PORT COQUITLAM, BC – Jan. 22, 2020… It’s that time of the year again, when Port Coquitlam residents are invited to celebrate local volunteers by nominating them for a Volunteer Recognition Award.

Nominations are open until Mar. 2 for the city’s long-running annual awards program, which recognizes and encourages outstanding community volunteers. This year’s theme is Volunteers Connect Us.

“Volunteers make Port Coquitlam the special place it is and keep our community connected,” said Mayor Brad West. “Volunteers don’t expect anything in return but I encourage everyone to take the time to thank them for their efforts by submitting an award nomination.”

Nominations can be made at www.portcoquitlam.ca/volunteerawards until Mar. 2 in one of seven categories: Arts, Heritage & Cultural Awareness; Caring & Safety; Environmental Protection & Enhancement; Sports & Recreation; Youth Programs; U21 (youth under age 21); and Lifetime Volunteer.

All eligible nominees get special treatment from the city – whether or not they win an award.

Award nominees receive a commemorative pin and two tickets to the annual Volunteer Recognition Awards and Tribute event – an invitation-only night of fun, food and entertainment held during National Volunteer Week in April and sponsored by Fortis BC.

Award recipients also receive a personalized etched glass award and have their names added to the volunteer honour roll at City Hall.

“People volunteer for different reasons including wanting to help others and give back to their community,” said Cllr. Nancy McCurrach, the Council designate for arts, culture and heritage issues. “As a past recipient of the Caring and Safety award, receiving a nomination is a great honour and a wonderful recognition.”

The Port Coquitlam Volunteer Recognition Awards have honoured 137 recipients and hundreds more nominees since 1997. The 2020 awards are again sponsored by Fortis BC, which has supported the awards for 22 years.

Nomination details

Nominees can be any age and do not have to live in Port Coquitlam. Unless they are being nominated in the Lifetime category, they cannot have previously received a Port Coquitlam Volunteer Recognition Award (see website for past recipients). All nominees must meet at least one of these criteria:

• their unpaid volunteer contributions provide extraordinary help or care to families or groups in Port Coquitlam,
• they continually commit their time, talent and energy, without pay, to improve the quality of life in Port Coquitlam, or
• they have been voluntarily involved in a program or project that has had a lasting benefit for Port Coquitlam and its residents.

How to make a nomination count:

• Include as many details as possible as the selection panel may not know the nominee.
• Coordinate supporting materials, such as letters of support, awards, newspaper clippings. The online nomination form includes ideas about what to include.
• Nominations are for individuals only (not groups or couples). You can nominate people in a group individually but include their personal contributions only.

Visit www.portcoquitlam.ca/volunteerawards for more information and the online nomination form. Nominations close Mar. 2. Questions may be directed to 604.927.5410 or info@portcoquitlam.ca.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Pardeep Purewal
Manager of Communications & Admin Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5335 Cel 604.218.0533
Email purewalp@portcoquitlam.ca