Finalists

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KEN BLACKBURN: As both the executive director of the Campbell River Arts Council and the programming coordinator for the Museum at Campbell River, Ken Blackburn spends his days – and sometimes his nights, as well – trying to raise awareness of the impact arts and culture can have on a community.

Whether it’s initiating a new community-based arts program through a non-profit that helps underprivileged youth or helping an individual artist fill out a grant application, Blackburn is one of the people Campbell River is luckiest to have in its corner supporting the arts.

An art teacher at Phoenix Middle School, Shannon Lim is in her passion place. She strives to ensure her classroom is a safe and creative place where the students are inspired to focus on something unique to them, create with their hands and get a bit messy.

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SYRIAN REFUGEE COMMITTEE: Since 2015 the Syrian Refugee Committee has been kicking open doors in order to bring a number of Syrian refugees to Campbell River. The committee members are a diverse group of people working to make a difference in someone’s life. Mary Cook, lead organizer, said it has been both a delightful and humbling experience.

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CARIHI FLY FISHING: Carihi Fly Fishing is a new, innovative program designed to take full advantage of the rivers, lakes, and ocean fronts in the Campbell River area. The students were active volunteers in conservation efforts throughout the course. They worked with the City of Campbell River, Greenways Land Trust, and The Oyster River Enhancement Society. Releasing salmon fry, building salmon habitat, planting trees, and cleaning up garbage were some of the stewardship acts many of the students participated in. Students learned about ecology and were volunteers who showed a commitment to making a difference.

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STEVE SIERZPUTOWSKI: Steve Sierzputowski became involved in volunteering with Search & Rescue while belonging to the Venture-Scout organization in Sault Sainte Marie, Ont. way back in the early 1980s.

“My childhood friend, who had been posted here with the RCMP and had also belonged to the Sault SAR group, suggested that I join the young Campbell River SAR society since he worked with Don McInnes, one of the founding members, as a way to meet people and get involved,” Sierzputowski says, and he’s been with the organization ever since.

In his nearly 40 years with the organization, he’s seen Campbell River SAR grow from a core of six or seven to about 40 and from a call volume of 10-12 per year to over 50.

“It is very rewarding to bring peoples’ loved-ones home,” he says.

RHIANNON WAFFLE: Waffle has been a dispatcher for North Island 911 for seven years, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Sure, there are tough days,” she says, “but we have an amazing team and support system, and it’s my way of helping, which is something I think is important. We should all help a little more.”

Some might say the person taking the initial emergency call is the most important person in the chain of emergency services, but Rhiannon doesn’t see it that way at all.

“We all have to work together to be successful and we all have to do what we can do. Those guys out there who jump in the raging water or run into the fire…I couldn’t do that.”

But she can certainly get them going where they need to be when they’re needed.

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LINDA NAGLE: Linda Nagle is lucky enough to have the job most suited to her personality.

As the recreation and culture program coordinator for the City of Campbell River, she brings people together to both be active and engage with each other, strengthening our community by fostering connections.

Whether it’s advocating for the development of community gardens, coordinating activities in cooperation with the Immigrant Welcome Centre or running recreational programming, she is, as one nominator called her, “like an eager, multitasking octopus with countless arms reaching out to do good for our community and make it thrive.”

THOMAS PORSBORG: Thomas Porsborg is a self-described “forester and mountain biker.”

He’s been building and maintaining trails for the last 30 years, since – aside from a bit of paddle boarding – most of his recreation occurs on trails, whether it be hiking, running, or riding a bike.

He’s been involved with the Beaver Lodge Trust Committee – the committee that provides guidance on the management of the Beaver Lodge Forest Lands – since 2006 and has been involved with the Greenways Land Trust Adopt-a-Trail Program in the Beaver Lodge Forest since 2013. Through this program, he maintains a couple of trails in the Beaver Lodge by himself, but also leads trail maintenance workshops for the other trail adopters, allowing him to pass on his knowledge of sustainable trail design and maintenance, which then increases the volunteer capacity within the Community.

“More hands make light work,” he says.

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NIKKI WATTS: Nikki Watts  received the highest amount of nominations from a diverse group of people in the community. Hundreds of animals have been rescued thanks to Watts’ strong commitment to their welfare. And her reasons for doing it are straightforward. “I just love animals,” she says. She is often out on the street looking for the animals herself. And there’s no time when she won’t make herself available.

“Basically, I live this 24/7,” she says. “I still love it.”

MARLENE WOCKS: Marlene Wocks is a mainstay of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #137 serving as president of the Ladies Auxiliary and working on other activities that benefit the branch and its fundraising efforts, most notably the Poppy Campaign. She’s also been a member of Citizens on Patrol and more recently volunteering at the Tidemark Theatre.

The value of volunteering was instilled in Wocks at an early age by her parents who told her that if she wanted programs for her kids she had to get involved in making them happen. And so she took that advice to heart but in addition, she finds volunteering fulfilling personally.

“I find anyways, that I can help where maybe somebody else couldn’t,” Wocks said. “I get satisfaction out of seeing what I have done.”

A big benefit of her contributions is getting to know the other people she volunteers with.

“I do enjoy the people I volunteer with, they’re a great bunch of people.”

CHRIS GUNN: A language teacher at the Immigrant Welcome Centre, Chris Gunn says his students are a joy to work with. He has been teaching language for 20 years and says he feels like he makes the greatest difference working with immigrants as he helps them achieve independence and freedom.

 

LUISA RICHARDSON: An environmental educator, Luisa Richardson enthusiastically and passionately educates children and adults by providing an interesting and inspiring interpretation of the natural environment in the Campbell River area that allows people to understand their place within the natural systems. Richardson does contract work  through WildBC, SD72 and Comox Strathcona Waste Management among others.

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ERIC KURPIELA: Eric Kurpiela is a jock of all trades coaching kids in a number of sports. Regardless of the field or arena, it’s all done for one reason.

“To make a difference in kids lives,” says Kurpiela who coaches softball, volleyball, and soccer.

He recognizes that the lessons learned are not just limited to sports, they apply to life in general. And he knows the power of having someone who believes in you.

“I want to see a kid hold thei

r head up high, smile on their face, and understand their value,” Kurpiela says.

It all comes down to TEAM, he says: “Together Everyone Achieves More.”

ANDREA STAPFF: As coach with Strathcona Nordics Ski Club, Andrea Stapff mentors 45 kids, as well as 20 adults in the masters program.

Originally from Ontario, she moved to Vancouver Island in 1979. A skier and a top-level rower, she represented Canada in two Olympics and loves working with young people, especially when they have those “a-ha” moments.

“They’re sponges,” she says. “They’re challenging, they’re frustrating, they’re amazing.”