Community Spirit

Nominations are now CLOSED for the 2023 Community Spirit Awards!

The City of Medicine Hat recognizes individuals, groups, teams, organizations and businesses who have made an extraordinary contribution to the community, and who by their dedication, activities and/or accomplishments have enhanced the quality of life in Medicine Hat.

There are seven categories in which residents can nominate deserving individuals within the 'Awards of Service' category and two awards within the ‘Awards of Excellence’ category. 

In addition, the Community Spirit Awards also includes an ongoing 'Awards of Achievement' category, reserved to commend individuals or groups in two categories: Arts/Culture and Sports/Recreation.

Awards of Service

Awards of Service are given to an individual, group, team, organization, or business who, outside of their core business, has made a major contribution to enhance the quality of life in Medicine Hat including:

  • Arts/Culture – developing or supporting cultural activities, including visual, or performing arts in a volunteer or professional capacity
  • Civic Pride – promoting our distinctive quality of life to our citizens and the world
  • Community Inclusion – supporting others in their ability to participate fully, contribute to one's community to the fullest extent possible, and to have value attached to one's participation and contribution
  • Compassion – demonstrating care and concern to promote the health and well-being of others
  • Environment – preserving, restoring or enhancing our natural environment
  • Sports/Recreation – developing or supporting recreational, physical, or leisure activities or organized competition in volunteer or professional capacity
  • Volunteerism – giving of one's time, talent or knowledge for the betterment of others in the community

Awards of Excellence

  • Heart of Medicine Hat - an individual, organization or business who outside of their core business, has made a major contribution to enhance the quality of life in Medicine Hat in a variety of areas for at least the past 15 years
  • Change Maker – an individual, organization or business who, outside of their core business, has made a major contribution to enhance the quality of life in Medicine Hat in the past five years through innovation, advocacy, or leadership through social, economic or urban development

Awards of Achievement

Along with new biennial award categories and nominations, the Community Spirit Awards now support an ongoing Award of Achievement category. These nominations remain open for applications and awards received throughout the year. 

  • Arts/Culture - an individual or team in an amateur or professional competition who has competed and placed first in a provincial championship or who has placed first, second or third in a national or international competition
  • Sports/Recreation - an individual or team in an amateur or professional competition who has competed and placed first in a provincial championship or who has placed first, second or third in a national or international competition.

 


Congratulations to the 2023 recipients

2023 recipients

 Robert Pape  Arts/Culture
 Willy and Cindy Taillon  Civic Pride
 Kristen Sept  Community Inclusion
 Kym Porter   Compassion
 George Kovalev Compassion 
 James and Coreen Sheardown  Sports/Recreation
 Brenda Taylor  Volunteerism
 Kendra Albrecht  Volunteerism
 Terry Noble  Volunteerism
 Donna Serr  Heart of Medicine Hat
 Karen Saffran  Change Maker

Nomination process 

In order for a nomination to be complete, please fill out the online form or submit a written nomination form and include the following documentation:

  • A completed Community Spirit Awards nomination form
  • A brief biography / resume of the nominee
  • A letter of support from the nominator
  • Any additional information that supports the application
  • A high-quality digital image of the nominee

The deadline to submit a nomination was Friday, June 16, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. 

Nomination Procedures (PDF)


Selection process

A Selection Committee, made up of representatives from the Community Vibrancy Board, recommends recipients to City Council from the nominations received.


Gala event and award presentation

The 2023 Community Spirit Awards will be presented at a ceremony on Wednesday, October 18 at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre.


 Past recipients

2021
Derek Whitson Community Inclusion
Helen Snortland  Compassion 
Medicine Hat Curling Club  Compassion
Gerry Ehlert  Environment 
Medicine Hat Interpretive Program  Environment 
Medicine Hat College Rattlers Athletics  Sports/Recreation 
Nicholas Samuelson  Volunteerism 
Prairie Gleaners Society  Volunteerism 
Martha Munz Gue  Heart of Medicine Hat 

 

