AN 5 N th U AL
Join us in celebrating The Central Okanagan’s Outstanding Community Leaders
Community Leader 2019
Awards
Identifying and recognizing ordinary people making extraordinary contributions to our community. CAPITAL news
We don’t often realize or think about what it takes for a community to thrive. Everyday our community relies on individuals that go above and beyond to make this one of the best communities we live in. These individuals do a great deal of work that often goes unrecognized providing much needed services to many organizations in and around our community. These people are truly community leaders and can often be found volunteering on a sportsfield, feeding the less fortunate or finding a way to fundraise for a very worthy cause. Many of these wonderful people have families of their own but still find the time to make a difference by sharing their empathy, enthusiasm, inspiration and energy. The Community Leader Awards was created to recognize and honour the commitment and efforts that are essential to main-
taining this growing community. Some of these stories will tug at your heartstrings, others will bring a smile to your face. I guarantee every one will leave you feeling grateful you read through this section I am hopeful that you will feel inspired and be encouraged to ask yourself, “What more could I do?� To many of our readers who nominated individuals this year, thank you for recognizing those efforts. I want to thank our community partners for all their efforts in bringing forward nominees and then coming together to select the 14 outstanding honourees featured in this section. This was no easy task as every nominee was deserving of this recognition. A huge thank you to our sponsors for helping us honour the wonderful individuals whose stories we are about to share with you.
Nomination
Categories:
■ Coach
Someone who inspires others to be “green” by being a leader in ecologically sound practices.
Makes a positive contribution to their sport. Is exemplary in developing skills and confidence in participants. A role model who inspires and encourages high athletic achievement.
■ Mentor Makes a positive contribution by being a true leader. An influential counselor, teacher or educator that provides support or sponsorship. Demonstrates a high level of ethics and professional standards, is an inspirational motivator, excellent communicator, good listener and a reliable resource to the community.
■ Above & Beyond This person makes a positive contribution to their community through their work. Someone who goes beyond the requirements of their job to support the community and make it a better place.
■ Service Organization Volunteer This individual makes a positive contribution to
■ Community Builder the community by volunteering their time to one community service organization. This person is well thought of and is significantly relied upon by others in the organization.
■ Volunteer This individual makes a positive contribution to the community by volunteering their time to a variety of causes. They are dedicated to making a difference in several initiatives.
■ Youth Volunteer A youth that is 19 or younger that makes a positive contribution in the community through volunteering. Somone who has committed to making a difference to an organization or individual.
■ Environmental Leader Makes a positive contribution to the community by championing environmentally friendly initiatives.
Someone who has taken the initiative to engage a variety of local residents in an innovative or new community project or event. The initiative may assist different groups to work together, address a gap in community participation, or result in a more inclusive, engaged community.
Christine Mould Nominator
Kirsten Mulleny is a teacher at Okanagan Mission Secondary. I have only known her since November 2018, but in that short time I have come to learn that she is a driving force for youth athletics in the community. We met because I was looking to volunteer at the school to gain experience for my application to the teaching program at UBCO. She welcomed me right away. After a few weeks of working in her English 11 class, she mentioned that she was starting up the Grade 7 girls’ basketball program in January. I offered to help as I enjoyed playing basketball when I was a student. As the season approached, I learned that Kirsten was also running the Grade 8 boys’ team, which reached the provincial finals. And prior to the basketball season, she ran Grade 7 girls’ volleyball. She also runs the Junior Heat program/camps at UBCO at various times through the year and organizes an adult ladies league that plays once a week. The Grade 7 girls’ team had 30 players, which allowed us to make three teams so everyone would have a lot of playing time. She also put on a round-robin tournament for all the local Grade 7 girls’ teams. I believe Kirsten is deserving of recognition as an outstanding coach. From what I have seen
Coach Kirsten Mulleny with Grade 8 boys’ basketball team at Okanagan Mission Secondary School. (Contributed)
she goes above and beyond to make sure that students have opportunities to join teams and be active. She is a skilled player with ample knowledge and experience of the game (she played basketball at Simon Fraser University). She commits a lot of her time to making sure these teams happen, in addition to running her English classroom and taking care of her family,
Melaney Kothlow Nominator
Courtney Lavoie has worked at H2O Adventure and Fitness Centre for almost two years in maintenance and housekeeping, and shortly after joining the organization she sought out ways to give back in the health and fitness department by becoming a certified Y group strength instructor. Now, not only is she working full-time and a busy wife, and a mom to her nineyear-old son Nolan, she still makes time to teach fitness classes two or three times a week. Courtney is always willing to help and
among other things I am sure. I am also pretty sure for at least seven or eight years, she mentioned to me at one point that she taught outdoor education before coming to OKM. As I said, I have only known her a short time and in a limited capacity, but it is evident she is a dedicated coach who wants to share her love of sport with the next generation.
