Banff honoured some of its brighest lights at the annual SHINE awards evening at Banff Elementary School, Nov. 5.
This year, the second for the SHINE event (Share, Help, Inspire, Nurture, Enrich), a dozen Banff residents were honoured for going above and beyond in their day to day lives while ensuring their community remains a special place.
Mountain FM’s Rob Murray was master of ceremonies, the Valley Winds choir offered a rousing rendition of “Shine Your Light” and all SHINE honorees were introduced to the community.
The SHINE awards were created through a partnership of the Town of Banff, Banff Ideas Bank and Banff Community Foundation.
This year’s SHINE awards went to Jemima Maycock, Alex Boston, Cathy Geisler, Garry Gonis, Mayumi Yasuda, Eric Harvie, Terry Benoit, David Swanson, Sage Shepherd, Chic Scott, Klara Huser and Nan Hughes-Poole.
Each were introduced to the gathering by members of the SHINE committee – the core group of Sharon Oakley, Jessica Price, Kim Bater and Lorraine Widmer-Carson, along with volunteer members Corrie DiManno, Taryn Hanrych, Lyuba Kirkova and Kevin Duncan.
Mayor Karen Sorensen congratulated those chosen for SHINE awards and thanked those who nominated the group originally.
“I am honoured to be here this evening to help celebrate the place we call home and the very special individuals whose contributions help create and strengthen our community,” said Sorensen.
“I am so very proud to be part of this community, and to be given the opportunity to be part of this event and this brilliant initiative called SHINE.
“I often tell visitors and media how privileged we feel to be living here, in Canada’s first, most famous and finest, national park. We are surrounded by spectacular nature, we spend every day in the place where other people, the world over, dream of visiting.”
Sorensen said as with communities everywhere, Banff has its challenges but, as a town, it also has residents willing to take up those challenges.
“This is where Banff truly shines,” she said, “in our collective capacity for stepping up when needed, empathetically and enthusiastically, and in so many ways. From programs to assist newcomers or young adults, to raising funds for neighbours and strangers in need; from caring for our environment and wildlife, to sharing the joy that is Banff with the rest of the world who visit here, we shine. You shine.”
There would be no SHINE honourees, of course, without those who nominated them in the first place. “The very act of nominating is perhaps an even greater demonstration of community spirit than being selected,” said Sorensen. “It means we recognize amongst ourselves, and appreciate, all the good our friends and neighbours do. It’s a sign of a healthy, caring community.”
In all, the SHINE honourees were chosen from among 37 nominated.
