In honour of volunteerism and its many forms, the South Okanagan Similkameen Volunteer Centre is hosting an awards ceremony to kick off National Volunteer Week (April 23 to 29).
Prior to the nominations closing at the end of March the public submitted 52 nominations in seven award categories. Awards will be given out at the Pillar Community Innovation Awards Gala on April 22 at the Days Inn.
Mike Potgieter, president of the South Okanagan Similkameen Volunteer Centre, is pleased to announce the nominees in the following categories:
Outstanding volunteer:
Doug Cade
Christopher McGowan
Tim Tweed
Donna Van Egmond
Peggy Nicholson
Tracy Van Raes
Diane Fru
Benjamin Overland
Sylvia West
Margie Hibbard
June Revell-Quevillon
Delores Wiltse
Judy Jefferies
Kona Sankey
Neil Wyper
Denise Johnston
May Simpson
Rosanne Johnston
Adolf Steffen
Volunteer project:
2016 Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Breakfast for Learning
Knitting Club for South Okanagan Women in Need
Meals on Wheels
Oktoberfest
Soup Sisters and Broth Brothers Penticton
YES Project
Outstanding community group:
Auxiliary to the Penticton Hospital
Penticton Legion Branch 40
Penticton United Church
JCI Penticton
Penticton Hospice Volunteer Group
Orchard House Monthly Band Jams and The Yard Katz Band
Peach City Radio Society
Penticton RCMP Community Policing Volunteers
Volunteer Gift Shop at The Penticton Regional Hospital
Youth volunteer:
Husain Sattar
Victoria Richie
Kadence Standish
Austin Stephen
Newcomer volunteer:
Tomoko Abe
Nawal Ismail
Nita Khanal
Yaxin Ma
Executive director:
Bob Handfield — South Okanagan Naturalists Club
Dale Belvedere — South Okanagan Rehabilitation Centre for Owls
Tanya Behardien — Penticton and District Community Resources Society
Brandy Maslowski — Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce
Matthew Baran — Ooknakane Friendship Centre
Business gives back:
Carrie Few — Penticton Yoga Therapy
Felts Photo Service
Poplar Grove and Vanilla Pod
Valley First Credit Union
Tickets for the Volunteer Awards Gala are sold out. To support volunteerism in your community you can register as a volunteer and/or give back through donating via their website at www.volunteercentre.info , by e-mailing info@volunteercentre.info or calling 1-888-576-5661.
To volunteer in your community go to www.volunteercentre.info and click on Browse Opportunities.
The South Okanagan Similkameen Volunteer Centre is a registered Charity that provides educational supports and resources free to residents interested in volunteering.