"Making Our Communities Bloom!"
Park Board Volunteers Recognized

May 20, 2004 (No. 30) - Over thirty Vancouver Park Board volunteers were honoured last night at the annual Volunteer Awards Banquet. The 22nd annual event, recognizing the vital role volunteers play in the Park Board system, was held at VanDusen Botanical Garden. This year's theme,"Volunteers Make Our Communities Bloom!" reflects the spirit of volunteerism that helps make our neighbourhoods grow and thrive.

Nominations for Volunteer of the Year were put forward from all the Community Centre Associations plus the ParkPartners program, VanDusen Gardens, the Stanley Park Ecology Society, Vancouver Aquatic Centre and the Stanley Park Skate Patrol. Nominees were recognized for their spirit, knowledge and thousands of hours of service to a wide range of projects and programs.

The nominees come from varied backgrounds and range in age from young teens to those well into their eighties - serving on fund raising and development committees, cooking hot meals for seniors, coaching soccer and boxing for children, organizing special tree planting projects, planning community arts events and festivals, providing financial and business advice, participating in park clean ups, helping people with disabilities access water sports, acting as mentors for youth, helping out at kids camps, and much more.

Park Board Commissioners were on hand at the event to give out the awards. Each nominee received a special certificate and a portable folding chair with an embroidered Park Board crest.

Anita Romaniuk, Park Board Chair, said, "We are proud of our volunteers. They are an essential part of our organization, helping us provide the very best in parks and recreation services to the residents of our city. The annual banquet in an opportunity for us to express our deep appreciation for their commitment and hard work."

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For more information contact Carol DeFina, Communications Coordinator at 604-257-8440

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation maintains 200 parks and 40 major facilities throughout the City of Vancouver. The Park Board's mission is to provide, preserve and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit people, communities and the environment.

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