The Board of the Ontario Welsh Festival is delighted to announce that the winner of the Gold Award for 2012 is Myfanwy Bajaj. Anyone and everyone who is in any way connected with Welsh matters in North America is familiar with Myfanwy. Since her arrival in Canada in the 70s Myfanwy has been involved in a myriad of Welsh activities.

To us she is best know for being a Board Member of the Ontario Welsh Festival, a member of the St David’s Society of Toronto (president for the past 13 years), a Board member of the North American Festival of Wales, and a very active member of Dewi Sant Welsh United Church, Toronto. One of my indelible images is of Myfanwy in Welsh costume presenting their mascot “David” to the Welch Fusiliers at Fort Henry in Kingston. (David is a very pretty white goat!)

We have Myfanwy to thank for the monthly appearance of Y Gadwyn, a publication that is based in Dewi Sant but which is read by Welsh people world wide. She has been the tireless editor of Y Gadwyn for many years, chasing contributors for articles to ensure that the next edition makes for interesting and informative reading. This is a thankless, and sometimes frustrating, task and I am extremely grateful to her for all her hard work.

Proud though she may be of all that she has achieved over the years, I would hazard a guess that the two facts of which she is proudest is that she is known as “mam-gu” to her two delightful grandchildren and that she has been made a member of Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain, representing the Welsh from Overseas at the National Eisteddfod.

Llongyfarchiadau, Myfanwy.
Hefina Phillips