While living in the Dundas Marsh area, Edwards witnessed a small child who fell off a dock and drowned. From that point on, she vowed to do what she could to help other children in need.

“I made up my mind like it was yesterday,” said Edwards in a phone interview from her Ancaster home.

More than seven decades later, Edwards is one of Ontario’s longest serving foster parents and a 2009 recipient of the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship.

Edwards, 83, received her award Monday evening from Ontario Lieutenant Governor David C. Onley. Eleven medals were presented to various recipients across Ontario.

Edwards has served as a foster parent for more than 63 years. She recently earned a lifetime achievement award from the Foster Parents Society of Ontario.

In 1946, Edwards and her late husband, George, began fostering and took in their first baby boy. Since then, Edwards has cared for more than 400 foster children, in addition to raising five children of her own.

Today, Edwards continues to care for one foster child and shares joint fostering responsibilities with her daughter and son-in-law.

“I felt pretty proud of myself,” said Edwards after receiving her medal. “It makes you feel very good.”

Edwards said several foster children have returned to say thank you for the positive impact Edwards and her family have had on their lives.

Recently, a man who spent eight years in Edwards’ care from the age of eight to 16, flew across the country to reunite with his former caregiver.

“It was just wonderful,” Edwards said. “We caught up with a lot of things.”

Over six decades, Edwards has usually had four or five children living with her at any given time. Her job is to care for the children the same way she would look after her own five children until they were adopted by another family.

Today, Edwards daughter, Jayne Marlor and granddaughter Angel Vandenburg have continued the family tradition of foster parenting.