The Maple Ridge Community Foundation will honour some of the city’s most dedicated volunteers at the annual Citizen of the Year Awards, coming up this Saturday, April 12. The event includes entertainment, live and silent auctions, a buffet dinner and a celebration of nominees for the Youth, Teesha Sharma Memorial, and Lifetime Achievement Awards. “All of them are amazing nominees. Maple Ridge is a really unique community because of the volunteerism,” said Foundation executive assistant Jacquie Montgomery.
Nominated for Lifetime Achievement Awards are Gerry Pinel, Kim Dumore, and Dr. Adrian Walton. Nominated in the Youth Category are Madison McCarron, Noah Augustine, and Brienna Fontaine. The nominees for the Teesha Sharma Memorial Award are Abby Lizee, Lucy Meechan, and Tyson Aubin. The Lifetime Achievement award will honour a dedicated Maple Ridge resident who has been identified as having provided a lifetime of outstanding volunteer contributions locally, nationally, or internationally. These contributions will have an impact on Maple Ridge or improved the image of the community. The Teesha Sharma Memorial Under 40 award is to recognize a young adult or an adult between 20 to 40 years of age, who has made outstanding contributions towards the community, or nationally and/or internationally. The Youth category award will recognize a youth 19 or younger with outstanding volunteer contributions.
The event will be held at Meadow Gardens Golf Club starting at 5 p.m. Admission is $150, and tickets are available online at mrcf.ca “We’re just looking to celebrate our finalists, and all of our nominees,” said Montgomery. “We have an amazing community of people who give so generously of themselves.” Foundation president Kevin Nosworthy said it’s going to be a great evening. “I’m looking forward to Saturday night,” he said. “This is a signature event for Maple Ridge.” He reviewed the nomination forms, and was impressed by the the many quiet contributions by community-minded people. “There are more young people doing great things in our city,” said Nosworthy. “I got the opportunity to see all of the nominations, and we have a good future in Maple Ridge.” “These people are humble, and their stories are amazing.” The foundation manages a permanent endowment to respond to emerging and changing community needs. It is a vehicle and service for donors with varied interests and at various levels of charitable giving. MRCF accumulates capital through gifts from individuals, families, and businesses. The annual investment income on this capital is granted to charitable organizations in Maple Ridge that address needs in education, health, recreation, the environment and the arts.
Read more at: https://mapleridgenews.com/2025/04/08/maple-ridge-to-celebrate-exceptional-citizens-this-saturday/