Calgary Stampede’s Western Legacy Awards
Calgary – The Calgary Stampede’s Western Legacy Awards recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations that help to build and strengthen our communities while preserving western heritage and values. The 12th annual Western Legacy Awards will be held on Thursday, November 17.
The Western Legacy Awards are presented in four categories, Youth, Innovation and Sustained Contribution (individual and group). See below for this year’s finalists.
WHAT: 2016 Western Legacy Awards
WHEN: Thursday, November 17
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Presentation at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Palomino Room, BMO Centre
Calgary Stampede Park
2016 Finalists:
Youth: Awarded to a youth, age 18 or under, who has demonstrated a commitment to making a difference and exhibited western values.
Cristina Acevedo is a dedicated and motivated young leader. A role model for volunteerism, her initiatives include building a community greenhouse made of recycling plastic bottles, developing educational field trips for students at nearby elementary schools and creating memorable birthday parties through Children’s Miracle Birthdays. For those with whom she works, her enthusiasm is an inspiration, reaffirming that each of us can make a difference.
Logan Fyke is passionate about maintaining clean water in the world – a passion developed through his experience as a young fisherman. Deciding he would make a difference, he created a fundraiser selling hand-tied flies to fly fishermen through a local fishing shop. The store owner matched the funds raised and they donated the proceeds to Trout Unlimited.
Anayat Sidhu makes a contribution through various organizations, including bringing awareness to operation eyesight through project Double-O. She is dedicated to making a difference with the environment, women’s rights – so it isn’t surprising that she founded MED (Medical-Engineering-Development) that brings leaders in science together with youth to inspire social change.
Innovation: Awarded to an individual who has created a single visionary project that reflects to our western values.
Warren Cummins combines teaching and music with a patriotic love of history and Canada. He developed a program for young musicians to continue developing their musical skills through the North West Mounted Police Commemorative Association while at the same time having the opportunity to be a part of and share in a lived history.
Charles Macmichael promotes safe spaces for the LGBTQ community. Inspired to ensure all Calgarians would feel comfortable during the 10 days of Stampede, he created “Gay Day”. What started out on Stampede Park as an unofficial gathering of about 25 individuals has grown in four short years to more than 400 participants this past year and a future for continued success.
Darby Young is an advocate for people with disabilities. She applies her lived experience to created better access and through extensive volunteer work, looks for opportunities to make the world barrier free for everyone.
Sustained Contribution (Individual): awarded to an individual who has exhibited extraordinary community support over time.
Robert Anderson has volunteered in the Stampede parade for 70 years – having first participated with his father and brothers. For the past twenty years he has shared his heritage with the Antique Show Wagons – providing thousands of guests the opportunity to participate in an authentic experience of Western history.
Jeanette King is an advocate for education and the arts and spent many hours to further these causes along with a wide variety of others. One of her most cherished endeavors was to develop Olympic Education Kits during the ’88 games in Calgary. The kits were distributed to schools across Canada and requested by some 37 countries around the world.
Dr. Lucy Miller is a leader in our community and currently completing her term as President and CEO for the United Way of Calgary – having previously led the Calgary Catholic School District. She is passionate about education and believes it is a means to breaking the cycle of poverty within our community.
Sustained Contribution (Group): awarded to an organization or group (of three or more) that has exhibited extraordinary community support over time.
Inn from the Cold is a social agency that provides shelter, sanctuary and healing for homeless families in our city. A unique program in Alberta that started more than twenty years ago, the Inn continues to enable parents and children to remain together during a time of crisis.
The SHARP Foundation delivers a client focused continuum of care to persons living with HIV or AIDS. From its beginnings over 25 years ago, the organization has grown to become one that now supports individuals through a wide variety of programs, delivered through five local facilities.
Youth Central provides our leaders of tomorrow the opportunity to volunteer for diverse and interesting community initiatives. Founded in 1992, Youth Central’s philosophy is based upon the understanding that engaged young people will grow up to continue being active, committed and contributing citizens within their community.
See more at calgarystampede.com