2018 Spirit Award Recipients

When people care our community becomes stronger. The BCAA & United Way Community Spirit Awards honours organizations and individuals dedicated to making a difference.

For a full recap and photos of the event, check out our blog:

Spirit Awards recognizes acts of local love across the Lower Mainland

United Way President’s Award of Distinction

The President’s Award of Distinction is United Way’s most prestigious award. It honours individuals or organizations for their extraordinary service and commitment to helping build stronger communities.

Presented to: TransLink and its operating companies, CUPE Locals 4500 & 7000, MoveUP, the Transit Police Professional Association, and Unifor Locals 111 and 2200.

TransLink, all of its staff, their unions and United Way share a common vision of connecting the communities in which we live, work and play. Over the years, they have consistently qualified as a Top Contributor by raising over $225,000 annually during their United Way Campaign and have contributed millions back to our local community.

TransLink employees also serve on our Board and Cabinet and participate in our annual Campaign Associate program by providing a loaned representative.

In 2016, TransLink partnered with United Way to launch the Compass Pass Distribution program that helps vulnerable children, families and seniors get where they need and want to go. New, semi-used or unregistered Compass Cards are collected at kiosks at transit stations where the donated cards are converted into transit passes and given to children and families in need so they can get to doctor’s appointments, to pick up and groceries or to visit friends.

Growth Award – presented by

Donations to United Way help fund crucial programs and services in our community. This award recognizes the workplace that shows local love through its fundraising campaign.

Presented to (small organization): Wawanesa Mutual Insurance

Presented to (large organization): City of Burnaby/CUPE Local 23

Innovation Award – presented by

Innovation takes many forms.  It can be a creative event, a new way to inspire, or an act of local love that helps change a community.  This award recognizes those who put local love in action in innovative, impactful ways that motivate people to mobilize, to collaborate, to give.

Presented to: BC Hydro, MoveUp and IBEW 258

GenNext Award

It’s time to step up and make a difference in the community! This award recognizes the next generation of do-gooders, especially GenNexters (self-identified Millenials or people born between 1980s -2000s).

Presented to: Odlum Brown

Labour United Award – presented by

The Labour United Award is presented to a union and its members that best exemplify a commitment to community and to furthering the values shared by United Way and the labour movement.

Presented to: UFCW 1518

Local Love in Action Award – presented by

Our community is stronger when we work together. This award recognizes local love that mobilizes diverse stakeholders to improve the community that we call home.