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. 

The Heart of Medicine Hat Award of Excellence recognizes someone who, outside of their core work, has made a lasting contribution to the community for at least 15 years. This year’s recipient, LaVerne Noble, exemplifies what it means to be civic-minded and community-focused.

After a 39-year career in education, LaVerne moved to Medicine Hat and became deeply involved with the senior community through the Veiner Centre’s Duplicate Bridge Club. Noticing declining membership, she began teaching beginner bridge classes in 2007, introducing hundreds of people, including youth, to the game. As Club President for 11 years, she has modernized operations, mentored new directors, organized tournaments, and even brought bridge online during COVID-19 to keep members connected.

Beyond bridge, LaVerne co-chaired the Veiner Centre’s rebuilding after the 2013 flood, helping shape it into a welcoming, accessible space for seniors. Her long service on the City’s Senior Citizens Advisory Committee and Social Development Advisory Board has brought seniors’ issues, such as elder abuse and aging-in-place, to the forefront. She continues this advocacy today through the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee Foundation, strengthening governance and funding supports for older adults.

LaVerne also champions innovative initiatives like Oasis, a neighbourhood-based program helping seniors remain in their homes longer. Her leadership, generosity, and belief that “the business of life is a lot easier if we do it with other people” have inspired countless others.

The Medicine Hat Skateboard Association (MHSA), led by president Sam Larsen, received the Change Maker Award of Excellence for their outstanding contributions to enhancing quality of life in Medicine Hat through innovation, advocacy, and leadership.

Since its founding in 2004, MHSA has grown from a group advocating for skateboarding infrastructure into a dynamic organization driving social, economic, and urban transformation. Over the past five years, the group has led humanitarian outreach, volunteerism, infrastructure development, and inclusive programming that embody the spirit of the Change Maker Award.

In partnership with the Root Cellar, MHSA launched the End Period Poverty campaign, raising over $6,000 in 2022 and $18,000 in 2023 to address a critical equity need. The association co-hosts the Canada Day Festival at Kin Coulee Park, now drawing up to 10,000 attendees annually and celebrating multiculturalism through food, music, and community connection.

Internationally, MHSA has organized humanitarian trips to Mexico and Nigeria, engaging youth in building homes, renovating schools, and providing clean water. Locally, their members lead community cleanups, school presentations, and fundraisers for organizations such as the Women’s Shelter and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

MHSA also drives economic and urban development through initiatives like Beat the Heat, Canada’s largest amateur skateboard competition, which promotes gender equity in sport and boosts national visibility for Medicine Hat. The group raised $650,000 to expand the Kinsmen Skate Plaza and continues to collaborate on new skate spots and the Bay 3 indoor park, offering youth programs and volunteer opportunities year-round.

In 2022, MHSA’s advocacy helped repeal Medicine Hat’s downtown skateboarding ban—a powerful symbol of the city’s growth and the association’s evolving role as a civic leader.

Through Sam Larsen’s leadership, the Medicine Hat Skateboard Association has redefined community engagement, empowering youth to lead with purpose, creativity, and compassion. Their work continues to shape Medicine Hat’s identity as an inclusive, active, and forward-thinking community.

Bev Duke received the Award of Service for Arts and Culture. For decades, Bev has been a driving force in Medicine Hat’s arts community, leading the Hat Art Club, founding the Calligraphy Guild, opening art classes to non-members, and even moving classes online during COVID-19 so creativity could continue. She has supported other local clubs, co-led popular events like Art in the Park and Craft Co-Mingle, and is a welcoming presence at exhibitions, teaching and inspiring fellow artists.

Her nominator calls her “one in a million,” and Bev herself says:
"It takes a village of dreamers and doers.”

Bev’s leadership and tireless volunteerism have strengthened the arts community and enriched the cultural life of Medicine Hat. She is a true ambassador for the city’s arts and culture

Davie’s contributions over the years have been both impactful and transformative. He has shown tireless dedication to fostering community partnerships, cultural understanding, and inclusivity, leaving an indelible mark on the people and organizations he works with.

His extensive expertise in community engagement and cultural competency is evident through roles with the Medicine Hat Skateboard Association, as an Indigenous Inclusion Consultant with White Horse Rider, and as Cultural Coordinator with the Miywasin Friendship Centre. Davie consistently drives innovative initiatives that bridge social gaps and promote inclusion.

Whether organizing workshops, leading local campaigns, or working with Indigenous groups and elders, he strengthens connections and understanding within the community. His commitment to supporting vulnerable populations is particularly notable—facilitating collaboration between non-profits, offering support to youth in crisis, and ensuring no one is left behind.

“What drives me … it’s belonging, this is what it all comes down to, the volunteerism, the projects, late nights with struggling youth, they all come from this deep desire to be a part of something good … I can say that with all my heart, there’s no place I’d rather belong and no place as full of the potential of doing good than here in Medicine Hat.”

Davie’s leadership of the End Period Poverty campaign, in partnership with the Root Cellar, more than doubled donations from the previous year. He has also led Canada Day celebrations, youth retreats, and humanitarian trips to Mexico, and has made the Medicine Hat Skateboard Association a place where youth and adults can find belonging.

Davie’s compassion, advocacy, and dedication make him a vital part of Medicine Hat, creating a more inclusive and welcoming community.

After exceptional careers, Julie and Dan found new purpose in retirement through their shared passion for cycling and community. Julie worked as a registered dietitian and quality improvement professional with Alberta Health Services, while Dan was a dual-ticketed tradesman in the electrical and instrumentation field. Deeply affected by the isolation seniors faced during COVID-19, they brought Cycling Without Age to Medicine Hat, an international movement that gives seniors “the right to feel the wind in their hair” and reconnect with their city and nature by trishaw.