2019

Evelyn Kleis Arts & Culture
Bill Wahl Arts & Culture
Medicine Hat Alberta Games Society Sports & Recreation
Allen Parker Sports & Recreation
SEAWA Environment
Uwe Krickhahn Environment
MHC Community Engagement Program Volunteerism
Gordon & Sherry Nott Volunteerism
Doug Heine Volunteerism
 Malcolm Sissons Civic Pride 
 South Country Co-op Heart of Medicine Hat 
2017
Arne Handley Cultural 
Gerald Freeman Humanitarian
John Slater  Environmental 
Stan Sakamoto Community Service 
2015
Ted Woolfrey Sports & Recreation
Eldon Wells Humanitarian
Sean Allen Environmental
Tara Chisholm Community Inclusion
Ina & Piet Visser Cultural
Prairie Gleaners Society Community Service
2013
Janice Dynes Humanitarian
Jan Scott Environmental
Jay Hitchen Community Inclusion
Marg Derbyshire Sports & Recreation
Kinette Club of Medicine Hat Community Service
2010
Laara Cassells Cultural
Diane MacNaughton Humanitarian
Corlaine Gardner Environmental
Celina Symmonds Community Inclusion
Wally Garrioch Community Service
2009
Erin Doyle Cultural
Catherine McCulloch Humanitarian
Charles Leong Sports & Recreation
Medicine Hat Community Housing Society Community Inclusion
Dr. Larry Henderson Community Service
2008
David John Carter Cultural
Elaine & Linda McDonald Humanitarian
Veronica Swan Environmental
David Hinds (posthumous) Community Inclusion
2007
Albert William "Billy" Jones Cultural
Michael O'Shea Environmental
Norma J. Smith Humanitarian
Peter Schori Sports & Recreation
Randy Stolz & Del Phillion Community Inclusion
2006
Evan Tonin Cultural
Rob Gardner Environmental
Evelyn Stall Humanitarian
YMCA - Living Fit Program Community Inclusion
2005
Lesley Clement Cultural
Philip Horch Environmental
Bill Byzuk Humanitarian
Michael Anctil Sports & Recreation
John John Council's Choice

2004
Les Manning Cultural
Muriel Rogers Humanitarian
Desmond Grant Sports & Recreation
Laurie Sharland Council's Choice
2003
Judy Dickie Cultural
Lyle Rebbeck Cultural
Martha Munz-Gue Environmental
Rita Bessant Humanitarian
Kathleen Farrell Humanitarian
Joseph Sisko Humanitarian
Larry Godin Sports & Recreation
Norman Smith Council's Choice
2002
Dana Shukster Cultural
Gail Frandsen Humanitarian
Tillie Ganden Humanitarian
Ed Horvath Sports & Recreation
Ron Zablocki Sports & Recreation
2001
Elaine Freedman Cultural
Robert Townsend Environmental
Hazel Brodin Humanitarian
Ken Sauer Humanitarian
Hardy Hilgendorf Sports & Recreation
Doris Shabatka Cultural & Humanitarian
2000
Elizabeth Nadeau Humanitarian
Harold Winkler Cultural
Merv Kopperud Environmental
Denise Palmer Sports & Recreation
1999
Garth Vallely Humanitarian
George Copeman Sports & Recreation
Anne Bernhardt Environmental
Les Stanford Humanitarian
1998
Doug Heine Humanitarian
Kathleen Pratt Humanitarian
Brian Rinke Sports & Recreation
Joanne Collier Cultural
Linda Canham Environmental
1997
Tom Dutton Humanitarian
John Paul Ignatius Humanitarian
Helene Tarnasky Sports & Recreation
Donna Maclean Cultural
Carol Porter Environmental
1996
Ethyl Currie Humanitarian
Irene Knutson Humanitarian
Leonard (Hymie) Hanft Cultural
Dawn Dickinson Environmental
Bill Page Sports & Recreation
1995
Don Reid Humanitarian
Julie Lauzier Cultural
Dennis Baresco Environmental
1994
William (Bill) Grady Humanitarian
Sandy Morrice Humanitarian
Louise Vernal Cultural
Ben Velner Environmental
Kenneth Schneider

Sports & Recreation

Gloria Bish Humanitarian
Sheila Church Humanitarian
Jo & Emil Schlenker Cultural
Kathy Kopperud Environmental
Linda Sohn Sports & Recreation
1993
Bob Ridley Sports & Recreation
1992
Vera Bracken Humanitarian
Vinko & Sulvia Luksa Humanitarian
Noreen Foster Humanitarian
John E. Baty Cultural
Harold Leitch Sports & Recreation
1991
Shirley Dupmeier Humanitarian
James H. Toole Sports & Recreation
Uwe Krickhahn Environmental
1990
Tay Hashizume Cultural
Harvey Berger Environmental
Dr. Clarence Smith Humanitarian
Rev. Allan Hunt Humanitarian
1989
Dale Lawrence Sports & Recreation
Jim Driscoll Humanitarian
James Marshall Cultural
Ann Slofstra Environmental
1988
Lovell McDonnell Sports & Recreation
Wayne Craven Cultural
Leah Slater Humanitarian
1987

Moose Ball Complex Committee:

Bob Lentz, Robert Ibach, Ron Larson, Mike Ibach, Louis Kopp, Frank Merkl

Sports & Recreation
Martha Huckle Cultural
Lorne Holden Humanitarian
1986
Steve Sadownik Jr. Sports & Recreation
Ronald Miller Cultural
John Gruber Sports & Recreation
1985
John Komanchuk Cultural
1984
Allan Jensen Cultural
Kathy Smeland Sports & Recreation
William Klasky Sports & Recreation
1983
Crystal Fried Sports & Recreation
Lucy Milne Professional Achievement
Jim White Sports & Recreation
1982
Dr. Hope Johnson Cultural
Jennifer White Sports & Recreation
1981
Murray Cluff Sports & Recreation
Jim Oldham Sports & Recreation
1979
Ronnie Burkett Cultural