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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

 

Innovative Business of the Year

Sustainability in Action Business

Service Excellence – Small Business 

Service Excellence – Large Business 

Rising Star of the Year

 

Resilient Business of the Year

The Citizen of the Year

Whistler Champion of Arts & Culture

Business Person of the Year 

 

The 2020 winner 

 

Dave Clark

A passionate Whistlerite, who believes in this community;  continually investing himself as a youth sports coach, mental health advocate, community collaborator, and event producer

 

The 2019 winner 

 

Keith Reynolds

Keith witnessed firsthand the challenges of life in war-impacted countries, specifically children without happy childhoods. Keith founded Playground Builders which has constructed more than 240 playgrounds.

 

The 2019 winner 

 

Pat Montani

Pat Montani’s life work was to create an efficient model  of empowerment,  without a single cent being spent on overhead or staff.   Pat founded Bicycles for Humanity, a  chapter lead, global grassroots movement that has delivered over 180,000 bicycles to 18 African countries and  it continues to grow.

 

The 2018 winner 

 

Steve Bayly

Vancouver born and raised, competitive sailor, worked fish packers through UBC. Post graduation 10 years real estate development finance. Two years offshore sailing. Self employed for last 30+yrs builder, developer, landlord. Developed eight projects in FJ, and Barnfield, Lakecrest, and Nesters Crossing. Founding director of WHA and director of WDC, builder of 2010 Athletes Village now Cheakamus Crossing.

 

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.