As avid cyclists who shared the same vision, Julie and Dan worked together to bring the program to life. They raised over $50,000, purchased four trishaws, recruited and trained more than 30 volunteer pilots, and partnered with several seniors’ residences to make it happen. Dan led the technical work on e-bikes, repairs, and pilot training, while Julie managed coordination, logistics, and partnerships.

Today, Cycling Without Age operates at four facilities including the Cypress View Foundation, the Wellington, Medicine Hat Care Community, and Meadow Ridge offering seniors joy, inclusion, and fuller participation in life, thanks to Julie and Dan’s shared dedication and community spirit.

Shae brings compassion and creativity to everything she does. As a full-time Grade 2 teacher at Ross Glen School, she creates a classroom environment rooted in kindness, patience, and care, helping young learners grow both academically and personally. Beyond the classroom, Shae continues to make a difference through her photography business, Creativity in Action, which she has transformed into a vehicle for community giving.

Through her annual Gifts for Pictures events, Shae has raised nearly $13,000 for the Santa Claus Fund over the past three years, helping ensure that children and families experience the joy of the holiday season. In 2025, she expanded her efforts with two more fundraisers: Pets & Portraits for APARC and Black & White Photos in support of the Root Cellar’s brown bag lunch program, donating 100% of the proceeds to each cause.

Shae gives not for recognition, but because caring for others comes naturally to her. Her generosity and infectious enthusiasm bring people together and make a lasting impact on the community. Medicine Hat is a kinder, more connected place thanks to Shae’s heart, creativity, and spirit of service.

Paul exemplifies what it means to serve others. His energy, dedication, and belief in community service shine through in everything he does, both personally and professionally. As a driving force behind HALO Air Ambulance, Paul has strengthened operations, expanded community involvement, and secured vital funding to ensure the organization’s lifesaving work continues across Southern Alberta. His advocacy has amplified HALO’s voice at every level of government, ensuring that critical resources remain available for those who need them most.

Beyond HALO, Paul has shown an unwavering commitment to education, safety, and teamwork. He has developed and led annual training sessions for First Responders, volunteered with the Canadian Ski Patrol for 15 years, and dedicated a decade to Search and Rescue, earning an Award of Merit for his service. His leadership also extends to the court, having coached U18 volleyball and served as an assistant coach with Medicine Hat College, where he received a Lifetime Appreciation Award.

Now chair of the Medicine Hat Police Commission, Paul continues to exemplify compassion through action. His lifelong dedication to helping others and strengthening community systems makes him a truly deserving recipient of the Award of Service for Compassion.

Paul’s lifelong dedication to helping others and strengthening community systems makes him a truly deserving recipient of the Award of Service for Compassion. As he shared in his remarks, “This award means the world to me, because Medicine Hat has given me so much and the opportunity to just make a little bit of a difference means everything. Medicine Hat has given me a career that I dream about and love every single day. Medicine Hat has given me friends that I care deeply about and Medicine Hat has given me my fiancée who I love dearly.”

Marilyn Kusler embodies dedication, knowledge, and a deep love for the environment. As president of the Medicine Hat Horticultural Association and a long-standing representative for the Alberta Horticultural Association, she has spent countless hours nurturing both plants and people in our community. With a diploma in Horticulture from Olds College and decades of hands-on experience, Marilyn freely shares her expertise, whether helping a neighbor identify a plant, offering advice on soil care, or lending a hand wherever it’s needed.

Each year, Marilyn is the driving force behind the Horticultural Association’s annual plant sale, supplying the majority of the plants herself and spending countless hours potting, labeling, and loading them. Proceeds from these sales have funded raised beds for community gardens and flowers for St. Joseph’s Home, among many other local beautification projects. As head gardener at the Duggan House Heritage Garden and former caretaker of the Food Bank Community Garden, her impact is seen and felt across Medicine Hat.

Reflecting on her work, Marilyn shared, “This is what the award is all about—it’s the sharing of our passions, it’s the sharing of our knowledge. It’s spreading the word to everyone about taking care of our soils. Taking care of the soil leads to healthy plants, healthy insect life, healthy birds, healthy animals, and a healthier planet for us all to live in.”

Through her tireless volunteerism and commitment to sustainability, Marilyn has helped cultivate not only gardens but also a stronger, greener community.

Glen’s dedication to swimming and youth development in Medicine Hat is truly exceptional. As a founder and president of the Manta Rays Summer Swim Club, he created opportunities for kids who are not yet ready for full-time competitive swimming or who participate in winter sports. Each summer, the club welcomes 60 to 80 young athletes, providing a fun and supportive environment while also offering employment and mentorship opportunities for teens and young adults as coaches.

Beyond the Manta Rays, Glen coaches year-round with the Alberta Marlins Aquatic Club, where his passion, energy, and positivity inspire swimmers of all ages. He organizes fundraising, manages meets, applies for grants, and mentors future coaches, bringing the swimming community together and fostering lifelong skills and confidence. He has also been instrumental in developing coaches’ training programs, helping local youth gain the skills and experience to lead and give back.

Glen’s commitment extends to other sports as well, including coaching cross country and track and field at Medicine Hat High School, guiding teams to numerous provincial championships, and organizing cultural exchange programs with Japan.

Reflecting on his work, Glen shared, “Our swimming community is just wonderful, it’s amazing. If it wasn’t for that community at the pool deck, I probably wouldn’t be here. The ability to be up here and shine a light on our swimming community is amazing because it’s wonderful for our kids, it’s a lifelong skill… hopefully we can instill that in our youth and that excitement for sport.”

Through his tireless efforts, mentorship, and boundless enthusiasm, Glen has strengthened Medicine Hat’s athletic and swimming communities, leaving a lasting and positive impact on countless young people.