Civic awards finalists named

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo

The Kelowna Gospel Mission's volunteer dentists were named winners of the Anita Tozer Memorial Award in 2014.

The City of Kelowna has announced the finalists for its 40th Annual Civic and Community Awards.

The awards recognize volunteers, artists, athletes and business leaders through 12 categories and 17 awards. The recipients will be revealed April 30 at a gala ceremony at Kelowna Community Theatre.

“We are pleased with the exceptional nominations received in each of the award categories for this milestone year,” said Louise Roberts, the city's community and neighbourhood services manager.

“The awards highlight our residents, businesses and organizations that have made a significant contribution to making our city a better place to live.”

New this year, finalists in the Young Male and Young Female Volunteer categories will receive funding toward their post-secondary goals – $1,000 for the winners and $500 for the two finalists. The funding is sponsored by the Thomas Alan Budd Foundation.

The 2014 award finalists by category are (in alphabetical order):

Fred Macklin Memorial Award – Man of the Year

• Dennis Gabelhouse
• David Krysko
• Todd Sanderson

Sarah Donalda-Treadgold Memorial Award – Woman of the Year

• Meryle Corbett
• Margie Cox
• Anna Hunt-Binkley

Young Male Volunteer of the Year

• Nikolai Lesack
• Jesse Stewart
• Maliki Suppin

Young Female Volunteer of the Year

• Chelsea Bigsot
• Thish Rajapakshe
• Kelty Slaney

Central Okanagan Foundation – Volunteer Organization of the Year

• CRIS Adaptive Adventures
• Pathways Abilities Society
• United Way of the Central & South Okanagan Similkimeen

Corporate Community of the Year Award – Small /Medium Business

• Synergy Events
• Tetra Tech EBA Inc.
• Wentworth Music

Large Business

• Emil Anderson Construction
• Kelowna Flightcraft
• Save On Foods

Honour in the Arts

• Jim Elwood
• Jennifer Schell
• Shawn Talbot

Teen Honour in the Arts

• Alex Buck
• Antony Knight
• Zoe Welch

Female Augie Ciancone Memorial Award

• Claire Culver
• Emma Johnson
• Joella Kablischke

Male Augie Ciancone Memorial Award

• Michael Gini
• Tyson Meraw
• Jeff Tubbs

Bryan Couling Memorial Award – Athletic Team of the Year

• Immaculata Senior Girls Volleyball Team
• Okanagan Rockets – Boys Major Midget Hockey Team
• UBC Okanagan Heat – Women’s Volleyball Team

Bob Giordano Memorial

• Alisa Brownlee
• Bill Farley
• Tom Maxwell

Male Athlete of the year

• Jerome Blake
• James Turner
• Robbie Yochim

Female Athlete of the Year

• Sarah Casorso
• Danielle Hennig
• Kelsey Serwa

Champion for the Environment - Individual

• Christian Brandt
• Casey Hamilton
• Barry Jones

Business

• 1-800-Got-Junk
• St. Hubertus Estate Winery

Tickets for the gala are $25 and are available by calling 250-469-8811.