PITT MEADOWS, BC – Recipients of the City’s Third Annual Community Service Awards were presented with a plaque during an official ceremony as part of the Christmas in Pitt Meadows celebration on December 3.
“Every year, I am extremely impressed with the ways Pitt Meadows residents have gone above and beyond in the face of ongoing challenges and I’m very pleased to recognize them for their efforts,” says Mayor Bill Dingwall. “We have the best community for a reason. People are the heart of Pitt Meadows and our nominees and recipients deserve special recognition for their outstanding commitment to enhancing the wellbeing of our community and making us all Pitt Meadows Proud.”
Each year, these awards recognize outstanding contributions and achievements by individuals, organizations and businesses that help make Pitt Meadows a better place to live. The award program includes categories for youth, arts, athletics, volunteerism, businesses and volunteer organizations.
The City of Pitt Meadows congratulates the following recipients of the 2021 Community Service Awards:
- The Spirit of Pitt Meadows Award (recognizing Outstanding Resident of the Year), which recognizes the contributions of an individual for their overall outstanding community service, dedication and commitment to improving the quality of life for the citizens of Pitt Meadows, is awarded to:
Amy Shaw for her outstanding dedication to enhancing the community with the Hearts on the Fence initiative at Pitt Meadows Elementary. Amy spearheaded the initiative to decorate the fence as part of the school’s karate program and grew it into a larger public art project, ensuring each student had the opportunity to paint a heart for the school’s fence. Amy is recognized for helping to beautify Pitt Meadows and spread positivity through community service during a challenging year.
- The Community Service Award, which recognizes exemplary leadership and outstanding community service without regard for personal gain, is awarded to:
John Barnes for his selfless commitment to Pitt Meadows through volunteerism and community contributions. John is involved with the Pitt Meadows Seniors Centre, volunteering his time helping with events, organizing trivia and the pool team, and assisting seniors with computer challenges. John and his wife are also recognized for helping to improve local park space after beavers removed several trees, which were replanted by parks staff. John spearheaded a group of residents in his building to ‘adopt’ the trees and expanded small gardens around the plantings. For his care and commitment to our community, Pitt Meadows is truly thankful.
- The Community Service Youth Award (ages 13-18), which recognizes the positive contributions of a young member of the community, who has provided outstanding service to the community without regard for personal gain, is awarded to:
Ali El Massri for showing what it means to be a role model for his peers through volunteerism and academics. A bright 16-year-old student at Pitt Meadows Secondary School, Ali volunteers many hours at the Friends in Need Food Bank during school holidays. Ali is also an excellent student, with plans to go into computer programming after graduation. Ali continues to give back to his community and maintain excellent grades. Pitt Meadows is proud of this young leader making such a positive difference in our community.
- The Community Service Youth Award (ages 5-12), which recognizes the positive contributions of a young member of the community, who has provided outstanding service to the community without regard for personal gain, is awarded to:
Tristan Kennedy for his inspiring desire to help others and promote positivity in the community during a challenging time. During lockdown in April 2020, Tristan and his mom started posting riddles and jokes outside their house in an effort to make their neighbours smile. Over 150 jokes later, they created a book out of them and sold it with the profits benefitting the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society and the Friends in Need Food Bank, raising over $1,500! Pitt Meadows is very proud to recognize Tristan for his outstanding community service and desire to help others in a tough time.
- The Good Neighbour Award, which recognizes an individual’s contributions to their neighbourhood community through acts of kindness, is awarded to:
Thelma Rodriguez for her outstanding dedication to help others in her community. Thelma regularly helps out others in the community looking for assistance with everything from acquiring boxes to transportation. For many years she has volunteered her time and resources to temporary farm workers in Pitt Meadows, providing them with meals, clothing, and bicycles during their stay here. Thelma is known for stopping her car to give random people an umbrella on rainy days. She has an enormous impact on her community and her acts of selflessness make Pitt Meadows the welcoming and caring place we all love.
“The Community Service Awards are part of the City’s ongoing commitment to promote community spirit and wellbeing,” says Chief Administrative Officer Mark Roberts. “We are so grateful for the opportunity to celebrate this year’s winners in person and we thank those who have nominated them.”
Nominations were received, reviewed and selected by the citizen-led task force. Thank you to the 2021 Community Service Awards Task Force which included: Angela Williams, Leslie Bennewith, Gay Conn, Danielle Spraggs and Carole Kubb.
For more information or to view past award winners, visit pittmeadows.ca/awards.
Pictured from left to right: Danielle Spraggs from the Community Service Awards Task Force; award recipients Thelma Rodriguez, Ali El Massri, Amy Shaw, Tristan Kennedy, John Barnes; Mayor Bill Dingwall.
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For more information please contact:
Carolyn Baldridge,
Manager of Communications & Community Engagement
City of Pitt Meadows
cbaldridge@pittmeadows.ca