Citizen of the Year – Presented by Race & Co. LLP

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.

An eligible candidate must:

Be an individual- couples must be submitted as two individual nominees
May reside outside of Whistler but must make their volunteer contributions to the Whistler Community
Be recognized for their volunteer contributions
Volunteer their time, outside of the realm of their employment, in one or more activities or with one or more organization
Demonstrate a positive attitude
Works respectfully with others in the spirit of cooperation
Be an exemplary leader who displays honesty and integrity
Have made a lasting impact on a variety of community members or aspects of community life
Continuously inspire others to give to the community

Training & Events

Meet the 2022 Finalists:

Carol Leacy

Chair of the Whistler Health Care Foundation and a co-founder of Whistler 360 Health. Believes that a community is healthier when everyone has access to a family doctor.

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.

Dave Williamson

Over the past 40 years, Dave Williamson has been a dedicated Whistler community volunteer. He is currently Chair of the Board of the Whistler Institute, a member of the RMOW Strategic Planning Committee and the Climate Action Committee. His diverse volunteering includes coaching hockey and soccer and a Boy Scouts leader.

Congratulations to the winner of the 2022 Citizen of the Year Award – Stella Harvey!

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.

Previous Award Winners

The 2021 winner

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.

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 2018 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 2017 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 Steve’s career spans real estate development finance, building, developer and landlord. he is the Founding director of WHA and director of WDC.