A slate of five community leaders has been recognized as this year's nominees for Citizen of the Year.
In alphabetical order, Norma Allison, Andrew Burton, Penny Jones, Brent Marshall and Roy Spooner share the 2014 recognition as people who "are going to join the ranks of some very well-known and well-respected community members," said Prince George Community Foundation president Ray Noonan.
The Community Foundation has been involved with the Citizen of the Year recognition program since 2000. The winner will be announced Oct. 17 at a gala celebration dinner at the Coast Inn of the North.
"For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Prince George Community Foundation, our motto is 'giving something back.' I can't think of a single phrase that would describe the nominees any better than that," Noonan said. "These are individuals who have truly given back to Prince George community and they really are the fabric of the community that makes this a great place to live and a great place to work."
Long-time SPCA volunteer Allison was instrumental in establishing an animal shelter in Prince George 10 years after she arrived from Britain in 1973.
"But animals are not the only thing that benefit from Norma's volunteer time," said Noonan. Allison was also involved in the Sandman Community Garage Sale, which raised $70,000 over its seven years for groups such as RCMP Victim's Services and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Allison said she was "very humbled" by the recognition.
The founder and artistic director of Street Spirits Theatre Company, Burton has made young people a priority for the past 15 years, said Noonan. Reading from a letter from a Street Spirits graduate, Burton was described as "a man of courage, humour and heart who has done more for the youth of Prince George over the years than probably anyone else."
It's nice to be recognized at home, said Burton, noting the theatre company has received a variety of accolades from outside of Prince George.
"My reaction [when he was called about the nomination] was 'Who is this really?'" said Burton. "There's a part of me that says, 'wait, I'm not done yet.'"
Jones has volunteered with the local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association for the past 12 years, providing more than 5,400 volunteer hours primarily with the Gift of Hope program, Ride Don't Hide and Mental Health Week. This includes taking time off from her job every December to ensure the Gift of Hope program - which provides Christmas presents to residents with mental illnesses every year - runs smoothly. Jones also volunteers with the Northern B.C. YMCA, the Relay for Life and the Elizabeth Fry Society.
It's work that is not accomplished alone, Jones said.
"I was a little shocked [by the nomination] because I feel I just kind of do what I do. And it's not me - it's me and family and the group of volunteers that we have," said Jones. "I don't want to be singled out but it's a whole group of people that make the things over the year happen."
Northland Group owner Marshall has set a new standard for how we see our community, according to the nomination material Noonan read out, with his personal commitment to the north goes far beyond handing over a cheque. "Brent Marshall is a doer as well a giver," Noonan read.
Marshal has been involved in projects and organizations such as Evening in Pink, Salvation Army, Kordyban Lodge, the Child Development Centre, Festival of Trees, the pediatric ward at UHNBC, Hospice House as well as raising awareness for the missing Madison Scott. Marshall is also the president of the Northern B.C. H.E.R.O.S. (Helicopter Emergency Rescue Operations Society), aiming to bring a medical air emergency service to Prince George.
Marshall called the nomination "one of the biggest honours you can receive."
"It's a wonderful feeling to see the community respond in that nature," he said, noting the honour to stand alongside the other nominees.
Spooner sits on a variety of boards and works with numerous organizations including Rotary, the Royal Canadian Legion, Barkerville Heritage Trust, the Chamber of Commerce, the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, the Aboriginal Business Development Centre, Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation and the Community Arts Council.
No stranger to the Citizen of the Year process, Spooner had a hand in nominating two previous winners and also helped to start the Citizen of the Year program in Quesnel.
But he didn't see his own nomination coming, which was presented to him as a 70th birthday present.
"I was absolutely staggered," he said. "It is not just a cliche - it is totally and absolutely thrilling. I've had the chance to sit down and read the application they put in and read the letters from 20 friends and I would not have believed - prior to that - that I had 20 people who thought that well of me."
Tickets for the Oct. 17 celebration dinner are available for $65 at the front desk of the Coast Inn of the North.
