Kelowna honours its finest

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Pastor Tim Schroeder (left) is awarded the Anita Tozer Memorial Award by Allen and Laura Tozer

Apparently, contrary to popular belief, it's okay - sometimes - to fib to a pastor.

It's also acceptable to cry during awards presentations.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

An emotional Michael Ross was named Individual Champion for the Environment

Both were flowing quite freely Wednesday during the 38th annual Civic and Community Awards Gala at the Kelowna Community Theatre.

Pastor Tim Schroeder, who has helped Kelowna come together and heal during times of tragedy and loss was honoured with the Anita Tozar Memorial Award.

The award, which must be through a unanimous vote by City Council, is given to an individual or group in recognition of an extraordinary and positive contribution to the quality of life in Kelowna.

"Known as the 'Out of the Box Pastor,' Tim was the senior pastor at Trinity Baptist Church from 1985 up until 2008 before becoming a teaching pastor," Councillor Maxine DeHart stated in announcing the award.

"Equally as comfortable preaching in a police car, a hockey dressing room, at karate, judo or a pulpit. Tim has established a reputation as one of Canada's most community involved pastors."

DeHart also confessed the ruse used to get Pastor Schroeder to the event was a little less than honest.

"Councillor (Gerry) Zimmermann took great pains to get Pastor Tim here this evening. He had to wear a suit and told him he (Zimmermann) was receiving the award. While I was sitting there I was thinking - we lied to a pastor. And not just one fib, many, many fibs."

In accepting, Schroeder said he was in complete shock.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Kelsi Taron was named Young Female Citizen of the Year

"I just came here to support Gerry. He bold faced lied to me," says Schroeder.

"I love this city. It's the best place in the world to live. To watch tonight as folks are investing into our community. That's what makes it - it's the people that makes this the best place."

Seventeen other awards were handed out throughout the evening celebrating volunteers and performers in the arts, athletics and business community as well as the man and woman of the year.

Ken Thompson, who has spent the last 21 years with Emergency Support Services was named the Fred Macklin Memorial Award recipient as Kelowna's Man of the Year.

Thompson is the Logistics Section Chief and Resource Acquisition Coordinator with EES and helped set up, and stock, the new ESS trailer which allows for quicker response time to a reception centre.

This came in handy when  trying to locate 17,000 people who had been evacuated during the 2012 Peachland Fire.

Shaun Bos, also a finalist for Honour in the Arts, was named Kelowna's Woman of the Year and winner of the Sarah Donalda Treadgold Memorial Award.

Bos, a professional photographer, has given of her time and her talents to help those within the community.

She organized the 'Help Portraits' event, getting 17 volunteer photographers together to do portraits of those who otherwise couldn't afford them. 175 people from the Gospel Mission, Women's Shelter, Crossroads and Metro Centre benefited.

Bos sits on the board of the Wish Come True Society and also used her photography skills to assist with several SPCA fundraisers, plus the Ugly Jacket Classic, Stone Soup Chef, Swinging With the Stars and many others.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

The OKM Sr. Boy's Soccer team was named Team of the Year.

Other award winners Wednesday included:

• Quinn Bates - Teen Honour in the Arts
• Anna Jacyszyn - Honour in the Arts
• Olivia Johnson - Augie Ciancone Female High School Athlete of the Year
• Ryan Linttell - Augie Ciancone Male High School Athlete of the Year
• Kelsi Taron - Young Female of the Year
• Eli McAlpine - Young Male of the Year
• Hal Hennenfent - Bob Giordano Memorial Award
• Jen Woods - Female Athlete of the Year
• Rostam Turner - Male Athlete of the Year
• OKM Senior Boy's Soccer Team - Bryan Couling Team of the Year
• Michael Ross - Champion for the Environment (Individual) **New Award
• Best Western Plus - Champion of the Environment (Business) **New Award
• Karis Support Society - Central Okanagan Foundation Volunteer Organization of the Year
• Loyal Hair Therapy - Kelowna Community Resources Corporate Community of the Year (small to medium business)
• Interior Savings Credit Union - Kelowna Community Resources Corporate Community of the Year (large business)