The Prince George Community Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2016 Citizens of the Year Award.
“We’re very happy this year, as last year, that we’ve moved to a format where we can select a number of individuals to be the representatives of the 2016 Citizen of the Year event,” says Teresa Saunders, the Foundation’s current president. “It’s a much better way to honour so many who give in our community again and again and again.”
This year, the foundation will honour six individuals for their contributions to various parts of the Prince George community.
“I’m very happy this year that there’s a broad range of perspectives of our city being honoured, from the environment to social services to the arts to culture,” says Saunders.
Ann Halikowski, Lorraine Hilland and Karen Underhill are being recognized for their work on violence prevention. The three cofounded The Prince George Sexual Assault Centre, now known as the Surpassing our Survival Society, in 1984 and have continued to work tirelessly to make the city a safer place for women, men and children.
Cindy Smith teaches English and Leadership at College Heights Secondary and is being honoured for her outstanding leadership and tireless efforts in addressing and raising awareness through her community endeavours for and with the youth of Prince George.
Nowell Senior is an avid outdoorsman who has been a member of the Caledonia Ramblers Hiking Club for 20 years. He founded the club’s first snowshoe trips. Senior has also been an integral part of the development of the Ancient Forest Park.
The final recipient, Trelle Morrow, continues to be active member of the community after 62 years and is currently a member of the Heritage Commission.
The 86-year old is still active in documenting and preserving the city’s history.
“I’m doing a documentation on Knox Church. It’s been here since 1922 and I’ve been going to do this for some years now, the last 10 or 15 years, but I’ve had so many interruptions and so many other projects.”
Morrow approves of the Foundation’s new multi-nominee format, saying he prefers to share the spotlight.
“That’s very good because some of us don’t really like a lot of publicity and that’s why we’ve sort of shied away from this kind of thing in years past.”
Mayor Lyn Hall is a fan of the new format as well.
“Having Citizens of the Year gives you the opportunity to recognize people that have done a tremendous amount of work. You don’t single it out – you recognize a group of people every year. It’s important for the city to do that and the Community Foundation did a great job of it.”
This year’s recipients will be honoured at the Citizens of the Year Gala on October 14. Tickets for the event will go on sale Wednesday, September 14.
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