John and Nancy Katerenchuk were honoured to share the Individual Volunteer Award at the Town of Osoyoos Volunteer Appreciation Awards banquet this past Saturday. They are seen standing on either side of Mayor Sue McKortoff. Also on hand for the ceremony were (from left) town councillors Carol Youngberg, Mike Campol and Jim King (far right). (Keith Lacey photo)
It was a weekend John and Nancy Katerenchuk won’t soon forget.
Only hours after Nancy found out that she had been selected by the Canadian Curling Society as British Columbia’s Volunteer of the Year, she and her husband were named the winners of the Outstanding Individual Volunteer Award during the annual Osoyoos Volunteer Appreciation Awards, held Saturday afternoon at the Sonora Community Centre.
“What an amazing weekend,” said Nancy, who was near tears after she and her husband, who will be celebrating 40 years of marriage this fall. “The nomination from the curling association came right out of the blue and now to win this special award is more than I could ever have imagined.
“Almost all of the wonderful people we’ve met in Osoyoos since moving here eight years ago for retirement is because of our involvement of volunteers, so this really means a lot to us.”
John echoed the same sentiments.
“I’m totally shocked and surprised by this,” he said. “We had no idea and really didn’t expect this at all. We’ve found out a great group of people from the curling club nominated us and we just can’t thank them enough.
“This is a very special honour and one we’re not going to forget for a very long time.”
When town councillor Jim King announced the Katerenchuk’s had been named this year’s recipients, the large gathering of 160 community volunteers broke out into loud applause.
For the past several years, Nancy has been involved in a number of organizations in town, including the Osoyoos Festival Society, Osoyoos International Curling Club, Osoyoos United Church Thrift Store, last year’s inaugural Desert Live Music Festival and the Pioneer Walkway committee.
With the festival society, she was the parade co-ordinator for the huge Canada Day parade and served as board president for the past five years.
For the past five years, Nancy has also served as secretary of the local curling club and has helped organize numerous annual events at the club.
She has been responsible for welcoming new members, taking registrations each year and applying for grants from various levels of government which has resulted in dramatic upgrades to the facility.
She and her husband co-ordinate the daytime curling league and help organize fundraising draws for the curling club.
They also worked hard to help the organizing committee celebrate the club’s 60th anniversary last year.
John also generously volunteers his time to a variety of events and organizations in Osoyoos. He is current president of the curling club as well as treasurer.
During his eight years with the curling club, he has created an executive board which has improved the building and capital assets as well as increasing membership numbers.
He also co-ordinates and runs the Osoyoos Senior Slo-Pitch league that runs twice a week in the spring and summer and he’s a past member of the Osoyoos Recreation Commission, which provides input surrounding parks and recreation in Osoyoos.
“Nancy and John not only work together to support one another, but they work together to contribute so much to make Osoyoos a better community,” said King.
Other nominees included current town councillor Carol Youngberg; Osoyoos Secondary School teacher Peter Gajda; Town of Osoyoos employee Frank Zandvliet, who has helped organize the Osoyoos Canada Day Fireworks celebration for almost 20 years; Patricia Monahan, Cathie Baskett, a founder of the Osoyoos Royalty Program; Hazel Tinsley; Barb Steel; Mary Hearne; and Val Paolera, one of the founders of the Osoyoos Seniors Centre.
The winner of the Best Volunteer Project was awarded to the Desert Park Exhibition Society.
The society has helped upgrade and restore the facilities at the Desert Park horse racing facility and helped bring horse racing back to Osoyoos each of the past two summers after being absent for almost 15 years.
Exhibition Society president Mike Valliere accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
Other nominees included the Osoyoos Soroptomists Rocking Horse Raffle committee, Rotary Club of Osoyoos for its support of the Osoyoos Splash Park and Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre’s Better at Home program, which is designed to assist local seniors and allow them to live in the comfort of their own home.
The Outstanding Community Group Award was presented to the Rotary Club of Osoyoos.
Town councillor Carol Youngberg said the local Rotary Club has been performing outstanding community work for many years.
Some of the programs they support are presenting local bursaries to graduating students at Osoyoos Secondary School, raising significant funds for the opening of the Osoyoos Splash Park, sponsoring community events like Lobster on the Beach and running the beer gardens at Osoyoos Coyotes home games and the popular Cactus Jalopies Show and Shine event in Gyro Park each summer.
Other nominees for this award include the Desert Park Exhibition Society, Osoyoos Choosing Wellness, Osoyoos Elks Lodge 436, Lake Osoyoos Sailing Club, Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre’s Better at Home Program, Pioneer Walkway Committee, Kiwanis Club of Osoyoos, Osoyoos Breakfast Program and the Osoyoos United Church Thrift Store.
Mayor Sue McKortoff praised each and every volunteer in Osoyoos for doing their part to help others and assist their community.
“Our community, our province and our country would not be the same without you and your hard work,” she said.
Volunteer representatives from three dozen local organizations were handed certificates of merit for their contributions to the community by McKortoff and town councillors.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
The Outstanding Community Group Award was presented to the Rotary Club of Osoyoos by town councillor Carol Youngberg (right). From left are Rotarians Vaughn Denis, Cheryle King, Brian Rawlings and President Judy Miller-Bennett. (Keith Lacey photo)
Mike Valliere, president of the Desert Park Exhibition Society (left), accepts the award for Best Volunteer Project from town councillor Mike Campol. (Keith Lacey photo)
