PITT MEADOWS, BC – Last night, the City’s 2020 Community Service Awards recipients were recognized during the Council Meeting that was livestreamed.
“More than ever, I am extremely proud to celebrate the role models and leaders who have stepped up in extraordinary ways during an especially challenging year,” says Mayor Bill Dingwalll. “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.”
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 2020 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:
Patricia Gordon for her active citizenship and outstanding dedication to the community in helping to enhance engagement and cultural life in Pitt Meadows. As a long-time community leader and advocate, Patricia has devoted countless hours over the years to supporting and promoting civic engagement, particularly in the arts. She was instrumental in helping to raise funds for the purchase and donation of the Heron Sculpture at City Hall as a public art piece to foster local pride and connectedness. She is a community leader with a gift for inspiring others to make Pitt Meadows a better place for all.
- Community Service Awards, which recognizes exemplary leadership and outstanding community service without regard for personal gain, is awarded to:
Dave Saddler for his selfless commitment to protecting the safety of this community for over 34 years. Since joining the Pitt Meadows Fire Department as a volunteer in 1985, Dave has devoted his life to helping others – responding to emergency calls all hours of the day and night. Throughout his many years of service, he has served in various key positions of leadership helping to mentor and train the next generation as a long-time Captain and currently as Assistant Paid-on-Call Chief. Year after year, Dave also volunteers countless hours at community events such as Pitt Meadows Day and Christmas in Pitt Meadows and through fundraising initiatives such as Movember, the Muscular Dystrophy Boot Drive, and the Christmas Food & Toy Drive. For his courage, commitment and dedicated service to our community, Pitt Meadows is truly thankful.
- The Community Service Youth Award (ages 16-18), 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:
Fatima Oday Al-Jumaili for showing what it means to be a role model for her peers through volunteerism. A grade 12 student at Pitt Meadows Secondary School, since 2016 Fatima has contributed many hours volunteering through Grace Community Church with the Friends in Need Food Bank, which serves over 2500 people a month with food and essentials in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge. Pitt Meadows is proud of this young leader making such a positive difference in our community.
- The Good Neighbour Award, which recognizes an individual’s contributions to their neighbourhood community through acts of kindness, is awarded to:
Diane Siemens for her ongoing willingness to help others and promote positivity in the community. As the administrator for “Pitt Meadows Community” Facebook group which has almost 7,000 members, Diane ensures this group promotes a positive community spirit. The group also supports local businesses with free advertising and is regularly used to help those in need at Christmas time, after a tragedy such as a house fire or connecting neighbours who need help with things like moving a couch. Diane is also generous in volunteering her time to helping those in the community including driving seniors to the polls to vote, organizing Christmas hampers for local families and seniors in need, as a “Friend of the Library,” and at the Pitt Meadows Art Gallery. Over the years, Diane has also fostered 22 dogs for LEASH, a Pitt Meadows rescue association. Diane is truly an unsung hero whose quiet acts of kindness makes Pitt Meadows the wonderful community we all love.
- The Business of the Year Award, which recognizes a local business that contributes to the overall quality of life in Pitt Meadows, was awarded to:
Envision Fitness for demonstrating community spirit by enhancing the wellbeing of its members and the community. In addition to providing physical wellness training, the team at Envision has set up a passport program that encourages its members to give back to the community in many ways such as contributing to our local food bank, donating clothing, giving blood, and volunteering. They also encourage members to support local business and to experience the many beautiful outdoor spaces and trails that Pitt Meadows has to offer along the dikes and at Pitt Lake. For their on-going efforts to better our community, Envision is well deserving of this award.
This year there were no eligible nominations submitted for the Against All Odds Achievement and Community Service Youth (ages 13-15) categories.
Mayor and Council recognized each award recipient during the Council Meeting on March 2, 2021, which is available to view online at pittmeadows.ca/councilmeetings.
“The Community Service Awards are part of the City’s ongoing commitment to promoting community spirit and wellbeing,” says Chief Administrative Officer Mark Roberts. “Although we were unable to come together in-person to celebrate as a community, we wanted to thank all those who took the time to nominate and look forward to celebrating with this year’s recipients when it is safe to do so at next year’s in-person event.”
Nominations were received, reviewed and selected by the citizen-led task force. Thank you to the 2020 Community Service Awards Task Force which included: James Lapierre, Angela Williams, Leslie Bennewith and Carole Kubb.
For more information or to view past award winners, visit pittmeadows.ca/awards.
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For more information please contact:
Carolyn Baldridge,
Manager of Communications & Community Engagement
City of Pitt Meadows
cbaldridge@pittmeadows.ca