Grand Forks City Council presented The Community Service Awards last Thursday at Gallery 2 Arts & Heritage Centre. Gabe and Rachel Warriner accepted the 2018 Outstanding Community Service Award.
Gabe Warriner says they felt honoured. “We were just happy to be able to help out, and be a part of the recovery and also a part of the actual event, trying to save peoples homes…. When you’re rewarded like that with an award you think well there’s so many other people that deserved this award, so many other people that put in long hours and long days as well.”
During this year’s flooding event the Warriners lead the charge on organizing sandbagging efforts, and had over 1000 volunteers pitching in on the day the flood hit. Once the recovery stage came around the Warriners didn’t stop, including working with the Samaritan’s Purse, fundraising, and more.
Les Johnson received the 2018 Volunteer of The Year Award.
Johnson says he loves his community, so he does what he can to help it grow. “I got a call from the City saying that the volunteer appreciation awards were gonna [sic] be happening, and if I wanted to cover that then I should show up, and ‘oh yeah by the way you got nominated’, so okay, there were a bunch of people there and thank goodness Gabe was there because I was just worried you know ‘oh my god they’ll give me an award and Gabe Warriner won’t get one, oh gee. [sic]’ ”
Johnson moved here in 2004, began broadcasting city council meetings in 2006, and started What’s Up Grand Forks in 2008 featuring a weekly show and a community calendar. During this year’s flooding event Johnson live-broadcasted calls with the Emergency Operations Centre to help keep the community informed online.