Civic awards honour best

Photo: Wayne Moore

Social issues such as homelessness, drug use and mental health, and the stigmas attached, took centre stage during Kelowna's 44th annual Civic and Community Awards Wednesday night.

Three of the top awards during the ceremony at the Kelowna Community Theatre went to people, or groups, working to erase that stigma, and get people the help they need.

Angie Lohr, who founded HOPE Outreach in 2008, was named the city's Woman of the Year, while her organization was recognized as the Volunteer Organization of the Year.

"Tonight is pretty incredible. My HOPE volunteers do so much work in the community, and I was really rooting for them to be recognized," said Lohr after the ceremony.

"Yea, I started it, but I just kind of take a back seat now, and it's really the volunteers that are the force of changing the streets, helping our women to change, making the changes we are trying to do, so kudos to all the volunteers who dedicate so much time."

Lohr was addicted to cocaine 17 years ago before turning her life around.

"I had an epiphany, and I knew something was going to come out of this...not realizing what today would bring 17 years later. I knew I was going to make a change, I just wasn't sure what that was going to be."

Through her time dealing with people on the streets of Kelowna the past 11 years, Lohr says she has seen a change, and it's a change for the good.

"I'm tired of hearing all the bad news about Leon and downtown, when 90 per cent of the people overdosing are men, in their own homes, using recreationally.

"With the Journey Home team, with the supportive housing, the John Howard Society, I think finally the community is coming together. I think this was left for a little bit too long, and now it's been a crisis and we're finally starting to get a handle on it."

The 23-member Journey Home team was also honoured with the Anita Tozer Award, a special recognition bestowed by a unanimous vote of council to a group or organization providing an extraordinary and positive contribution to the city.

The task force has been tasked with coming up with solutions to the homeless crisis in the city, and the social issues that come attached with that.

"If we are truly going to solve this very complex issue of homelessness, it's going to take a collective effort of our entire community. Be patient, be compassionate, and most of all, be hopeful," task force co-chair Dr. Kyleen Myrah said in speaking on behalf of the group.

The late Giuseppe (Joe) Iafrancesco, who passed away in November from lung cancer, was named the city's Man of the Year.

Iafrancesco spent more than 50 years volunteering for many organizations in Kelowna, most prominently with the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club.

He spent countless hours in the community even after his diagnosis earlier in 2018.

His wife and sister-in-law accepted the award on his behalf.

Other award winners Wednesday include:

• Bob Giordano Memorial Award – Coach/Sport Administrator of the Year - Devin Rubadeau
• Bryan Couling Memorial Award – Athletic Team of the Year - Kelowna Ringette U16A Elite
• Female Athlete of the Year Award - Kelsey Serwa
• Male Athlete of the Year Award - Fynnian McCarthy
• Female Augie Ciancone Memorial Award – Top High School Athlete - Lonica McKinney
• Male Augie Ciancone Memorial Award – Top High School Athlete - Brandon Frechette
• Young Female Volunteer of the Year Award - Keneisha Charles
• Young Male Volunteer of the Year Award - Matthew Richardson
• Teen Honour in the Arts Award - Annette Bakala
• Honour in the Arts Award - Ryan Grenier
• Corporate Community of the Year Award. Small Business - Secure-Rite Mobile Storage Inc.
• Medium/Large Business - Raymond James – Kelowna Corporate Branch
• Champion for the Environment Award - Gwen Steele

The young female and male Volunteer of the Year Award finalists and recipients will each be receiving funding towards their post-secondary education. The Dillon Thomas Budd and Payton Leigh Budd Youth Scholarship awards $1,000 to each award recipient and $500 to each of the finalists.

The recipient of the Teen Honour in the Arts Award will receive an entrance scholarship to the UBCO Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies.