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Betty Urquhart Community Service Award

 Celebrating local changemakers

The Betty Urquhart Community Service Award recognizes a person or a collective who has made an extraordinary contribution to a community in the Fraser Valley. In addition to being recognized at a public event hosted by the university, the award winner will receive a monetary prize to donate to a charity of their choice.

This annual award is an essential part of UFV's commitment to changing lives and building community.

Who should we recognize next?

Know an outstanding individual, group, or organization who goes above and beyond to help build, shape, or enrich our community? Help us honor their achievement by nominating them for the UFV Betty Urquhart Community Service Award.

Submission deadline

You can submit your nomination until 11:59 PST on May 15, 2024.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the award, the nominee must be:

  • an individual
  • a group of volunteers
  • a not-for-profit organization

Assessment criteria

The project or series of projects for which the recipient is being nominated must meet the following criteria:

  1. The project must demonstrate UFV’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life of its communities.
  1. The project must have had a significant impact on the community.
  1. The recipient of the award must have played a major role in the planning and implementation of the project.
  1. The project must have been undertaken at least partially as a volunteer endeavor and not as part of anyone’s salaried or contractual obligations.
  1. The project must have taken place at least partially during the last 12 months.

Nomination guidelines

  • To be eligible to nominate, you must be located in the Fraser Valley.
  • Your nomination package must explain how the nominee meets each of the five assessment criteria and should include supporting documentation.

Before you submit your nomination

 


Complete the online nomination form


Nomination deadline: 11:59 pm PST on May 15, 2024

Questions?

Please contact monika.vondras@ufv.ca.

Review process and selection

The award selection committee — led by UFV president or a designate — consists of three members appointed annually by the Board of Governors.

Typically, only one award is given out each year.

Award presentation and recognition

The award will be given to the winner at a public event hosted by the university. The recipient will also receive a monetary prize to donate to the charity of their choice.

The names and projects of the award recipients will be displayed on campus and on the UFV website.

Did you know?

This award is named in honour of Betty Urquhart, one of UFV’s first employees who strongly believed in volunteering and giving back to the community. While Betty passed away in 1995, UFV wants to keep her memory alive by giving this award to people who show the same kind of dedication to life-long learning and helping others.

2023 recipients

Brigida Crosbie and Saline Derish

 

Brigida Crosbie is recognized for the service she provides through her store, Tydel Foods. She sells quality groceries — particularly meat — at prices well below those of commercial retailers. An advocate for seniors, people with disabilities and the unhoused, she offers programs and food packages that help the vulnerable afford this basic need, while encouraging other customers to support her efforts with donations.

Salina Derish has dedicated her life to reducing waste and cleaning up the effects of trash in local waters. As owner of PickEco Refills in Chilliwack, a zero-waste grocery store and composting service, Salina has diverted more than 300,000 containers from the waste cycle. Since 2021, she has also been part of a garbage-busting duo calling themselves the Trash Mermaids, removing more than 2,000 kg of trash while preserving the aquatic ecosystems of the Fraser Valley.

 

View all past recipients since 1992