Young Citizen of the Year Award
2024 Young Citizen of the Year Award Recipient
Ainsley Wood
Ainsley Wood is a remarkable young woman dedicated to making her community more accessible and inclusive, especially for those with disabilities. After sustaining a spinal cord injury, she has focused on giving back and supporting others. Raised in Kelowna and now attending UBC Okanagan, Ainsley's 2024 accomplishments are impressive.
She was elected as volunteer vice chair of the Rick Hansen Foundation’s Youth Leadership Committee, where she created resources to help youth with disabilities access post-secondary education. These resources are available on the Rick Hansen Foundation website and have a global reach. Ainsley also contributed an article on ‘Accessible Technology for Education’ in Technology for Living magazine and continues to mentor peers with Spinal Cord Injury BC.
Ainsley identified a gap in support for young women in recovery and became a speaker at Kelowna General Hospital to provide feedback on improving rehab experiences. She shared her story with the Kelowna Daily Courier to inspire others.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ainsley organized an accessible Halloween event in the hospital to ensure all patients could participate. Her volunteer work, driven by her commitment to her community, makes Kelowna a better place for all.
The successful finalists will receive funding towards their post secondary goals through the Payton and Dillon Budd Memorial Fund Youth Scholarship.
Sponsored by:
Award Criteria
- Nominees must be between the ages of 13 and 19 as of December 31, 2023.
- Awarded to a young citizen, in recognition of their outstanding voluntary contributions to the well-being of the city of Kelowna. Contributions may be related to recreation, the arts, education, humanities, community service, and/or medical/business/commerce fields.
- Selections are based on the nominee's achievements/contributions for the year 2023. Past information may be included, but should primarily be regarding the current award year.
- Finalist selections are based solely on the information in the completed nomination package.
Past recipients of the Young Citizen of the Year Award
- 2023 - Tor Broughton
- 2022 - Liam Sisson
- 2021 - David Withler
- 2020 - Tian Whitehead
- 2019 - Abby Kiehlbauch
Prior to 2019, the Young Citizen of the Year category included both male/female categories.
Past recipients of the Young Female of the Year Award
- 2018 - Keneisha Charles
- 2017 - Ashley Robinson
- 2016 - Gabriela Rubio
- 2015 - Maya Gay
- 2014 - Thish Rajapakshe
- 2013 - Pauline Schrott
- 2012 - Kelsi Taron
- 2011 - Tanveer Gill
- 2010 - Danielle Heinzlemann
- 2009 - Jessica LeNoble
- 2008 - Sasha Gronsdahl
- 2007 - Brianna Beaudry
- 2006 - Caitlyn Slavik
- 2005 - Christa Hoy
- 2004 - Kelly O'Connor
- 2003 - Rachel Leier
- 2002 - Teryn Buna
- 2001 - Brenna Black
- 2000 - Jacqueline Collins
- 1999 - Sarah Carson
- 1998 - Lauren Telford
- 1997 - Lindsay Reiger
- 1996 - Amber Tronnes
- 1995 - Trina Dean
- 1994 - Melanie Mitchell
- 1993 - Paris All Gfeller
- 1992 - Lita Ludwig / Nicola Maria Reiger
- 1988 - Leah Westereng
- 1987 - Mairi Warhurst
Past recipients of the Young Male of the Year Award
- 2018 - Matthew Richardson
- 2017 - Finnegan Pihl
- 2016 - Andrew Kates
- 2015 - Stuart Isherwood
- 2014 - Nikolai Lesack
- 2013 - Jonathon Charlton
- 2012 - Eli McAlpine
- 2011 - Terry Lee
- 2010 - Peter Davidson
- 2009 - Cody O'Neil
- 2008 - KJ Hansen
- 2007 - Ori Powell
- 2006 - Kevin Craig
- 2005 - Chris Hall
- 2004 - Aaron Erhardt
- 2002 - Daniel Mandryk
- 2001 - Mark Chambers
- 2000 - Trevor Roy
- 1999 - Ben Laurie
- 1998 - Jeremy Pennington
- 1997 - Mike Wipf
- 1996 - Chris Biro / Cam Noble
- 1995 - Joel Gfeller
- 1994 - Mike Rathjen
- 1993 - Nathan Hukaluk
- 1991 - Nigel Mark Daley
- 1990 - Michael Woodworth
- 1989 - Philip M. Bischoff