has jumped in numerous times at the last minute when the centre was without an instructor. Not only has she made the supervisors, front line staff and volunteers’ lives easier, she has helped to grow our YMCA community. Courtney teaches an awesome class, which always fills up fast as all of her participants love her ability to motivate and inspire them to work hard, and the continue coming back so they can reach their health and fitness goals. She was nervous when she started as a class instructor, but has become very inspiring, encouraging and dedicated, with such a welcoming smile that she connects easily with people young and old, making new people feel especially at ease when starting their fitness journey. Courtney became certified as a fitness instructor extremely fast as her passion allowed her to learn and develop into an amazing instructor in what felt like no time. She goes above and beyond by covering classes for other staff and volunteers as much as possible. That support is invaluable.
we know great leaders when we see them
Callan Foote #25
Colton Sissons #15
Tyson Barrie #4
Brett Palin #27
Josh Gorges #7
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Sonja Menyes Nominator
Lester Mesenbrink has lived in Kelowna since November 1992, working as pastor for Bethel Church of Kelowna until 2008. Since the beginning of 2009, Lester has worked as the chaplain for Kelowna’s Gospel Mission. In the years I’ve known him, Lester has been there for our street population, going above and beyond in doing everything from listening to people’s horrific stories, helping people move, helping to educate our community on the issues of poverty and homelessness, and being there for families who have lost loved ones in our community. Lester has stepped up to meet with peo-
Kelowna Rockets VP business development Gavin Hamilton (left) with coach category nominees Kirsten Mulleny and Courtney Laboie .
Okanagan College dean Phil Ashman with Linda Youmans, Leader of the Year.
ple at their worst and walk through their life journey with them. Time and time again, we hear from people who let us know that Lester has helped them through the most difficult times in their lives. Hundreds of people have been helped by Lester, both at the emergency shelter and in our community. In the past two years, Lester has conducted memorial services almost weekly due to the opioid crisis in Kelowna. He often volunteers to officiate church services at Cottonwoods and Kelowna General Hospital. Lester’s commitment to our community goes beyond his job and he volunteers countless hours visiting the sick and hurting. He has helped hundreds of people physically and emotionally. There has never been an event that I’ve asked Lester to help with that he’s said no to. He is truly someone that I and many others look up to and call a mentor. He is one of the strongest men I know.
Kriby Carter with Capital News (left) and mentor category nominee Lester Messeenbrink.
David Hawryluk with Capital News and Volunteer category nominees Shelley Cameron and Noelle Nadeau Kho.
Helen Jackman Nominator
Maxine DeHart is an exemplary community builder and one of the United Way’s most successful and celebrated fundraisers. Maxine founded the hugely successful Maxine DeHart Ramada Hotel United Way Drive-Thru Breakfast 21 years ago. The drive-thru celebrated its 20th anniversary grand finale on Oct. 11, 2018, raising a record-breaking $110,000. As a loyal, passionate and dedicated United Way fundraiser, Maxine has raised more than $850,000 for United Way since the drive-thru began. Her commitment to our community through United Way
Mike Gawliuk Nominator
The Kelowna branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association has a mission to support individuals and families through programs and services that promote positive mental health and support recovery for everyone—no matter how young or old. That is why, as the operator and lead agency for Foundry Kelowna, we are nominating Melissa Feddersen,
Foundry Kelowna centre manager, in the Community Builder category. Melissa has been the heart and soul of Foundry Kelowna since the doors opened in September 2017. Her passion, commitment and heart are part of the key reasons more than 2,000 youth have accessed the services they need, 60 per cent of whom have previously never asked for help. She has built new relationships, added new partners and created new programs and services, from the addition of psychiatry to the inclusion of Masters of Social Work practicums and other student work at the Foundry, as well as various groups and supports that have not otherwise existed in our community. Driving it all is her unwavering commitment to the young people of our community, and the parents and caregivers that walk alongside as they work to address the challenges in their lives. Melissa lives her values day in and day out, and the youth, young adults, their parents and the community at large are far better off as a result of her contributions. Melissa truly makes a difference every day, and this difference is felt, appreciated and, in many cases, is a lifeline for those who need it.
