Winners

Randy James has been a Special Olympics coach for the past 31 years – since before many of his athletes were born.

His efforts with this organization are worthy of a Local Hero award.

Randy coaches floor hockey, softball, and track and field. He holds a National Coaching Certification in Athletics (Level 3) and Special Olympics (Level 2).

Randy has demonstrated a long-term commitment to working with Special Olympians. When he completed a master’s degree at Royal Roads University he chose to do a practicum and project with Special Olympics International in Washington, D.C. From this experience he brought knowledge and skills back to the local organization. In 2005 he was actively involved with bringing the BCSO Summer Games to the Comox Valley. He is usually seen with Special Olympics team members during the annual Torch Run (RCMP) or doing hot dog sales or car washes.

In 2015, during the City of Courtenay Centennial, Randy was recognized as a Citizen of the Century for his contributions to supporting individuals with special needs. Athletes with special needs are beginning to get acknowledgement because of the dedication of coaches like Randy.

In 2017, Randy was instrumental in the introduction of a 3-on-3 basketball tournament specially designed for student athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Of the many endorsements received during the nomination period, one filed by Special Olympian Max Porcher sums up Randy’s dedication and leadership qualities.

“Randy’s divine display of leadership goes much without notice. He not only works incredibly hard with the athletes he coaches, including myself, but also with Special O BC as a whole. He has persevered very strongly to making Special O the best it can be, even if it has meant dedicating several hundred hours to what he may call his pristine passion of a craft. I can sense that much heart goes into what Randy teaches and educates upon. I am sincerely grateful to be coached by him. He is the best and is worth voting for.”

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Carol Anne Parkinson has been a long-time contributor to the Comox Valley music world, particularly when it comes to singing.

The long-time Comox Valley resident has immersed herself in the local arts scene, and the entire community has benefited.

Not only is she a highly regarded vocal teacher, to singers of all ages, her name is synonymous with many of the choirs and musical organizations in the community.

 She was the founding director of the Nova Voce Choral Society which she directed from 1995-2008.

She has been the director of the Comox Valley Youth Music Centre’s festival choir, and is the part of the Celebration Singers team, as musical director for the men’s choir ‘Men of Notes.’

Celebration Singers director Jennifer Forsland said working with Carol Anne has been a great experience.

“Carol Anne is a community treasure and powerful member of our arts community,” said Forsland. “Her roots in the Comox Valley run deep as she has been the source of inspiration and quality music education for many years.  Her dedication to choral artistry and vocal music is outstanding. As founder of the Nova Voce Choral Society, she has established a legacy of excellence for singers of all ages who continue to enjoy a lifelong love of singing and community music. Collaborating with her in the Celebration Singers has been an absolute joy. She brings a high level of skill, enthusiasm, humour and grace as well as a collegial attitude that uplifts all around her. It is a privilege to work with and learn from her.  Congratulations, Carol Anne on this well-deserved recognition.”

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Shannon Colthorpe has been chosen as this year’s Animal Ambassador.

Shannon – affectionately known as The Cat Whisperer – is well known for her work with Kitty Cat PALS (Prevent A Litter Society), trapping feral or abandoned cats so they can be spayed or neutered, then adopted or if too feral, returned to the wild.

She has trapped dozens of cats, including assisting in finally capturing a feral who, it is estimated, had produced 80 to 90 kittens.

Shannon also fosters litters of kittens for the SPCA, socializing them so they are loving and will be easily adopted. Because of her unselfish determination to make life better for animals, the Courtenay Comox area is not over run with unwanted cats.

And it’s not only cats – she has also taken it upon herself to volunteer to walk dogs that are not able to get out for walks because their owners are older and not very mobile. She does this regularly because she cares for the animals and wants them to be living their best life.

 Heroes are not the celebrities who use their celebrity to promote various causes, but often just themselves. They are the people who quietly just do the work. Like Shannon!

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Dave Mellin has called the Comox Valley home for the past 57 years and has a long history of work in the community to prove it.
In fact, as soon as you drive into the Valley on the Inland Island Highway, you are greeted by the ‘Welcome to the Comox Valley’ sign – a project which he worked on for 14 months with Comox Valley Economic Development.
Though his complete list of accomplishments would be too long for this bio, he has volunteered with many organizations such as Search and Rescue, the Mount Washington Ski Patrol and the Forbidden Plateau Reclamation Society.
From a young age, Dave had a passion for aviation, though his goal of joining the airforce were squashed early on.
“I got told on the morning of my 21st birthday I was too old to join the miltary to become a pilot,” he said with a laugh. But 49 years later, that hasn’t stopped him from getting involved with the aviation industry and even the military.
He has sat on a number of volunteer boards including the Courtenay Airpark Association, the Comox Valley Airport Commission and the Comox Air Force Museum. He even helped establish floatplane service between Comox and Vancouver, and was the lead on getting the Snowbird painted and installed on a pedestal at the Comox Valley Visitor Centre. He was also named an Honorary Colonel with the 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron with 19 Wing CFB Comox.
Habitat for Humanity is another organization where he dedicates his time and has been involved in three builds to date.
“To see the families that got a hand up to get started on their first home – that’s a pretty neat feeling to know that you had a small part to do with that,” he said.

