Sixty years after launching Delta's Citizen of the Year Award in 1951 the Delta Chamber of Commerce is announcing those nominated and selected as finalists in the annual Hats Off to Excellence Awards for 2011.
There are business and community leaders from a wide range of backgrounds who have been nominated and who have been selected by a panel as role models and deserving of recognition. They are among three finalists in one of five categories of awards this year.
This year's finalists are:
- Citizen of the Year Award: Someone who provided extraordinary service to the community of Delta, conducted their life with integrity and who stands out amongst their peers. Finalists: Carlene Lewall, Jim Stimson, and Barbara Wallick.
- Volunteer Service Award: Delta Resident of any age who has volunteered a great deal of time and efforts to a Delta organization. Finalists: Valerie Easingwood, Steve Grant and Anne Murray.
- Rising Star Award: Somebody who has owned and operated a Delta business for at least one year and under five years, achieved a certain degree of financial stability through business performance and has achieved success and growth potential, been involved in new economic activities, innovation and community activity. Finalists: Yvonne and David Anderson, Sarah Gallop, and Lydia Ryall.
- Business of the Year Award: A business that has reached a significant new level, established new technology, broken into a new market, or has integrated sustainability into business objectives, strategies, plans and functions. Finalists: West Coast Seeds (Mark MacDonald), Augustine House (Tanya Snow), and Redi-Strip Metal Cleaning (Therese Arseneau).
- Special Events & Tourism Award: A Delta-based tourism business or activity that has delivered a quality product or service, contributing to the image, sustainability and professionalism of Delta, and has demonstrated an effective marketing program and superior ability to successfully satisfy visitor expectations through outstanding service. Finalists: South Delta Jazz Festival (Stephen Robb), Ladner Bandfest Curt Janzen), and Summerfest (Terry Bremner).
The finalists will be recognized and the winners announced at the annual Hats Off to Excellence Gala on the evening of Friday, Nov. 18 at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn.
"The Committee would like to thank the citizens of Delta for their participation in nominating the worthy candidates for this year's Excellence Awards. As always, it's a pleasurable task to interview all candidates and a difficult task to narrow the field to three finalists in each category and then choose the winner. In our eyes, all nominees are winners by virtue of the nomination and the gift they have given to their respective charities, businesses or associations," said Rod Winning, nominations committee chair.
Hats Off to Excellence award finalists
Citizen of the Year:
- Carlene Lewall
Applying her Bachelor of Education, in physical education, Carlene Lewall has contributed to and led the Delta Gymnastics Society as volunteer, coach and administrator for 31 years. The strong belief that building self esteem and confidence in youth through sport cultivates responsible young adults has driven her passionate commitment to that cause and to substitute teaching in Delta. In 2003 Carlene added to her community commitment by becoming chair of the Delta Spirit of B.C. Community Committee, one of 90 plus committees in communities throughout BC whose goal was to raise the excitement of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in their respective communities and around the Olympic movement leading up to that major event, including the very successful Delta Rivermania, celebrating BC's 150-year anniversary, and founding of the Delta Sport Hall of Fame Society. Carlene is one of the founders of the Delta Sport Council which supports all sports groups in Delta, serves as Chair of KidSport Delta, Chair of Operation Red Nose, a 'safe drive' program for Delta/ Richmond, member of the Delta Hospital's Public Consultation Committee, member of the Gymnastics BC board for 15 years, national level gymnastics judge. For Delta Gymnastics Society she chaired the recent Kids First Campaign that raised the money needed for the new Delta Sport Development Center.
- Jim Stimson
Jim Stimson, a licensed social worker, has spent his entire professional career of 37 years helping individuals, families, communities, employers, and unions deal with addiction, as well as other emotional/ psychological difficulties. He is part of the WellSpring Consulting Group, an organization dedicated to helping employers and unions address the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace. He is also the co-author of a 220-page book titled, An Act of Surrender - Recover from Alcohol and Drug Addiction and Be Happy, Joyous, and Free! A resident of Ladner, Jim has devoted his spare time over the past two years as President of the Little House Society in Delta, BC, a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and advancing education related to substance use, abuse, and addiction, and abstinence-based recovery from addiction. At the end of 2005, Jim retired from Weyerhaeuser Canada after 26 years of running the company's Employee and Family Assistance Program (including 22 years at MacMillan Bloedel). During the last three years of his time with Weyerhaeuser, Jim was seconded to the Centre for Workplace Community Wellbeing, a national nonprofit society established in early 2002 where he was the Director of Operations and Program Development.
- Barbara Wallick
Barb Wallick is a Financial Planner and Retirement Life Coach at the Ladner branch of Envision Financial. She started in that position in October 2008 at a time when many local members were experiencing some anxious times in a tough economy to ensure a relationship of trust was built and members stayed true to their long term plans. In that time, between career and, with her husband, raising a 10-year-old daughter, Barb has given a tremendous amount of herself to the community, as member of the Delta Chamber Golf Tournament Committee for three years, fundraiser for Heart and Stroke Foundation, and Ladner May Days Parade participant. She serves on the Reach Child and Youth Development Foundation board, which is raising funds to build a new facility in the Ladner area. Barb has been in the financial industry for 27 years, but has worked on local initiatives throughout her career supporting causes such as BC Children's Hospital and Untied Way.
