Anita Tozer Memorial Award - bestowed by Mayor & Council

2024 Anita Tozer Memorial Award Recipient

Pam Turgeon & Shadia Dot

Parade with a Purpose is an annual community holiday parade founded by Pam Turgeon and Shadia Doty. Since 2021, this event has raised over $700,000 in support of The Bridge Youth & Family Services’ Youth Recovery House.

The origins of the parade date back to December 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pam and Shadia initiated a small holiday parade in Kelowna’s Kettle Valley neighbourhood to bring joy and connection during a time of social isolation. What started with just three floats quickly became a beloved local tradition.

In 2021, the parade adopted the name "Parade with a Purpose", introducing a charitable component. Businesses sponsored floats, and community members contributed through donations, raising money for The Bridge’s Youth Recovery House campaign.

The event grew significantly in scale and impact, raising $86,395 in 2022, $113,281 in 2023 and a whopping $488,220 in 2024.

Funds raised have been vital in advancing the development of Youth Recovery House, expected to open in 2026. Contributions helped secure the physical space needed for the Okanagan’s only live-in treatment program for youth experiencing substance use challenges. In 2024, the focus shifted to expanding therapeutic services, enhancing educational, vocational, and recreational programming, ensuring comprehensive care for youth entering the facility.

Pam and Shadia’s grassroots leadership has been key to the success of Parade with a Purpose. They mobilize a growing team of volunteers, secure sponsorships, and generate excitement through media and social outreach.

Due to its growing popularity, the parade moved to downtown Kelowna in 2024, providing improved infrastructure and greater visibility. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with attendance surging and the fundraising goal shattered!

Pam and Shadia are committed to continuing Parade with a Purpose, making it a signature annual event that blends seasonal joy with meaningful community impact.

About the Award

Anita Tozer was best known as a humanitarian devoted to the welfare of others.  She dedicated the last third of her life to volunteering, most notably with the United Way of the Central & South Okanagan/Similkameen.  She served the United Way in almost every position over a period of 25 years.  Anita Tozer was a recipient of the Sarah Donalda Treadgold Memorial Award in 1991.

Anita Tozer passed away on July 10, 2000 at the age of 72. 

Award Criteria

The Anita Tozer Memorial Award is awarded to an individual or group in recognition of an extraordinary and positive contribution to the quality of life in Kelowna.

This award is not open to the public for nominating, as each year it is selected and presented by Mayor and Council.