However, the work that has had the largest impact on him was his 42 years as an RCMP Auxiliary.
He once saved a woman’s life using CPR during a dark period of her life.
“This lady went on and turned her life around and became an important part of our community,” he said.

And as for why he continues to volunteer, Dave just says he wants to give back to the place he calls home.
“The Comox Valley is a great place to live and I made a living here through my whole working career. I believe one should give back to their community.

Eleanor Phillips encompasses all the characteristics that make for a perfect Seniors Champion recipient.

The 90-year-old has the drive and enthusiasm that make her the envy of people half her age.

Eleanor first came to the Comox Valley very early on in her teaching career.

“I’m from Vancouver originally. I taught for four years in Alert Bay, and two years in Campbell River, before coming to the Valley,” she said.

She has been retired from teaching for 25 years, but continues to instruct and interact with students on a regular basis.

Eleanor is well-known in the Comox Valley as a speech arts instructor, having left her mark on hundreds of residents in or community, be they budding thespians, or immigrants working to master the English language.

She has been a speech coach for many of the local theatre production associations, including Rainbow Youth Theatre and the Comox Valley Youth Music Centre.

Her reason for continuing to teach is simple: “I love it. I love working with the children, and it keeps me going. It gives me something to get up for, in the morning.”

Although her instruction is limited to speech arts these days, she said she was also a phys ed instructor, “back in the day. I worked with the gym clubs.”

Eleanor said watching the children develop is what makes her speech arts instruction worthwhile.

“That’s it, that’s all. Just seeing their growth and their ability to communicate. It’s so satisfying.”

Eleanor said she is no longer active with the theatre groups per se – “I don’t drive anymore, but I was active with the groups until I gave up my driving licence” – but she still teaches on a one-on-one basis, in her home.

And she still gets out to see the local theatre productions.

“Of course. I love the theatre. It’s been my pleasure to work with some really great people. All of the Rainbow Youth plays, and working with (local director) Lori Mazey – she’s just amazing.”

Eleanor still lives at home, and has seven children, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Mel Springall, a volunteer for Habitat For Humanity Vancouver Island North, has helped to expand and refine the Comox Valley ReStore’s metal recycling program.

“It is a process that is constantly being adjusted to ensure less material goes to the landfill and more money is generated for the Habitat home builds,” Springall said. “The people who bring the material to the ReStore rather than the dump are the ones looking out for the environment.” 

Since 2010, the metal recycling program, locally and in Campbell River, has raised more than $500,000 — enough money to build four Habitat homes — and diverted about five million pounds of metal from the landfill.

“There are many organizations and people doing great things for the environment in the Valley, and I am flattered to be considered in this group,” Springall said. “I have met and worked with many people from school students to senior citizens. We all appreciate the chance to work together to help the community. I am fortunate to have worked with them.” 

Springall retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in 2005, and started volunteering with Habitat the following year.

“I was drawn to it because it is a good cause, but also because it provides a service to the community through the ReStore and reuses/recycles material.”  

Several times a week, Springall works to ensure staff and volunteers at the Comox Valley ReStore are doing what’s needed to maximize money raised through metal recycling efforts. This has meant creating processes for identifying and sorting metals, and instigating training programs through a partnership with ABC Recycling in Campbell River.
Springall also raises money for the Girl Guides by collecting pop cans that can be returned to the bottle depot for cash. This started as a favour to his neighbour who was a Girl Guide leader. 

“I mentioned what I was doing to the Habitat workers and they immediately spread the word. Everyone’s generous support has helped the local Courtenay group supplement their income, allowing them to visit such places as the Vancouver Aquarium, Science World and the Victoria Museum.” 

 

It was not the arts and culture scene that drew Kate Brown from Vancouver to the Comox Valley in 2010, but she fits right into the Valley’s rich cultural community.

“It (the local arts scene) was an unexpected bonus, but it really amazed me once I got here.”

Kate immersed herself into the local scene immediately upon arrival, producing and hosting “Arts Beat with Kate,” on the local Shaw television channel.

“It was a monthly program surrounding the arts in the Comox Valley,” she said. “It was a great way to find out more about all the different artists in the Valley. Many times I would approach (people) not knowing the full story but by getting them to open up, you learn an awful lot more about the Valley.”

Kate is the founder, president and hostess of the Artsphere Comox Valley Society – a group of about 40 members, including not only painters, but also photographers, jewellers, writers, glass artists and fabric artists.

The group evolved from the Comox Valley Newcomers Club roughly eight yeas ago.

“I started an art club within the Newcomers and we grew very quickly, to the point that we became an independent group,” explained Kate. “we do exhibits, workshops and art activities, all the while giving back to the community for the past eight years.”

Kate is a constant promoter of the arts in the community, and works tirelessly, hanging art displays in restaurants and coffee shops throughout the Valley.

She said her reason for promoting art is to get the message out that anyone can be creative.