has helped improve the lives of more than 20,000 people. Maxine’s commitment to her community is reflected in other ways as well: • Central Okanagan United Way board director for 10 years and served as chair in 1998 • Served on the board of directors for the annual United Way golf tournament • Founding member of the Kelowna Exceptional Service Under The Sun award • Four years on the board of directors for Kelowna General Hospital Foundation • National RCMP Foundation director Maxine was re-elected as a Kelowna city councillor this past year following her recent appointment as an honourary lieutenant colonel of the British Columbia Dragoons and a winner of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce President’s Award and Mayor’s Spirit of Kelowna award. She is a positive force in our community and we at the United Way are grateful for her and her passion for Kelowna.
Melissa Watchorn Nominator
Donna Petch is a woman who has been a phenomenal influence in the lives of many in the community. She prioritizes relationships over religion and longs to see the community come together in wholeness and harmony. She is the forerunner of New Life Centre’s Transformation Centre which seeks to encourage and empower community members to grow and thrive in their relationships (with themselves, with God, and with others). She has implemented parenting and relationship programs at New Life Centre that have transformed the lives of participants.
Carmen Weld Nominator
Dr. Ross Halperin works tirelessly to serve, treat and cure cancer patients across the Interior. As regional medical director at BC Cancer-Kelowna, he has with no question brought better cancer care to our region since he joined BC Cancer-Kelowna in 2003. Upon his arrival, Dr. Halperin commenced the start of a leading edge prostate brachytherapy program, which has changed the face of cancer treatment for those with prostate, breast and gynecological cancers in our region. Dr. Halperin has served as regional professional practice leader of radiation oncology at BC Cancer – Kelowna as well as interim vice-president for radiation therapy, functional imaging, surgical and oral oncology at BC Cancer. He is a past president of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology and is a board member of the Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation. Dr. Halperin is always striving to find ways to make care better for patients in his region, and does it with a positive energy and attitude.
Darlene Campbell Nominator
I have worked at the downtown Safeway for 32 years full-time and I have never met a more kinder person than my co-worker Pardeep Sharma. He has helped feed our community by the thousands. Pardeep has been a cashier for the last five years now and I’ve watched as he tirelessly asks every customer passing his till if they like to buy a $5 food hamper to donate to our food bank, which he advertises at his checkout stations. It is not required for him to do this, he just takes it upon himself to help others. I asked him once how he is able to do this every day, and he acknowledged he does get a lot of “no thanks” responses, but there is always the next person to ask. Our managers at Safeway know about his accomplishments. One of our staff tracked the code input for a donation made from Jan. 19 to March 30 of this year, and found he sold 1,350 food hamper donations. The food bank is aware of his efforts as well, sending a truck twice a week to collect the donations set aside in a buggie. I hope that recognition for Pardeep will inspire other grocery store cashiers to follow his example to help those out in need. I know Jesus will thank him one day for feeding the multitudes, but it would be nice to recognize him while he’s still living on Earth.
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Capital news
Corinne Almas Nominator
I am writing this letter to nominate Donna Moyer for the Service Organization Volunteer category. I have known Donna for nine years, mostly through her involvement with the Kelowna Dragon Boat Society. Over time, I became aware of the many contributions Donna has made to our community and would like to share them. This award nomination stems from Donna’s involvement with the Sunrise Rotary Club Shoe Bank Canada. Shoe Bank Canada collects shoes from warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you and me. It distributes those shoes, free of charge, to people in need across Canada through food banks and other social agencies. In 2014, Donna helped establish the Kelowna branch of the Sunrise Rotary Shoe Bank Canada. She currently volunteers to manage the free shoe store and recruits other volunteers to help out. As well, many hours are spent collecting and sorting shoes. She has been able to connect with more than 30 agencies that assist families and individuals. The Shoe Bank Canada mission statement is to ensure that every Canadian has access to a decent pair of shoes. Donna’s other community contributions include being a member of a school Parent Advisory Council from 1989 to 1997, serving several of those years as the PAC chair; volunteering with the Christian Education Program from 1990 to 1992 at the First United Church; volunteering with Community in Blooms from 2005 to 2013 and she was the organization’s committee chair from 2013 to 2015. She has been volunteer manager of the local Dragon Boat and Stroke for Luck teams since 2013.
