Do you know a Burnaby volunteer who has gone above and beyond to serve their community?
Every year, countless Burnaby residents volunteer their time and energy to benefit the community — and the time has come for residents to recognize one of these outstanding volunteers by nominating them for the Kushiro Cup.
The storied trophy — a gift from Burnaby’s sister city of Kushiro, Japan — is awarded annually to a Burnaby resident for their extraordinary commitment of time and energy over many years to the community in cultural, recreational or other non-elected civic activities.
“Burnaby thrives because of the work of dedicated volunteers who give back to their community,” said Mayor Mike Hurley, in a statement. “No matter the circumstances, these are the people who were there to lend a hand to those who needed it most. Now more than ever, it is important to recognize their contributions to this community.”
Since 1982, the Kushiro Cup has been awarded to local leaders who have made significant contributions to culture, arts, recreation and other non-elected civic activities in Burnaby. Past winners come from diverse backgrounds and occupations — but they all share the common values of leadership, service and community.
Submit your nominations online at Burnaby.ca/CitizenOfTheYear. Nominations will be accepted until Feb. 18.
The 2022 Outstanding Citizen of the Year will join an impressive list of past honorees that includes Ruth Gautschi (2019), a 36-year volunteer with Citizen Support Services who assisted seniors with personal shopping and provided support for isolated seniors through the Phone Buddy program; and Douglas Corson (2017), a dedicated volunteer who has volunteered with the Burnaby Citizens’ Crime Watch Program for more than 20 years, patrolling the streets of Burnaby, reporting suspicious activity and recovering stolen autos.
The 2021 winner was Simone Brandl, program director for the North House of Burnaby Neighbourhood House since 2016, as well as a long-time resident of Burnaby. Brandl has been active throughout the city supporting the needs of families and individuals not just through her work, but also with her own personal volunteer time, with various committees, clubs and associations.
