After a long wait, the Prince George Community Foundation is pleased to announce the 24th Annual Citizens of the Year celebration. Historically this event has seen between three and five outstanding individuals nominated for one award. This year the Foundation was thrilled to introduce two categories: Lifetime Achievement Award and Annual Difference Maker.
A Lifetime Achievement recipient is someone who has provided volunteer service for a minimum of ten years in Prince George and has shown exemplary leadership through the volunteer and philanthropic work. This year, we are honoring three deserving individuals for the Lifetime Achievement Award:
Steve Hamilton - Steve supported the revitalization of the Spruce City Wildlife Association (SCWA) as a volunteer, Director and 3 full terms as President. When he became the Director, SCWA membership went from 30 to over 200 members as of December 2021. Steve helped to re-open the fish hatchery by starting with GoFish BC to obtain trout for the facility. Our local hatchery is now the largest volunteer run hatchery North of Kamloops. Approximately a million dollars were received in grant/donations for the facility under Steve’s term as President.
Dave King - Dave began his volunteer career 48 years ago by joining the Caledonia Ramblers Club in 1975. Since then, Dave has helped maintain existing trails, build new trails, and lead hikes in the Prince George Region. One of Dave's most recent achievements is the creation of the Ancient Forest/Chun T'oh Whudujut Provincial Park, and in building the foundations for a Universal Boardwalk that was to provide access to the Forest for all visitors. To this day Dave continues to volunteer and support the Caledonia Ramblers.
Mary Teegee - Mary is a relentless advocate for human, Indigenous, and women's rights and has served on various provincial, national, and international committees. She represents B.C. on the Board of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and has acted as a Steering Committee member of the First Nations Early Childhood Development Council. She has been a member of the Provincial Ministers Advisory Council on Aboriginal Women and works tirelessly to inform people about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada. Mary is also the Chairperson for the B.C. Directors Forum for Indigenous Child and Family.
This year the Foundation is pleased to introduce our Annual Difference Maker award category. An Annual Difference Maker recipient has demonstrated above average volunteerism or philanthropic dedication to the Prince George Community within the last calendar year. This year, we are honoring one deserving individual as the Annual Difference Maker:
Patti Perrault - Patti has been bringing community night markets to Prince George for the past few years. Each market has been very well attended. The proceeds from the markets go to support nonprofits in our Community. Patti does an amazing job organizing up to 150 vendors and makes it look effortless. Through the countless hours she spends advertising, supporting vendors it is always a big success. These markets support many local vendors in our community.
Together the 2023 recipients have contributed thousands of volunteer hours, their skills, knowledge and finances to support local organizations and our community. We are extremely grateful for their efforts and are pleased to be recognizing them at this year’s Citizens of the Year celebration.
The 2023 Citizens of the Year celebration will be held on the evening of Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at the Coast Inn of the North Banquet room. Doors open at 5:30pm and the program is set to begin at 6:00pm. Following the formal presentation of awards recipients will take part in a “Fireside Chat” where we will have an opportunity to hear from each of them. The evening will conclude with a reception. Tickets are $25/person and available here.
