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.”
The 2020 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 City of Burnaby will accept nominations for the Kushiro Cup until Feb. 19, with the recipient to be announced at the City Council meeting on March 29.
Nominations can be submitted online at Burnaby.ca/CitizenOfTheYear.
