Volunteer Recognition Awards

Every year, we ask Port Coquitlam residents to share which local volunteers make a difference in the community by recognizing them with a nomination. Our Volunteer Recognition Awards celebrate the invaluable contributions of volunteers in making a positive difference in the community. Their efforts inspire others to get involved and encourage ongoing volunteerism. Established in 1997, the program acknowledges and honours Port Coquitlam’s outstanding volunteers. Since the program’s inception, more than 145 individuals have been recognized, with hundreds of nominees acknowledged for their contributions.

Although volunteers work selflessly, it’s encouraging to be recognized for your hard work and sacrifice. All eligible nominees receive special treatment — whether or not they win an award. All nominees receive a commemorative pin, certificate, and two tickets to our invite-only Volunteer Recognition Awards event with fun, food and entertainment. All recipients also receive a personalized etched glass award and are added to the Volunteer Honour Roll at City Hall.

Award Winners

The Lifetime Volunteer Award honours individuals who have dedicated many years to improving the community of Port Coquitlam through their volunteer efforts.

Winner: Mary Ness

Mary Ness has volunteered with the Canadian Red Cross Health Equipment Loan Program in Port Coquitlam since 2012, providing reliable and compassionate support to residents borrowing and returning essential health equipment. She volunteers two full days each week, helps manage donation intake, supports inventory cycles and contributes hundreds of volunteer hours each year. In 2023, she received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of her volunteer service.

The Lifetime Volunteer Award honours individuals who have dedicated many years to improving the community of Port Coquitlam through their volunteer efforts.

Winner: Linda Dore

Linda Dore has volunteered in Port Coquitlam for nearly four decades, supporting a wide range of community initiatives including community policing, emergency preparedness, Block Watch, youth sports, schools and streamkeeping. She is a founding member of the Hyde Creek Watershed Society and has played a significant role in watershed stewardship, salmon enhancement, environmental education and community safety. Her long-standing service has helped strengthen both the natural environment and the social fabric of Port Coquitlam.

Linda Dore Lifetime Volunteer Winner 2026

The Volunteer of the Year Award honours individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the community.

Winner: Mithila Karnik-Adarkar

Mithila Karnik-Adarkar is the founder and president of the South Asian Collective Society and a dedicated community leader whose work has helped build more inclusive, multicultural spaces in Port Coquitlam. Her volunteer efforts include organizing the city’s largest Diwali celebration, Port Coquitlam’s first Holi celebration and the city’s first International Day of Dance. She also serves on the City’s Community Mosaic Roundtable and supports programs and initiatives for newcomers, seniors, women and diverse communities.

Nominees: Ann Pratt, Aynsley Wong, Bill Arnett, Bob Smith, Cecilia Li, Craig Neill, Cynthia Byrne, Denis Sleightholme, Denise Nelson, Donna Nikl, Farhat Shah, Hazel Bien, Ian Blankenberg, Jackie Moore, Jacqueline Goring, Jeannine Grenier, Jess West, John Saremba, Kathy Costello, Kathy Simmonds, Liane Scott, Linda Dore, Loretta Teasell, Manny Bairos, Marta Nerdahl, Mary Ness, Maureen Mosher, Meaghan Walker, Mehdi Hosseini, Michele Malmberg, Mike Burpee, Minh Tang, Mithila Karnik-Adarkar, Pegah Ahmadi, Ryan Uliana, Sharon Wilson, Sunaina Sharma, Susan Paul, Sylvia Swan and Terry Villeneuve.

The Volunteer of the Year Award – Sports and Recreation honours individuals who contribute to sports, fitness and recreation programs, including coaching, event support and accessibility in sports.

Winner: Ken Lee

Ken Lee is a certified badminton coach and official with Badminton BC whose volunteer leadership has made a lasting impact on students and families across the Tri-Cities. Through his coaching, students have achieved major milestones in badminton and robotics, including first-place finishes and historic firsts for their schools. He also supports Port Coquitlam community events through traffic control work, including the Spirit Triathlon.

Sports and Recreation Volunteer of the Year Winner

Nominees: Barbara Beck, Ken Lee, Mike Parsons, Nicholas Disiewich and Rob Clayton

The Future Leader – Youth Volunteer of the Year Award – U25 recognizes a Port Coquitlam youth, under the age of 25, who has demonstrated a commitment to the community and made extraordinary volunteer contributions.

Winner: Christy Zhou

Christy Zhou is a thoughtful and cooperative young leader who has demonstrated a strong commitment to community connection and inclusion. As a member of the PoCo Youth Leadership Group, she contributes to weekly meetings and helps deliver youth-led outreach and community events. Her volunteer involvement also includes City events, the Coquitlam Public Library Teen Advisory Group, school clubs and youth programming that help strengthen connections across the community.

Nominees: Adrian Ho, Aum, Ayaana Adarkar, Christy Zhou, Dain Song, Faiz Shah, Gaganpreet Heer, Lin Kang, Maddy McLeans, Ryden Wu and Veera Dhanoya