Fred Macklin and Sarah Donalda-Treadgold Memorial Award - Citizen of the Year

Fred Macklin & Sarah Donalda Treadgold Memorial Award: Citizen of the Year 2023 - Finalists

The 49th annual Civic & Community Awards finalists will be celebrated on April 24 at the Civic & Community Awards Gala, taking place at the Laurel Packinghouse

Manik Dhir 

As a father, entrepreneur, professor, philanthropist, and volunteer, Manik wears many hats. When wildfires swept through our community in 2023, Manik jumped into action. Working with his Sikh community with help from Khalsa Aid Canada, they helped gather essentials for staff at Kelowna General Hospital. Manik also helped set up a food bank for fire affected hospital employees. He serves on the Rotary Centre for the Arts’ board of directors and was recently appointed Vice President. As a health care advocate, Manik is a member of KGH Foundation’s board of directors and has advocated tirelessly for the creation of Rutland Urgent & Primary Care Centre. 

Pamela Pearson 

Pamela Pearson is a leader and a connector in the automotive and philanthropic fields. She created Ladies’ Happy Hour, a monthly networking event attended by over 100 women. As part of Sentes Automotive, she chaired a committee that donated over $230,000 to various organizations and causes and received national awards and recognition for her achievements. She has been a key contributor to the BC Cancer Foundation’s Discovery Luncheon for nine years, raising over $1 million. She is also active in many other organizations and initiatives that support women in business and the community. In addition to all this, in 2023, she was named the Woman of the Year by Kelowna Women in Business and served as Past President of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce. 

Milt Stevenson 

A great love of the outdoors prompted Doctor Milt Stevenson to join the Friends of the South Slopes Society—an organization dedicated to constructing and maintaining trails and facilities spread over hundreds of kilometers of recreational trails. As chair of the Trail Management Committee in 2023, Milt put in over 600 hours and helped oversee 56 volunteers. His commitment to health care is equally noteworthy, contributing volunteer hours to enhancing community well-being with a passion for aiding the underserved. As a 2023 board member of Okanagan Community Health Society, Milt was heavily involved in developing the Rutland Community Clinic. 

About the Fred Macklin and Sarah Donalda-Treadgold Memorial Award

Fred Macklin served Kelowna in many ways throughout his life.  He was the secretary treasurer of School District #23 from 1956 to 1974 and from 1976 to 1984 he was a City of Kelowna Alderman. He was chairman of many organizations including the Kelowna Parks and Recreation Committee, Labour Relations Board, the City Transit Management Committee and the BC Transit Council of BC.  He was also Director and Chairman of the Public Employees Council of BC. He also served as the Honorary Treasurer of the Okanagan Regional Library Board. Fred passed away in 1984.

Sarah Donalda Treadgold was an active and conscientious volunteer who understood the value and importance of working for the community. She was deeply interested in education and initially volunteered for many years on Kelowna Elementary School's P.T.A. She was encouraged to run for the office of school trustee in 1924 and topped the polls in every election for the next 23 years. Sarah was a loving mother with good ideas and the passion to stand up for what she believed - much like the other women who have been and will be honoured with the Sarah Donalda Treadgold Memorial Award.

Award Criteria

• Awarded to a man or woman in recognition of their outstanding voluntary contributions and community service to the city of Kelowna. Activities may be related to arts and culture, business, commerce, education, humanities, medical and recreation.
• Selections are based on the nominee's achievements and contributions throughout 2023.
• Past volunteer information may be included, but the nomination should focus on the current award year.  
• Nominees must not have personally benefited from their activities, nor should the contributions be considered part of their normal employment or job responsibilities.

Nominations for the 49th annual Civic & Community Awards are now closed. Check back in fall 2024 for information about the 50th annual awards nomination period.