The City recognizes the value of volunteers and honours them each year with the Volunteer Recognition Awards.
This year’s award theme, Volunteers Help Us Soar, recognizes our volunteers are always striving to reach new heights, they continue to soar to new possibilities, opportunities and continue to elevate their contributions to our community every year. All nominees will receive a commemorative pin and certificate at the Volunteer Recognition Awards and Tribute event, held during National Volunteer Week.
Check out our previous winners here.
Seven awards were handed out at the Port Coquitlam Volunteer Recognition Awards & Tribute evening, which featured entertainment from the Rock-it Men: Dueling Pianos and Kitezone Entertainment. The evening was emceed by award-winning radio host Kevin Lim. Congrats and thank you to all the winners and nominees.
2018 Award Recipients
Lifetime Volunteer
Honours individuals who have dedicated many years to improving the community of Port Coquitlam through their volunteer efforts.
Award Recipient – Bea Kelly
She was a charter member of Soroptimist International of the Tri-Cities, serving as its first club president in Port Coquitlam in 1999. Under her mentorship, this service organization has grown to be the largest chapter in Canada, and has served women and girls in Port Coquitlam for almost 20 years. She’s also volunteered with the Port Coquitlam Heritage Society, the Women’s Centre, Wilson Centre, Evergreen Cultural Centre, Blind Sport Association, Crossroads Hospice Society, the Kinsmen Teddy Bear Picnic and UNICEF.
Arts, Heritage and Cultural Awareness
Preserves and celebrates Port Coquitlam’s past and shares our community heritage with others; promotes the arts and cultural development of our community.
Nominees – Bill Atfield, Colin Craig, Devyn Giordano, Nikki Hillman, Donna McKinnon-Heide, Ray Melville, Jas Qualitz and Terry Villeneuve
Award Recipient – Nikki Hillman
Nikki Hillman is active with the Friends of Leigh Square, has founded several local writers’ projects, helped with the kids’ banner project and recently wrote and edited a children’s book for the Port Coquitlam Heritage Society.
Caring and Safety – Enhances and promotes the community through caring actions and outstanding acts of humanitarianism; contributes towards making Port Coquitlam a safer place for residents of all ages.
Nominees – Andrew Carroll, Harriette Chang, Tessa Chiu, Roxanna Ferdowsi, Darren Galer, Anne Huntley, Bea Kelly, Jenn Lazar, Carmin Lemon, Ann Pratt, Robert Sierakowski, Phillip Stuart, Jeanette Tsai and Wendy Yates
Award Recipient – Anne Huntley
Anne Huntley is a founding member and president of the Wilson Centre Seniors Advisory Association. She dedicates more than 1000 hours each year to supporting seniors and is a longtime active Lions Club member and community volunteer.
Environmental Protection and Enhancement
Demonstrates an outstanding commitment to the promotion and preservation of Port Coquitlam’s natural environment for present and future generations.
Nominees – Sperrill Chambers, Connie Reichelsdorfer, Terry Sawchenko
Award Recipient – Terry Sawchenko
Terry Sawchenko is a longtime volunteer for the Hyde Creek Watershed Society and current hatchery manager who has dedicated countless hours over the years to numerous leadership roles as well as hands-on work.
Sports and Recreation
Enhances the quality of physical activity in Port Coquitlam; contributes to the management and/or operations of a sports or recreation activity; demonstrates outstanding dedication to Port Coquitlam’s sports and recreation community.
Nominees – Ashley Aujla, Mike Carkner, Joe Collins, Ben Felling, Rick Spencer, Neela Trotter, Josh Wahl
Award Recipient – Josh Wahl
Josh Wahl dedicates thousands of hours a year to local sports, from leadership roles to coaching number lacrosse and hockey teams at the same time. He is currently the president of PoCo Minor Lacrosse.
Youth Programs
An individual who supports Port Coquitlam’s youth through the development, provision and/or participation in youth programs and activities (excluding amateur athletics).
Nominees – Jan Borge, Kurt Chelsberg, Ron Goyette and Adam Rayburn
Award Recipient – Jan Borge
Jan Borge has been active in local scouting for over 15 years, volunteering 500 hours in the past year in leadership roles (including as the Group Commissioner), planning activities, fundraising and whatever tasks needs doing.
U21 (Youth Under 21)
Reserved for the recognition of a Port Coquitlam youth, under the age of 21, who has demonstrated a commitment to our community and has made extraordinary volunteer contributions in any of the categories above.
Nominees – Justin Bains, Monica Bassili, Karyn Cholette, Kiarra Murray, Telka Pesklevits, Ashton Ramsay, Aradia Faire Reid, Katie Salvador, Hana Yang
Award Recipient – Justin Bains
Justin Bains has volunteered 200 plus hours in the past year visiting seniors at Hawthorne Care Centre, as a wayfinding volunteer at Royal Columbian Hospital and as the youngest person to volunteer at Crossroads Hospice Society.
Nomination Criteria
Past Port Coquitlam Volunteer Recognition Award recipients are not eligible for all categories except Lifetime Volunteer, but past nominees are eligible for any category. Nominations must be for an individual (couples or group nominations are not eligible).
Nominees do not have to be a resident of Port Coquitlam, but should meet at least one of the following 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.
- They have been voluntarily involved in a program or project that has had a lasting benefit for Port Coquitlam and its residents.
Thank You to Our Sponsor
Did you know?
In October 2015, FortisBC launched the Rental Apartment Efficiency Program for owners and managers of rental apartment buildings that are nine units and larger. The no-cost services that are provided through the program include:
- A water-efficient shower head and a kitchen and bathroom faucet aerator directly installed in each unit
- A building energy assessment to identify energy-efficiency improvements and upgrades
- Ongoing professional assistance from a rental apartment energy management expert to guide owners/managers through the process of making a wide range of energy upgrades.
