The City of Medicine Hat recognizes select 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.
Formerly the Civic Recognition Awards, the program was transformed in 2019 and renamed Community Spirit Awards to recognize and celebrate the amazing individual, groups, teams, and businesses in our community. The awards take place every two years.
Awards of Service
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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
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Awards of Excellence
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- 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
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Awards of Achievement
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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.
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Congratulations to our 2021 recipients
Community Inclusion
Compassion
- Helen Snortland
- Medicine Hat Curling Club
Environment
- Gerry Ehlert
- Medicine Hat Interpretive Program
Sports/Recreation
- Medicine Hat College Rattlers Athletics
Volunteerism
- Nicholas Samuelson
- Prairie Gleaners Society
Heart of Medicine Hat
Nomination process
We are no longer accepting applications for the 2021 Community Spirit Awards. Stay tuned for details about how to submit your application to the 2023 Community Spirit Awards.
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 2021 Community Spirit Awards Gala will be held at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre on Thursday, May 19 at 7:00 pm.
The public is welcome to attend.
Past recipients
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2019 |
Evelyn Kleis
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Arts & Culture
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Bill Wahl
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Arts & Culture
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Medicine Hat Alberta Games Society
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Sports & Recreation
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Allen Parker
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Sports & Recreation
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SEAWA
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Environment
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Uwe Krickhahn
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Environment
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MHC Community Engagement Program
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Volunteerism
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Gordon & Sherry Nott
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Volunteerism
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Doug Heine
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Volunteerism
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Malcolm Sissons
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Civic Pride
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South Country Co-op
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Heart of Medicine Hat
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2017 |
Arne Handley
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Cultural
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Gerald Freeman
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Humanitarian
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John Slater
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Environmental
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Stan Sakamoto
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Community Service
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2015 |
Ted Woolfrey
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Sports and Recreation
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Eldon Wells
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Humanitarian
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Sean Allen
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Environmental
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Tara Chisholm
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Community Inclusion
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Ina and Piet Visser
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Cultural
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Prairie Gleaners Society
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Community Service
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2013 |
Janice Dynes
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Humanitarian
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Jan Scott
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Environmental
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Jay Hitchen
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Community Inclusion
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Marg Derbyshire
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Sports & Recreation
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Kinette Club of Medicine Hat
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Community Service
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2010 |
Laara Cassells
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Cultural
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Diane MacNaughton
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Humanitarian
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Corlaine Gardner
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Environmental
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Celina Symmonds
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Community Inclusion
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Wally Garrioch
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Community Service
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2009 |
Erin Doyle
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Cultural
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Catherine McCulloch
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Humanitarian
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Charles Leong
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Sports & Recreation
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Medicine Hat Community Housing Society
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Community Inclusion
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Dr. Larry Henderson
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Community Service
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2008 |
David John Carter
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Cultural
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Elaine & Linda McDonald
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Humanitarian
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Veronica Swan
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Environmental
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David Hinds (posthumous)
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Community Inclusion
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2007 |
Albert William “Billy” Jones
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Cultural
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Michael O'Shea
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Environmental
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Norma J. Smith
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Humanitarian
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Peter Schori
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Sports & Recreation
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Randy Stolz& Del Phillion
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Community Inclusion
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2006 |
Evan Tonin
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Cultural
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Rob Gardner
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Environmental
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Evelyn Stall
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Humanitarian
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YMCA – Living Fit Program
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Community Inclusion
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2005 |
Lesley Clement
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Cultural
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Philip Horch
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Environmental
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Bill Byzuk
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Humanitarian
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Michael Anctil
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Sports/Recreation
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John John
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Council's Choice
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2004 |
Les Manning
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Cultural
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Muriel Rogers
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Humanitarian
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Desmond Grant
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Sports/Recreation
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Laurie Sharland
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Council's Choice
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2003 |
Judy Dickie
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Cultural
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Lyle Rebbeck
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Cultural
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Martha Munz-Gue
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Environmental
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Rita Bessant
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Humanitarian
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Kathleen Farrell
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Humanitarian
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Joseph Sisko
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Humanitarian
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Larry Godin
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Sports/Recreational
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Norman Smith
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Council's Choice
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2002 |
Dana Shukster
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Cultural
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Gail Frandsen
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Humanitarian
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Tillie Ganden
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Humanitarian
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Ed Horvath