Volunteer Service Award:
- Valerie Easingwood
Tsawwassen resident Valerie Easingwood has been an active volunteer in the community for the past 15 years in the local sports community. She organizes the annual Tsawwassen Soccer Club World Cup Jamboree, serves on the Tsawwassen Soccer Club executive in the roles of coordinator, treasurer and vice chair. She is also the Delta Youth Soccer League District Representative. As an employee of Envision Financial for 20 years she has also represented Envision as a volunteer and organizer of many community events such as the Delta Hospital Foundation Golf Tournament and Gala and the Ladner May Day's Parade.
- Steve Grant
For over 35 years Steve Grant has dedicated countless hours to the community, including the past 17 years in Delta, combining two of his favorite things (sports and coaching youth). Steve is a respected coach, referee, umpire and executive in youth soccer, baseball, and softball. He was a coach for the Ladner Boys Soccer Association from 1996 to 2010. Steve is also a coach for the Ladner Girls Soccer Association and has been since 1995. From 1998 to 2005 he coached two girls soccer teams. He also coaches for the Ladner Girls Softball Association and has been doing so since 1995. Steve was an executive member of the Ladner Girls Soccer association from 1999 to 2011, acting as Equipment manager, District Rep, Vice President and President over the course of 12 years. He also volunteered for the South Delta Field Coalition from 2003 to 2005.
- Anne Murray
Tsawwassen resident Anne Murray, author of A Nature Guide to Boundary Bay and Tracing our Past ~ A Heritage Guide to Boundary Bay, has had a life-long interest in nature, particularly birds, and enjoys sharing her passion with other people. During the last 20 years she has been an active volunteer with a number of local organizations including the Delta Naturalists' Society, the Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust, the Delta Museum and Archives, and the Boundary Bay Conservation Committee. Anne is a past-President of BC Nature (Federation of BC Naturalists) and continues to assist the provincial organization with the BC Important Bird Area Program. She is on the Steering Committee of the BC Breeding Bird Atlas (a seven year project that maps all the breeding locations of birds in BC). She is a member of the BC Waterfowl Society and volunteers with their nest box program. She has travelled to many places around the world and writes monthly for three local newspapers.
Rising Star Award:
- Yvonne & David Anderson
Yvonne Anderson, BC, MA is a kinesiologist, and entrepreneur. David Anderson, BCom, is a strategist and entrepreneur. Together, they created Santevia Pure Earth Water in January of 2008. Santevia manufactures water filtration systems that use an eight stage filtration and re-mineralization system. The company has been growing steadily since 2008 and now sells not only in Canada, but the US, the UK, and Europe. David leads operations and new product development at Santevia while Yvonne leads Sales and Marketing. David partnered with BCIT to design new products and test existing products. Yvonne develops sales teams in Canada, the US and in the UK. The Santevia home team has grown to ten people, who all live and work in Delta. Yvonne and David also started the 'Santevia Gives Back' program, which works on global water projects and sponsors an orphanage in Thailand. Both Yvonne and David believe in living healthy and active lifestyles.
- Sarah Gallop
Since graduating from the Interior Design program at BCIT, Sarah Gallop has worked on both residential and commercial interior design projects. In 2009 she started her own firm, Sarah Gallop Design Inc. in Ladner. Sarah is a certified Interior Designer with the NCIDQ - a national governing body for Interior Designers. Many of her designs have been finalists or winners of Georgie, SAM and RenOvation Awards. Sarah Gallop Design Inc was recently voted 'Best New Business" in the Best of South Delta and as a 5th generation South Deltan, Sarah likes to give back to the community she loves. She has been involved in the planning committee for Ladner May Days for the past six years, the last two years as co-chair. Sarah is an active member of the Ladner Business Association and volunteers for the Delta Hospital Foundation.
- Lydia Ryall
Lydia Ryall started her own vegetable and pastured poultry farm, Cropthorne Farm, in January 2009. She began her business by farming 3/4 of an acre herself. In just over two years she has increased that farmed area to three acres and has hired four employees. Lydia has marketed her produce through the Community Supported Agriculture Box Program, restaurants and participation in six farmers' markets in Metro Vancouver. She is known for her "Chick Tractor Eggs" because her chickens live in a mobile chicken coop and are able to move around the pasture so that they are always fed fresh grass and, in return, the fields are fed fresh manure. Lydia is currently a member of the Corporation of Delta's Agriculture Advisory Committee, and a Director of the Delta's Farmer Institute. She is involved with WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) and provides accommodation and meals in exchange for farming labour. Lydia holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree from the University of Lethbridge.
