Canada, including Kanatek’s Tri Nguyen. Tri joined in the 5 kilometre race around Dow’s Lake in Ottawa to help raise money for the Salvation Army and to raise his own fitness. Proceeds from the event help women and children in crisis, feed and provide shelter for the homeless and help make Christmas a possibility for those in need. Tri is making charity runs a regular part of his fitness regime. “I like to stay fit and healthy and to help others less fortunate than me”, says Tri.