Written by Christine Skorepa
Citizen staff
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Friday, 03 July 2009 |
2009 Prince George Community Foundation Citizens of the Year nominees- Left to right, Gerda Blok-Wilson, Ray Gerow, Bruce Sutherland, and Rene Trepanier. Missing is Ron Christian.Citizen photo by David Mah (David Mah, Photographer)
The nominees are Gerda Blok-Wilson, Ron Christian, Ray Gerow, Rene Trepanier, and Bruce Sutherland.
Blok-Wilson was born and raised in Prince George and has given considerable talent and energy for the betterment of the Prince George community. Blok-Wilson gives countless hours in training and mentoring youth in our community. She is the artistic director of the Bel Canto Choir, founded the Northern Voices Project Choir and collaborated on the development of a two-year Post Baccalaureate Music Education summer program at the University of Northern British Columbia.
Blok-Wilson has served on various committees within the School District, and is the director of Youth Musical Theatre productions in the School District and community.
Chef Ron Christian has been utilizing his culinary skills to benefit the community of Prince George since 2003. Christian volunteers numerous hours preparing holiday meals at St. Vincent de Paul for over 800 less fortunate residents of Prince George, facilitated food preparation for the BC Senior Games for 2,700 people in September 2008, facilitated Global Gourmet dinner fundraiser to purchase equipment for the College of New Caledonia, is a member of Community Partners Addressing Homelessness - assisted with preparing brown bag lunches for survival packs for the less fortunate. He has also worked at other organizations that have benefited from Chef Ron’s contributions, including the Child Development Centre, and P.G. Black History Society.
For more than a decade, Ray Gerow has worked tirelessly to increase the access to opportunity for First Nations. He serves on Council of British Columbia Aboriginal Economic Development, is a board member of Native Economic Development Advisory Board, a board member for United Native Nations, is vice-chair of College of New Caledonia’s Board of Governors, a board member of First Nations Advisory Board for Royal Roads University and Simon Fraser University and a board member of Northern Sports Centre.
Bruce Sutherland has been a long-time resident of Prince George actively involved in making a difference in our community. Sutherland is board chair of College of New Caledonia Board of Governors for the past three years,is board chair of Northern Development Initiative Trust for the last four years, and is past president of Prince George Chamber of Commerce. Sutherland was awarded the Prince George Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year for 2005 and 2007 and he has received a Community Leader award in August 2008 presented by the Prince George Free Press in partnership with Prince George MLAs. Sutherland also received the Forestry Innovation Award presented by Minister Mike de Jong in 2005.
Renee Trepanier has been actively involved in a number of volunteer activities in Prince George. He is a volunteer board member of the Shepherd’s Corner, is a committee member of Spirit of B.C., volunteers for British Columbia French women’s network and for the Provincial Francophone Crisis Line for women’s issues, actively assists immigrants, international students, and new residents with city’s orientation, translation and community services. Sutherland has received a Community Service Award from City of Prince George for outstanding volunteer contributions towards the development of the Prince George community and is also project leader for “Francophone Winter Festival”.
The winner will be announced at a special dinner set for October 16th at the Coast Inn of the North.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 03 July 2009 )
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