“That’s the main purpose is to encourage people who are a bit shy from doing art that yes, you can. Just getting people to try something out of their comfort zone, and then when they see that they can do it, they get hooked.”

When she is not promoting others, she is busy either producing her own original pieces, or illustrating children’s books, including the Marlet Ashley series, Revelry on the Estuary.

She said she and Marlet are now working on a “comic book for adults, about a trip of two crumblies, to Paris.”

Individuals and organizations comprising the Comox Valley Early Years Collaborative are committed to supporting young families, and improving the life chances of children.

Formed in 2015, the network includes Comox Valley Aboriginal Head Start, CV Family Services, Island Health, School District 71, local governments and the Wachiay Friendship Society, among others.

“Our activities are focused on making the Comox Valley the best place possible to raise children,” said Joanne Schroeder, executive director of the CV Child Development Association. “The collaborative recognizes that if we want to make a difference for children and families, we need to work together. Often, early childhood services are fragmented and hard for families to access.”

She said the collaborative wants to change this by ensuring “all children have access to the kinds of support that will help them thrive.”

SD71 hosts Welcome to Kindergarten events for new families. The recent Valley Child Family Resource Fair showcased the strength of the CVEYC, offering families a chance to learn about available resources.

Another project, dubbed 25 x 25, aims to reduce vulnerability rates for children entering kindergarten to 25 per cent by 2025. Statistics indicate the Valley’s overall vulnerability rate, at 40 per cent, was above the provincial average — meaning 40 per cent of children are facing some challenges as they enter kindergarten.

“Vulnerability exists in all areas of our community, although there is more disparity between neighbourhoods in the Comox Valley than in most communities in the province and the percentage of low income families here is greater than the provincial level,” Schroeder said.

In 2016, she notes, 22 per cent of local children under six were living in poverty.

“Our community is growing, with many families moving here to escape the high cost of living in B.C’s metropolitan areas. This has challenged our existing infrastructure, creating high demand for affordable housing, child care and transportation.”

In response to the need for more child care spaces, the collaborative has encouraged local governments to apply for funding to create a Valley-wide child care plan.

While his volunteerism may have started as a school requirement, Jack Plant’s continued dedication to his community has far exceeded school expectations.
“Although I have surpassed the number of hours I need to graduate, I still volunteer,” said Jack. “Volunteering keeps me involved in the community. It keeps me busy in a way that feels better than working because it’s intrinsically rewarding.”
Jack has selflessly donated his time, talent and sometimes his own savings to help people and causes in the Comox Valley that matter to him.
A guitar player, Jack has busked downtown to raise money for the SPCA, played at Relay for Life – as well as donated his own money and participated in the relay – and brings his instrument to the Views to put on shows for the seniors. While he’s there, he also takes time to play games with the residents.
Jack is currently a Grade 11 student participating in the Explore Program at G.P. Vanier Secondary School, an integrated outdoor education program that teaches leadership, learning and outdoor skills. In the fall, he will return to Mark R. Isfeld to complete his final year of high school.
Jack is a valuable member of the school community as well, having volunteered with the school’s International Program, both taking photos and helping as an english speaker and teacher’s aid.
A supportive friend, Jack shaved his head and raised money for a classmate who had leukemia.
At home, he even takes time to help his younger brother and his friends with their homework.
Not looking for any recognition or reward, Jack is happy to work behind the scenes to benefit the people and organizations in his community.
“I just like helping people,” he said.

After retiring from his teaching career, Ken Manning still wears many hats in the community.
Four years ago, Ken started volunteering on his first Habitat for Humanity build and now, is back at their construction site. For the past 15 months, he has been putting in 40 hours of labour each week to get the current build finished. In 2018 alone, he volunteered over 1,300 hours on the construction site.
Though he puts in long, hard days, seeing the families move in at the end of the project makes it all worth it.
He describes watching a single mom and her young son move out of their one bedroom basement suite into a Habitat home. The mom had a mortgage she could afford and the son got to have a pet dog.
“It was just a wonderful feeling to see a family get a great helping hand up and get established in their own home, rather than living in a single one room basement suite,” he said.
But if Ken drops his tools and makes a bee-line to his truck, other crew members know he is off to an accident scene or fire as a volunteer firefighter.
Since 2011, Ken has been a consistent face at emergencies and is the only member of the Comox Valley Fire Department to have achieved 100 per cent call attendance in a single year.
“At the firehall, we see people who are having the worst day of their life. It’s a helping profession,” he said. “It’s just helping people in a crisis and trying to make their day a little bit better.”
For the past two summers, Ken has also volunteered to head to the BC interior to help fight forest fires.
Even Sundays are not a day of rest for Ken. His third volunteer commitment is with St. George’s United Church. For three years, Ken has been a part of the Ministry and Personnel Committee, leading small groups and adult education sessions. He says working with the church has exposed him to different viewpoints.
“It’s important to be a good listener and you discover that there are many different points of view on any given topic,” he said.
Ken says he has always preferred team sports over individual sports and loves working with others towards a common goal.