As we come together to create meaningful change, every action sends out a ripple—strengthening our community and building momentum for lasting impact.
This year’s Waves of Impact Celebration recognizes how collective efforts can grow from small movements into powerful forces for good.
Join us for an evening of connection and recognition as we celebrate shared purpose, dedicated leadership, and the many individuals, organizations, and non-profits whose commitment continues to shape a stronger, more caring community for all.
Event Details
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 | Burlington Convention Centre
5:00 P.M. Cocktail Reception | 6:00 P.M. Dinner & Awards Ceremony
Tickets:
$155 – Early Bird Individual Ticket
$1,240 – Early Bird Table of 8
$1,340 – Early Bird Table of 8 (with wine package)
Early Bird pricing available until February 28, 2026.
Meet Your Emcees
Rick Zamperin
Rick was born in Toronto and like most young boys he fell in love with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Poor Rick. But he didn’t want to compete on the ice, Rick’s dream was to describe the action as a play-by-play announcer. His passion led him to Fanshawe College where he graduated from the school’s heralded broadcast journalism program.
For the next 30 years Rick worked at radio stations in cities such as Chatham and Brantford, Ontario, as well as Fort McMurray, Alberta, and has called Hamilton home since 2000. Rick realized his dream of becoming a play-by-play announcer when he called Hamilton Tiger-Cats games from 2007-2014 on 900 CHML radio, where the RTDNA award-winning journalist also worked as a news anchor, reporter, producer, and morning show host.
In 2025, Rick joined CHCH News as the co-anchor of Morning Live and also returned to the broadcast booth with the Ticats.
Besides Rick’s TV family he is married and has two children.
Tamara Lopez
Tamara likes to refer to herself as the “One Woman Show” because of all the different hats she wears from being an advocate, to volunteer, to educator, to emcee, to motivational speaker and even to entertainer; she has done it all including her own TEDx talk!
Tamara is an honours graduate in Psychology from the University of Windsor and has been with the federal public service since 2005. She was recently appointed as her department's regional spokesperson, so you may recognize her from doing interviews on the news.
Tamara also finds time to volunteer with her local TV Cogeco station in Milton as an On-Air TV Personality, having hosted her own anchor program, numerous Santa Claus Parades and co-hosts a podcast. Tamara also gives back to the community by having proudly served on The United Way Halton Hamilton Board of Directors for several years.
All of her hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed as Tamara was awarded the first ever Public Service Pride Award in the “Agent of Change” category, The Regional Director General's Award for Leadership, The CBSA President's Award for her work in Communications plus she was the recipient of The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