Shirley Hall Nominator
Brenda Scruton is the tireless president of the volunteer group Kelowna Hostesses. She puts in at least 30 hours per week in contact with event coordinators all around the area, fulfilling their requirements for volunteers. There are 40-plus volunteers in Kelowna Hostesses who Brenda organizes for every event. There are at least 40 events a year Brenda coordinates volunteers for. She goes above and beyond and certainly deserves recognition for her hard work.
because you give... The KGH Foundation would like to thank all of the Community Leader Awards recipients and nominees for contributing to the well being of this community. Because you give, Kelowna is healthy and vibrant city. We are a community that cares. A community that can and does, accomplish big things when we work together. Giving changes everything.
Giving Changes Everything. Learn more at www.kghfoundation.com
Jamie Lloyd-Smith Nominator
As the proud operator and lead agency for Foundry Kelowna, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Kelowna is nominating an individual who has made a significant impact. During the past two years, Shelley Cameron has spent countless hours volunteering at Foundry Kelowna as a member of the parent advisory council and as a peer mentor at CMHA Kelowna. Her belief in transparency and authenticity is what drives her passion to help others. Using her own lived experience as a caregiver, she fosters empathy, understanding and compassion with those she interacts with. Shelley openly shares her own
struggles and experiences as a way to connect with, and encourage, those who are facing their own challenges. She goes above and beyond to do what she can to ensure anyone who needs support, receives it— whether it is providing a snack for a youth in need or providing support to other parents. But her work doesn’t stop there. Shelley volunteers at many community events, acting as an enthusiastic ambassador for the organization and our goal of creating a mentally healthy community. Shelley has been an invaluable advocate for CMHA Kelowna, Foundry Kelowna and the many families in the community who have been unsure of where, or how, to ask for help. Her insights have helped us shape the direction of how our programs and services can best serve youth and families. Her commitment to speaking up, and out, about mental health has helped anyone facing challenges know that they are not alone.
Mona Hennenfent Nominator
Occasionally a very special volunteer comes along who profoundly changes your organization for the better. This is Noelle Nadeau Khoo. Every Thursday, the staff and clients at BrainTrust Canada are lifted by the presence of this amazing woman who teaches art therapy to our clients. Noelle is an incredibly positive, kind, warm, nurturing, supportive, caring, reliable, flexible person and quite simply, the most amazing volunteer who has walked through our doors. Noelle’s presence brings a smile to all around and her passion for our cause has been
displayed in so many ways. She generously donates her time each week and has donated her professional art to raise funds for charity auctions. As someone with board expertise, Noelle recently joined our board of directors to support the strategic direction of our organization. Noelle has connected BrainTrust with people and organizations that support our cause. Most importantly, she has touched the hearts of our clients and played an instrumental role in their healing. Her art classes are always full, and clients connect in a way during art therapy that has been restorative for healing, relationship building and personal progress. Noelle is a one-of-a-kind volunteer who BrainTrust is honoured to recommend as a community volunteer of the year. She is beyond special and we are blessed to have her at BrainTrust.
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Melaney Kothlow Nominator
As a supervisor in the aquatics department at Kelowna Family Y, we have the privilege of working with many young people. Elaina stands out from the rest for a variety of reasons. All of these reasons are rooted in their
Black Press Media B.C. Interior South Division president Dave Hamilton (left) with Community Builder nominees Donna Petch and Melissa Feddersen.
Dean Taylor with the Capital News (left) and Above & Beyond nominees Pardeep Sharma and Dr. Ross Halperin.
commitment to upholding the Y’s core values of respect, responsibility, caring, honesty and inclusiveness. Elaina is a genuine, fun and bubbly individual who seeks to positively impact those around them. Their contribution to our swim lesson program has been felt and well received by not only my aquatics team, who are always grateful for Elaina’s support and assistance in lessons, but most importantly by the children they have spent time with. I have had parents express to me how Elaina’s presence made all the difference for their child and their ability to engage with the class and enjoy the pool. We appreciate the commitment Elaina has made to our facility, our programs and especially the people.
Connor Loewen with the Capital News (left) and Fabian, accepting the Environment Leader award on behalf of recipient Nancy Holmes.
David Hawrylukv with the Capital News and Volunteer nominee Noelle Nadeau Khoo.
