
Citizen of the Year
Presented by:
Created in 1969, the Citizen of the Year award is Whistler’s longest standing celebration. Whistler Community Foundation is honoured with the task of selecting the annual recipient of this prestigious award.
The Whistler Citizen of the Year is an outstanding community member who contributes significant volunteer time to enhancing the quality of life in Whistler. This individual demonstrates extraordinary leadership and community service outside of employment. Well-respected in the community, they inspire others with their caring and positive attitude and spirit of cooperation.
Congratulations to the 2021 Winner: Karin Kausky
Meet The 2021 Finalists

Karin Kausky
Passionate about the value of full service , relationship based, longitudinal family practice. Practiced full service family practice in Whistler BC since 1993 at Whistler Medical Clinic.

Yoann Barelli
Yoann Barelli stepped away from the professional mountain bike world and started his own coaching business (Barelli Concepts) with the goal to share his knowledge with the younger generation of bikers in Whistler. Yoann is also an environmental steward, focusing to push the bike industry towards more sustainable practices.

Stella Harvey
Stella Harvey founded the Whistler Writing Society, which each year produces the Whistler Writers Festival and other literary programming, showcasing diverse local, BC and internationally-known Canadian writers. The festival has grown from a one-day event to a multi-day, multi-artist, multi-venue event. Stella is a published author and mentors students in The Writers’ Studio at Simon Fraser University.
Meet More 2021 Award Winners
The 2020 winner

Dave Clark
The 2019 winner

Keith Reynolds
The 2019 winner

Pat Montani
The 2018 winner

Steve Bayly
The 2017 winner

Heather Paul
Heather founded ShortSkirtTheatre and Chairs the Whistler Arts Council. She advocates for cancer awareness and woman’s rights. Heather’s deities are kindness, perspective, hope and humour.