Community members awarded Council’s Excellence Awards

The Citizen of the Year award honours an individual with outstanding contributions and achievements, that has improved the quality of life or has brought positive recognition to the region. Barbara fits this description exactly!

Having a son with cerebral palsy, she recognized the need for adaptive sports for children and youth in the community. Through her advocacy and hard work, she helped to initiate the inclusive Wood Buffalo Royals hockey team, an inclusive baseball team, and she actively contributes to the new Volt Hockey program.

This past year, her son and three other youth in the community were selected to join Team Alberta for the Volt Hockey World Cup in Sweden.

Barbara's contributions enhance the quality of life for many children with special needs and their families in the region. She is noted by those who know her as a humble, caring, giving, empathetic person who strives to make the community more inclusive while building a sense of belonging for children and families.

The Everyday Hero award recognizes an individual or group for their outstanding contributions to Emergency Social Services, and/or disaster and risk reduction in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

As a long-term member of Syncrude’s Fire Department, this year’s Everyday Hero is well deserving of this award. Ashley is recognized by her leadership and peers for her continued contributions, talents and skills to this essential, and much-needed service.

She has also represented Syncrude at Fire Fit Nationals and has led several charitable initiatives, in support of families in need during the Holiday Season. She hopes to continue contributing to her fire team by training and leading others.

According to her Fire Captain, Ashley’s unwavering dedication and hard work will never go unnoticed. 

The Indigenous Advocate Award honours an individual or group for programs or initiatives that have a significant contribution to Indigenous communities in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

Mitchel is a consistent and powerful leader for Two Spirit and Métis people. They are an amazing example of leadership for both the Indigenous community and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Described as inspirational, they are an integral part of many initiatives in the region that create safer, inclusive spaces, including as Chair of Pride YMM, a member of the Regional Advisory Committee on Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, Chair of PRISM at Suncor Energy and as a Board member with Arts Council Wood Buffalo, among other leadership roles.

Mitchel has consistently shown their dedication to representing the Métis community and have always emphasized intersectional support in their leadership and activism, including ensuring the Indigenous community is represented in Pride YMM.

The Youth Award is given to a youth 18 years of age or younger whose exceptional achievements have improved the quality of life or has brought positive recognition to the region.

This year’s recipient is Sahem Ahmed, a Grade 12 student currently studying at Westwood Community High School. Sahem is an honour student, a change maker, and always makes a positive impact.

Through volunteering with the Wood Buffalo Food Bank, the Multicultural Association of Wood Buffalo and Markaz-ul-Islam, as well as with the Principal’s Advisory Council, the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Youth and the Minister’s Youth Council, she leads by example and ignites the passion of community service in others.

She is also known for advocating to improve mental health initiatives for young people in the region, as students returned to school during the COVID-19 pandemic.