YMCA Okana
Cindy Papa with Okanagan YMCA (left) and Youth Volunteer nominee Elaina Moore.
Nancy Wells with the KGH Foundation (left) and Service Organizatio Volunteer nominees Donna Moyer and Brenda Scruton.
YMCA of Okanagan
! e v i f h Hig Congratulations to all nominees and recipients. Your leadership helps build a healthier community.
At the YMCA, we believe in creating opportunities for young people to thrive. That’s why we offer volunteer positions, employment services, memberships and mental wellness programs for local youth.
YMCA of Okanagan ymcaokanagan.ca Charity Registration # 11924 0224 RR0001
Fabian Cid Nominator
Nancy Holmes goes above and beyond her already committed roles as a UBC Okanagan professor and poet. Since 2016, Nancy has been the leader and soul of the Border Free Bees project (www.borderfreebees.com). This trans-disciplinary project has leveraged the power of art to bring people’s attention and action to fight the plight of native bees. The project has engaged more than 2,000 people in the community through multiple activities. One of the most important results has been the creation of the bee ambassadors initiative. Even after the funding for the project ended, Nancy keeps working hard to make Kelowna a better community.
Volunteer
Want to help the environment? Have a few hours, a few days, a few weeks to spare? There is a great variety of things you could do – from helping out in the field, to participating at events, to important behind-the-scenes work. Whether you are a beginner or have many years of experience, volunteering can be an important and wonderful experience.
WHY VOLUNTEER? There are many good reasons to volunteer, ranging from learning experiences, to personal satisfaction, to starting out on a new career.
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Congratulations to everyone!
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2019 Our community is the big winner, thanks to your positive contributions.
The Central Okanagan Foundation celebrates those individuals who help build our community through their inspired leadership.
To learn more about COF, visit www.centralokanaganfoundation.org ENDOWMENTS • GRANTS • COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Capital News Staff
Instilling a passion for reading among children has been a lifelong goal for Linda Youmans. Don Nettleton, CEO of Okanagan Regional Library, says Youmans has focused her energy and time on youth in the community to embrace the joy of reading, particularly those who face what is referred to today as diversabilities. Nettleton notes Linda has been a children’s librarian in the Kelowna area for the past 25 years, including putting in time to oversee the selection of children’s materials for the entire regional library system. Outside of her demanding day job, Linda also volunteers much of her time to serving as a community liaison for the Learning Disability Association of B.C. in Victoria, a council member of South Okanagan Living BC and self-advocate advisor for Okanagan Self-Advocate Group.
“Linda has been working to start up a social group for young adults with diversabilities. And all of this is undertaken while working a demanding full-time job and raising her own two children, one of whom has autism,” Nettleton said. “Her most recent project was organizing and running a Diversability library staff workshop for over 70 participants which included a panel of adults with various diversabilities. “This fall she is helping to put together a provincewide session, which will be held in Kelowna, to spread this knowledge throughout the province.” Joanne Poole, an instructor at Okanagan College, said her connection with Linda dates back 10 years ago as her own son, who has autism, was growing out of children’s books. “One of the biggest challenges families with disabilities have is finding good resources as we do not have the energy for ‘trial and error’ or for searching data banks of information,”
related Poole. “One of our big gaps in the community is helping children learn and read about their disability in a positive and empowering way. This is a very immense task. “Linda took on the task of searching and reading every book she felt might be worth reading for children who have a disability. We now have an amazing resource of positive books for children to read, nicely divided into specific headings. “She went above and beyond just creating the list and included a picture of the book and a short summary. She did not stop there. “She has also created a community services booklet that is clearly divided up into detailed categories. She went above and beyond to actually contact each agency to gather accurate information.” Linda is not one to draw attention to herself, but the energy she has for the library, for reading resources carries throughout her life. “My fondest memories, which have impacted my life, have come from working in a library,” Linda said. “It is in the library that I was fortunate to work with a librarian who was very dedicated to children. She would express, with such enthusiasm: 1‘I believe children are the readers and leaders of the future.’ “Words of wisdom she imparted to me in the library still resonate with me today, and I recall them often: ‘Let’s give the children who come into our library today and every day a great gift—a passion for reading.’”
Leadership is (l)earned Okanagan College’s mission is to transform lives and communities. The Okanagan College Foundation focuses on powering the promise of our students. We are proud to support and be a source of leaders and learning.
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Congratulations to all those nominated and recognized as leaders in our community.
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