Photo: City of Kelowna

Nominations are now open for Kelowna's 47th annual Civic and Community awards.

The two month nomination period opened Monday, and runs through February 11 of 2022.

In all, 13 individuals, teams and organizations will be honoured in 11 categories.

Awards celebrate those who have made outstanding contribution to the betterment of the community, as well as those proficient in the arts and athletics throughout 2021.

As a result of the shortened seasons due to COVID-19, nominations for male and female athletes of the year and team of the year will include achievements in both 2020 and 2021.

Categories include:

• Donalda Treadgold & Fred Macklin Memorial Award – Citizen of the Year
• Champion for the Environment
• Corporate Community of the Year
• Honour in the Arts
• Teen Honour in the Arts
• Young Citizen of the Year
• Bob Giordano Memorial Award – Volunteer Coach or Sport Administrator of the Year
• Bryan Couling Memorial Award – Athletic Team of the Year
• Male & Female Athlete of the Year
• Central Okanagan Foundation - Volunteer Organization of the Year

School District 23 will also be taking nominations for the Augie Ciancone high school male and female athletes of the year.

The three young citizen of the year finalists will also receive funding toward post-secondary education through the Dillon Thomas Budd and Payton Leigh Budd Youth Scholarship, sponsored by the Thomas Alan Budd Foundation.

In the past, winners have been announced as part of an evening gala in the spring, however, due to ongoing uncertainty over COVID-19 restrictions, the exact format has yet to be finalized.

What is known is finalists will be announced through a series of video packages as was the case last year.

Recognition of winners will likely be an invitation only event.

It is expected 2019 and 2020 winners will also be recognized.

Click here to access nomination forms.