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Sports/Recreation
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Ron Zablocki
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Sports/Recreation
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2001 |
Elaine Freedman
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Cultural
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Robert Townsend
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Environmental
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Hazel Brodin
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Humanitarian
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Ken Sauer
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Humanitarian
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Hardy Hilgendorf
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Sports/Recreation
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Doris Shabatka
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Cultural/Humanitarian
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2000 |
Elizabeth Nadeau
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Humanitarian
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Harold Winkler
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Cultural
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Merv Kopperud
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Environmental
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Denise Palmer
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Sports/Recreation
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1999 |
Garth Vallely
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Humanitarian
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George Copeman
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Sports/Recreation
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Anne Bernhardt
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Environmental
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Les Stanford
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Humanitarian
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1998 |
Doug Heine
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Humanitarian
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Kathleen Pratt
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Humanitarian
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Brian Rinke
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Sports/Recreation
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Joanne Collier
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Cultural
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Linda Canham
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Environmental
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1997 |
Tom Dutton
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Humanitarian
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John Paul Ignatius
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Humanitarian
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Helene Tarnasky
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Sports/Recreational
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Donna Maclean
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Cultural
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Carol Porter
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Environmental
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1996 |
Ethyl Currie
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Humanitarian
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Irene Knutson
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Humanitarian
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Leonard (Hymie) Hanft
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Cultural
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Dawn Dickinson
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Environmental
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Bill Page
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Sports/Recreational
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1995 |
Don Reid
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Humanitarian
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Julie Lauzier
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Cultural
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Dennis Baresco
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Environmental
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1994 |
William (Bill) Grady
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Humanitarian
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Sandy Morrice
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Humanitarian
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Louise Vernal
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Cultural
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Ben Velner
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Environmental
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Kenneth Schneider
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Sports/Recreation
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Gloria Bish
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Humanitarian
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Sheila Church
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Humanitarian
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Jo & Emil Schlenker
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Cultural
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Kathy Kopperud
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Environmental
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Linda Sohn
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Sports/Recreation
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1993 |
Bob Ridley
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Sports/Recreation
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1992 |
Vera Bracken
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Humanitarian
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Vinko & Sulvia Luksa
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Humanitarian
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Noreen Foster
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Humanitarian
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John E. Baty
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Cultural
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Harold Leitch
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Sports/Recreation
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1991 |
Shirley Dupmeier
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Humanitarian
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James H. Toole
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Sports/Recreation
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Uwe Krickhahn
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Environmental
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1990 |
Tay Hashizume
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Cultural
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Harvey Berger
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Environmental
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Dr. Clarence Smith
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Humanitarian
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Rev. Allan Hunt
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Humanitarian
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1989 |
Dale Lawrence
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Sports/Recreation
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Jim Driscoll
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Humanitarian
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James Marshall
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Cultural
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Ann Slofstra
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Environmental
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1988 |
Lovell McDonnell
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Sports/Recreation
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Wayne Craven
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Cultural
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Leah Slater
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Humanitarian
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1987 |
Moose Ball Complex Committee
Bob Lentz, Robert Ibach, Ron Larson,Mike Ibach, Louis Kopp,
Frank Merkl
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Sports/Recreation
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Martha Huckle
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Cultural
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Lorne Holden
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Humanitarian
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1986 |
Steve Sadownik, Jr.
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Sports/Recreation
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Ronald Miller
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Cultural
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John Gruber
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Sports/Recreation
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1985 |
John Komanchuk
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Cultural
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1984 |
Allan Jensen
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Cultural
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Kathy Smeland
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Sports/Recreation
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William Klasky
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Sports/Recreation
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1983 |
Crystal Fried
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Sports/Recreation
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Lucy Milne
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Professional Achievement
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Jim White
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Sports/Recreation
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1982 |
Dr. Hope Johnson
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Cultural
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Jennifer White
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Sports/Recreation
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1981 |
Murray Cluff
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Sports/Recreation
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Jim Oldham
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Sports/Recreation
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1979 |
Ronnie Burkett
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Cultural
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