Business of the Year Award:
- Mark MacDonald
West Coast Seeds
West Coast Seeds started in 1983 in Vancouver, under the stewardship of Mary Ballon. Mary's love of gardening and fervent belief in "growing food" locally has helped motivate a generation of organic gardeners here on the West Coast and across Canada. The small, Ladner-based company continues to offer untreated seeds, specializing in certified organic and heirloom varieties. West Coast Seeds tests its seeds regularly for germination. Seeds that do not meet their high standard of germination, as well as all seeds returned from our retail partners, are donated to charitable organizations in developing countries. The company offers classes and workshops on the principles of organic gardening and farming in a classroom at its retail store on the corner of River Road & Elliott Street in Ladner. Through the educational program the company has been able to promote local organizations such as O.W.L., the Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust, and The Land Conservancy of BC's Pollinator Enhancement Project. All of the class fees for 2010/2011 were donated to O.W.L. West Coast Seeds are proud supporters of any organization that promotes sustainability and environmentally friendly gardening and farming practices.
- Tanya Snow
Augustine House
The Augustine House Society is a private, nonprofit business which operates a seniors' residence on Arthur Drive in Ladner. Formed in November 1990 by a group of members in St. Augustine Council 7916 Knights of Columbus, the Society aimed to provide a safe and comfortable home for local seniors on parish grounds, with private and subsidized assisted living and complex care services. Over the years the Society has faced various challenges, such as several rejections by the Agricultural Land Commission, development approvals through the Corporation of Delta and conditions to make every effort to preserve the Convent which was situated on the land where Augustine House now stands. The Society's persistence and resilience in building a retirement community vital to the community was rewarded finally in December 1999 with approval from the Agricultural Land Commission to use the land as appropriate for the "senior citizens housing development". In July 2003 Delta Council approved the construction of Augustine House which is now home to approximately 150 active seniors who enjoy the inviting environment and caring staff.
- Therese Arseneau
Redi-Strip Metal Cleaning
Therese Arseneau
Redi-Strip Metal Cleaning Canada Ltd.
Gordon Arseneau founded Redi-Strip Metal Cleaning Canada Ltd. in 1978 as a cleaning service for auto restoration enthusiasts in a 5,000-square-foot building, one of the first in Tilbury Industrial Park. The business expanded to serve a wider range of industries including aviation, oil and gas, mining, pulp and paper, electronic, medical, military, utilities and marine. Now housed in facilities of 35,000 square feet Redi-Strip employs 10 people full-time. The company's family-like environment, benefits and good working conditions contribute to the employees' long term commitment to the company. Gordon retired in 2006 at age 80 and his daughter, Therese Arseneau, with the help of their loyal employees, took over running the business which has continued to grow and improve. In 2009, Redi-Strip became registered in the Controlled Goods Program in keeping with the Defence Production Act. In 2011 it achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification for its operations of metal cleaning, pre-treatment and finishing. In the same year it became involved with the Corporation of Delta's Climate Smart program. Redi-Strip is an environmentally conscious company always looking for ways to reduce, reuse and recycle and by serving its customers in cleaning and restoring their used equipment which may otherwise have ended up in a landfill.
Special Events and Tourism Award:
- Terry Bremner
Summerfest
Wellbrook Winery and Bremner Foods Ltd. hosts Summerfest every July at Delta's heritage winery, Wellbrook Winery. Proprietor Terry Bremner and his team have developed Summerfest into an annual farmers' market, blueberry festival and classic car and motorcycle show. Summerfest started in 2005 with only the classic car show and has now grown to include the farmers' market with over 30 local vendors and artisans, and fun events for kids, and attracting as many as 4,000 people. Partial proceeds from Summerfest are donated to the Delta Hospital Auxiliary. Terry Bremner founded Bremner Foods Ltd. in 2001 and opened the Wellbrook Winery in 2004. His motto is "Success can come by simply moving forward and dedicating yourself to your goals and ambitions".
- Curt Janzen
Ladner Bandfest
A committee of the Delta Music Makers founded the Ladner Bandfest in 2004. The Bandfest is the largest gathering of adult musicians in Western Canada, with 600-700 musicians performing in bands over two days in June every year at Ladner Memorial Park. The event started with only three bands, but, this past June, 21 adult bands participated. Curt Jantzen is the visionary behind the Ladner Bandfest and the founder and current music director of the Delta Music Makers. Curt and his wife Jhandie started the Delta Music Makers Community Band in 1983. They appealed through their advertising and promotion to an "adult beginner band for adults with no musical experience." Through their efforts over the years the Community Band has grown into a full concert band, which is well-respected throughout B.C.
- Stephen Robb
South Delta Jazz Festival
The South Delta Jazz Festival is an annual weeklong event featuring various concerts for the public plus a five day workshop for students (from beginners to adults) interested in learning about or improving their jazz improv skills in a small combo setting. The South Delta Jazz Festival held its first season in July of 2004. Delta Community Music School Society, led by instructors Stephen Robb and Jared Burrows, founded the program. The festival was created to give music students of a wide variety of ages, and abilities, an opportunity to learn about jazz improvisation during an intensive one-week program. Other professional musicians from around the Vancouver area are invited to join the festival. The result is a unique opportunity for students to play and learn side by side with instructors and professional musicians in small ensemble settings. The generosity of corporate sponsors and the support from the community has allowed the South Delta Jazz Festival to grow into a major community event for Delta.
