The Guelph Community Foundation is pleased to share that Carly O’Brien has been selected as a recipient of a 2025 Mayor’s Award.
The award recognizes individuals who make the City of Guelph a better place through volunteer service. Carly was recognized at the Mayor’s State of the City Address on February 12, 2026, hosted by the Guelph Chamber of Commerce. The Guelph Mayor’s Awards were established in 1997 by Mayor Joe Young to recognize volunteer contributions that strengthen the community. Honourees are recognized for service across many areas of city life, including arts and culture, health and mental health, community building, athletics, and the environment.
Carly O’Brien is a long-time volunteer and board member with the Guelph Community Foundation and has supported Guelph-based charities for more than 15 years. She has served as a board member or mentor for close to 10 local organizations, including the Foundation for Guelph General Hospital, the Guelph Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement of Guelph, The Rhyze Academy, and the Guelph Community Foundation. She has chaired numerous board committees and Boards of Directors and currently serves as Chair of the Guelph Community Foundation Board.
Carly is known for her practical and strategic approach to volunteer leadership. In her role as chair of the Guelph Community Foundation Board of Directors, Carly supported staff and maintained relationships with fundholders and donors. For close to a year, she met weekly with staff, connected with donors and fundholders, and shared the work of the Foundation across the community. Through this work, Carly helped build momentum around connecting donors with causes they care about and increasing funding available to Guelph charities. Her involvement supported staff teams, strengthened governance, and contributed to the Foundation’s ability to continue serving the community during a time of change.
Over more than 15 years of volunteer service, Carly’s contributions have strengthened organizations, enriched Boards of Directors, and supported community-focused work across Guelph. Carly exemplifies the City’s vision of “making a difference” by making our city a much better place through her relentless commitment to volunteer service. It is privilege to work alongside her, as it was an honor for our team to submit her name as a nominee for a 2025 Mayor’s Award. Her selection as a 2025 Mayor’s Award recipient reflects the sustained impact of her volunteer leadership and service to the city.
