On May 16, 2023, City Council awarded Melissa Norton, an occupational therapy student, with the 2023 Tim Hickman Memorial Health and Safety Scholarship.
This annual $3,000 scholarship for students in an occupational and/or public health and safety related program was established in 2006 by the City of London and CUPE Locals 101 and 107, as a tribute to employee Tim Hickman, who died in service to the community at age 21.
“Melissa’s commitment to health and safety and to the safety of others is inspiring,” says Mayor Josh Morgan. “As an occupational therapy student, she is committing her life to patient care and to the healthcare field. Her dedication to her studies, her involvement with the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre, and her passion for helping others, makes her an excellent recipient of this award.”
During the summer of 2021, Melissa was employed at the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) as a COVID-19 screener for the very busy health centre. It was clear her drive to help others would not be satisfied sitting at a desk asking questions. Recognizing a need in her community, Melissa become the driving force behind the SOAHAC Traditional Foods and Medicine Garden. Melissa worked diligently to plant, grow, harvest, and preserve vegetables and herbs, along with traditional medicines, to support both SOAHAC’s Food Hub program and the traditional healing programs.
“Preventing another family from losing a loved one in the workplace is what this scholarship is all about,” says Shirley Hickman, Tim Hickman’s mother. “This scholarship allows the lessons learned from our lost to be carried forward to prevent future tragedies. And that is very important.”
Melissa will receive the scholarship to help with her continued studies, as well as a one-year membership to the London chapter of the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), which is pleased to support her future health and safety endeavours.