2016 Civic Awards

2016 Civic Awards

Wedding Anniversaries

Excellence in Sport & Leadership - Zac Callaghan
Zac has played football for 10 years, served as the Team Captain for Mt. Boucherie High School Team and has accepted a Football Scholarship from the University of Alberta where he is studying Nursing and looks forward to graduating in 2020. Volunteer contributions include feeding the homeless during Christmas and mentoring young football players.

Excellence in Community Spirit - The Peachland Ambassadors
The Peachland Ambassadors represent the community at events in Peachland, the Region and throughout BC and are celebrating their 70th Anniversary of service in the community. They focus their program on personal development and community leadership for the youth of Peachland, volunteering at many Municipal and Community functions, committing hours of volunteer service.

Excellence in Volunteerism- Wolfgang Muhs
Wolfgang Muhs plays a lead role in the Peachland Pier Project and has helped fund raise on behalf of the Peachland Pier Group in the amount of $400,000 to facilitate an all access heritage public pier is a member of the Peachland Rotary Club; and the Peachland Chamber of Commerce.

Excellence in Arts and Culture – Peachland Art Group
The Peachland Art Group participates in a variety of community initiatives and cultural development including painting community banners, special event backdrops and assisting with event decorating. They coordinate and host an annual art show, and monthly feature an artisan showcase in the Community Centre and at the Peachland Library.

Excellence in Community Accessibility - Bob Hewitson
Bob Hewitson has been a volunteer driver with the Peachland Wellness Centre for the last year. He has put in many hours driving Peachland participants who are unable to drive themselves to many different medical appointments as well as for pharmacy and grocery shopping (with destinations from Penticton to Kelowna).

Excellence in Art & Agro Tourism - The Indoor Artisan Market at the Visitor Centre
This valuable off-season tourism initiative features vineyards and wineries, Artisans, Farmers and Crafters showcasing their products - paintings, cards and many other hand made and locally grown products. Local food growers and vendors promote products for a healthy holistic lifestyle and a healthier community. In 2016, over 1700 people visited, taking advantage of some of the best local trade the Okanagan has to offer.

Excellence in Health Promotion - Lynn Malinsky
Lynn Malinsky is the longest serving Director for the Wellness Centre and is currently Vice-President. She has served on boards with BC Board Voice Society, BC Options for Sexual Health, Planned Parenthood Canada, YWCA of Canada, National Addictions Training Association and Canadian Nursing Association. She is also a past Vice-President of the Bridge Youth and Family Services.

Excellence in Community Service - James Masters
James Masters began his career as a Paramedic in 1987. He provided pre-hospital emergency medical care for our community and has served the residents of Peachland for the last 29 years. This individual has been involved in community beyond his work as a Paramedic, serving on volunteer committees at the Marina. This person has put in tireless work and time to serve, protect and help his fellow residents of Peachland.

Excellence in Environment & Conservation - Bat Education Ecological Protection Society fondly known as BEEPS and The Rotary Club of Peachland
The Bat House Interpretive Trail was a community project expanding environmental awareness on the value of bats to a healthy ecosystem, as well as the importance of Environmental Stewardship. The project is also a unique tourism initiative for Peachland providing an opportunity for visitors to view our community by linking existing pathways and hiking trails in Peachland with the Bat House Interpretive Trail.

Unsung Hero - Rhoda Weisgarber
Rhoda has been a driving force behind the local theatre group, the Peachland Players for nearly 15 years. She is an enthusiastic volunteer for the Recreation Department in various events such as Canada Day Beach Run and the Rattlesnake Island Swim. This individual also collects discarded bottles and cans on daily walks with her husband and donate monies from the bottle depot to the local food bank. She is also a Cancer Society Canvasser and a long-standing volunteer with the Peachland Fall Fair.

Councillors’ Award of Merit – Patricia Barrows
Patricia Barrows started with the Boys and Girls club over 15 years ago. In 2013, the Boys and Girls Club organization targeted her as an ideal candidate to open the new youth centre at the Peachland Historic School. She implemented the annual Easter Egg Hunt – doubling participation rates in three short years. She has also lead her organization in its participation in Canada Day, Christmas Light Up, and the Christmas Light Up pre-parade party. She has more than doubled the registration for the After School programs and, recognizing the need for middle childhood programs; she developed the tween programs, and various other recreation programs.

Mayor’s Award of Merit - Bill Bennett
With over 18 years of dedication to the Peachland Players, Bill Bennett is a recipient of the 2001 Meritorious Service award, the 2012 Excellence in the Arts Award and the 2013 Lifetime Achievement award. He is a founding member of the Peachland Community Arts Council and has directed many youth and adults in local plays and musicals. In 2009, he also wrote a special play to commemorate Peachland’s Centennial Year. This individual has recently retired from his role as Director at the healthy age of 91.

YOUTH CITIZEN OF THE YEAR - Chevy Matthews
Chevy Matthews is a student at Peachland Elementary who can often be seen with her mom giving back to the community. Every spring and fall, she cleans up the neighbourhood by picking up garbage near her house. She sells cupcakes to raise money for the SPCA. She has a Blog titled, “Save the World! Help the Earth!” This young citizen is an example of how young people try to change the world – one good deed at a time.

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR - Chris Byrd
Chris Byrd has quietly worked in the background for a good many years. He was significantly involved in the Little Schoolhouse restorations, worked on the website for the Volksport Club (now the Peachland Trekkers), presented workshops for the Wellness Centre speaker’s series and has been a member of the Peachland Economic Development Committee and the Peachland Community Arts Council for many years as both a board member and webmaster. He is also actively involved in displaying the "Artist of the Month" which features a local artist in the Peachland View. He also worked actively on the Art Gallery Implementation committee. He participates in any way he can including leading groups to the top of Pincushion Mountain and producing the Centennial Heritage Days newsletter.

Congratulations to all of our 2016 Civic Award Recipients!!