Recognition of remarkable contributions by volunteers, artists, and organizations.
The top three finalists for each of the 50th annual Civic & Community Award categories were announced today, highlighting outstanding achievements made by Kelowna’s volunteers, artists, coaches, athletes, businesses, and non-profit organizations in 2024.
“For 50 years, these awards have helped us celebrate the residents, organizations and businesses who’ve helped make Kelowna the great place it is to live,” says Chris Babcock, Event Development Manager. “We congratulate this year’s finalists, and we invite our community to celebrate these incredible citizens and milestone year of the Civic & Community Awards at our upcoming anniversary Gala.”
This year’s Civic & Community Awards Gala will be held May 8 at the Delta Grand. In addition to celebrating this year’s finalists and winners, the evening will honour the awards’ 50-year history in our community. Gala tickets are available for purchase online at theatre.kelowna.ca.
50th Annual Civic & Community Award finalists:
Honour in the Arts supported by artsco; Teen Honour in the Arts sponsored by UBC Okanagan; Bob Giordano Memorial Award – Coach/Sport Administrator of the Year; Bryan Couling Memorial Award – Athletic Team of the Year sponsored by Coast Capital.
Female Athlete of the Year sponsored by the Payton and Dillon Budd Memorial Fund; Male Athlete of the Year sponsored by the Payton and Dillon Budd Memorial Fund.
Augie Ciancone Memorial Award – Young Female Athlete of the Year presented by the Okanagan Central Schools Athletic Association; Augie Ciancone Memorial Award – Young Male Athlete of the Year presented by the Okanagan Central Schools Athletic Association.
Champion for the Environment sponsored by Peter’s Your Independent Grocer; Corporate Community of the Year Award sponsored by KCR.
Central Okanagan Foundation – Volunteer Organization of the Year sponsored by Central Okanagan Foundation; Young Citizen of the Year sponsored by Crowe Mackay; Fred Macklin & Sarah Donalda-Treadgold Memorial Award – Citizen of the Year sponsored by Fortis BC.
All Young Citizen of the Year finalists will receive funding towards their post-secondary education through the Payton and Dillon Budd Memorial Fund Youth Scholarship. The award winner will receive $2,000; while each of the two remaining finalists will receive $1,000.
The recipient of the Teen Honour in the Arts award will receive a $500 entrance scholarship to UBC Okanagan, sponsored by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies.
In addition, the recipient for the Central Okanagan Foundation’s Volunteer Organization of the Year will receive a $3,000 donation from the Central Okanagan Foundation.
For more information about the Civic & Community Awards and to read our finalists’ bios, visit kelowna.ca/civicawards.