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2005 News and Information

Inaugural Richmond Community Spirit Awards Presented

24 October 2005

Ten individuals and groups were recognized for their outstanding contributions in the first annual Richmond Community Spirit Awards, which were presented on October 20, 2005.

The awards were created by Richmond City Council to publicly recognize individuals and groups who embrace the spirit of the community and make a positive valuable contribution to the  lives of others in Richmond.

“City Council has long wanted to recognize the selfless dedication of individuals and groups to making Richmond better in every way,” says Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “Supporting Richmond’s long history of volunteerism and community spirit and promoting good citizenship, the new Community Spirit Awards are Council’s way of publicly recognizing those who give their time and energy to enhance the community in which we live, work and play.”
 
This year’s inaugural Community Spirit Award recipients are:

  • Friends of the Richmond Library, a non-profit, volunteer community group established in 1972 to support the Richmond Public Library. Over the last five years, the group has donated $153,500 to the library from the proceeds of their semi-annual book sales. This year, they have also donated $30,000 towards a newly renovated Silent Study Room at the Brighouse Branch and $20,000 for a start-up collection of 1,000 picture books for the Cambie Branch
  • Dianne Zimich, a volunteer and board member of Carefree and an active member of a Fetal Alcohol Support Group. She is the adoptive mother of four children with significant special needs, and foster parent to a variety of special needs children. Many of the over 100 babies who have lived with her have gone on to adoptive families but still come back to her home for either respite or because their families now include her as part of their extended family
  • Nancy Yurkovich, who has made outstanding contributions to the community of Richmond in the area of hospice and palliative care, including inspiring community leaders, hospital administrators and politicians to address the missing link in palliative care services in Richmond and forging a unique partnership between Rotary Club of Richmond and the Salvation Army to plan and develop a free standing community based hospice care facility in Richmond
  • Ahlay Chin, who after identifying barriers such as language, cultural differences and stigma of mental illness, was determined to form a support group for those with mental illness.  In 1995, she established the Richmond Chinese Mental Health Support Group, which is now called The Chinese Mental Wellness Association of Canada. This established association focuses on early intervention and prevention, ethnic counselling, and Chinese peer support outreach volunteers who are trained in mental health field for multicultural groups
  • Richmond Chinese Community Society, which raises awareness of the need for more Chinese involvement, both by new Chinese immigrants and resident Chinese-Canadians, in civic projects and to share their unique culture with the rest of Richmond. This organization has helped to reduce the boundaries between cultures by allowing others to participate in their traditions through annual Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations and several social gatherings for seniors throughout the year and by participating in the Fraser River Festival, the Salmon Festival and other events
  • Aileen Cormack, Chair of the Richmond Senior Advisory Council for the past six years. Her tireless contributions include establishing Adult Guardianship Legislation and Falls Prevention and Senior Peer Counselling programs. She is also active in as a member the Canadian Cancer Society, member of the Advisory Committee on health to the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, board member of Richmond Safe Communities Alliance and the Rosewood Manor Foundation. She also holds executive positions in the Richmond Historical Society & Heritage Steveston Post Office
  • Pia Ghosh  is an excellent student, dancer, and musician. At Hugh McRoberts School, she is the Student Council Secretary, volunteers as a Peer Helper, plays first clarinet for the school band, and is a member of the volleyball team. Her commitments outside of school include: member of the Lower Mainland Bengali Cultural Society; member of the Richmond Youth Concert Band and the BC Honour Concert Band; volunteer performer for fundraising events and concerts; volunteer “Big Reading Buddy” at the Richmond Public Library; and volunteer at summer day camps
  • Team Izzat is a group of 22 RCMP members who volunteer their time to connect with young people through special events and outreach programs organized during off-duty hours. Since forming last year, the team’s focus has been on young people in the minority South Asian community where instances of gang violence have led to stereotyping and negative influences. But the Team also reaches across racial and ethnic sectors to all young people between the ages of 11 and 17 to create an understanding based on mutual respect
  • George Atkinson has been a board member of the Thompson Community Association for over 22 years, a founder of Nibble & Bites, a leader in the development of the new Thompson Community Centre and a member of many City of Richmond task forces and committees. His current community involvement does not stop there.  Twice a week he commits his time to Carefree, a preschool program that integrates children with disabilities. He also volunteers for Kajaks Club and Minoru Residence
  • Norrie Barth has made contributions to our community that span all ages and all cultures. Some of the organizations that she has been involved with include: Steveston Community Society, SOS Children’s Village, BC Cancer Society, Moffat House Hospice, Richmond Food Bank, The Caring Place, March of Dimes, Volunteer Richmond, Steveston Salmon Festival, Heart & Stroke Foundation, Richmond Christmas Bureau, Multiple Sclerosis, and the United Way

The recipients were selected from more than 40 nominations submitted by the community. The nominees and recipients all exemplify the nomination criteria of caring for the community, continuously contributing to the community and well being of Richmond and dedicating their volunteer time to Richmond or a Richmond-based organization.