Duffield is chairman of the Windsor Seniors Advisory Committee and the local chapter of CARP. He’s a board member of the Centres for Seniors Windsor and of Canterbury College, as well as founding member of Canterbury Elder College. A Meals on Wheels volunteer and life-long blood donor, Duffield is also senior warden at All Saints Anglican Church.

Ward 5 Coun. Ed Sleiman, his nominator for the provincial award, said Duffield has been instrumental in helping promote Windsor as an age-friendly city and “has greatly improved the quality of life for all of Windsor’s residents.”

Duffield retired to Windsor in 2004 after nearly 37 years with the federal department of foreign affairs and international trade, a career that saw him serve seven foreign postings.

The Ontario Senior of the Year awards, begun in 1994, are to honour people who have made their communities better places to live.