The City of Campbell River honours community members who have made contributions to the City, and our community, in a variety of ways.
The Community Builders award recognizes individuals who have shown longstanding leadership and improved the quality of life in our community.
The honour of Freeman is the highest honour a city can bestow on an individual. The title of Freeman recognizes selfless acts and deeds performed.
The City of Campbell River Stewardship Awards Program recognizes residents for their outstanding environmental achievements.
Spirit of the River Torch
If your community organization is holding a public event, you can request to have the Spirit of the River Torch at the event. Eligible events must be a public event or a significant community ceremony, and a member of Council or City official must be invited. Your organization must also be a not-for-profit group.
To apply, please click the link below to read the policy and find the application form. The form can be returned to City Hall to apply for use of the community torch.
Awards to the City
- Canadian Award for Financial Reporting (2022 Annual Report) GFOA
- Excellence in Government Finance award (2023-2032 Financial Stability & Resiliency Policy) GFOA
- Readers’ Choice Awards Campbell River Mirror:
- Best Sports Facility and Playground – Sportsplex
- Best Local Free event - Spirit Square Music
- BCMSA Safety Excellence Award
- Canadian Award for Financial Reporting (2021 Annual Report) GFOA
- Excellence in Government Finance award (2022-2031 Financial Stability & Resiliency Policy) GFOA
- BCMSA Safety Improvement Award
- Canadian Award for Financial Reporting (2020 Annual Report) GFOA
- Excellence in Government Finance award (2021-2030 Financial Stability & Resiliency Policy) GFOA
- Canadian Award for Financial Reporting (2019 Annual Report) GFOA
- Excellence in Government Finance award (2020-2029 Financial Stability & Resiliency Policy) GFOA
- Economic Development Marketing Innovation Award, NexStream Tech, BCED
- Canadian Award for Financial Reporting (2018 Annual Report) GFOA
- Excellence in Government Finance award (2019 Financial Stability & Resiliency Policy) GFOA
- Environment Award for a Municipality with a Population Between 20,001 and 100,000, Campbell River Rising Sea (CAMA)
- Sustainable Communities Award, Campbell River Rising Sea (FCM Green Municipal Fund)
- Canadian Award for Financial Reporting (2017 Annual Report) GFOA
- ACEC-BC 2019 Awards for Engineering Excellence Finalist – CR Water Supply Centre
- VIREB 2019 Commercial Building Award of Excellence - CR Water Supply Centre
- Canadian Wood Council ‘Woodworks!’ Program – CR Water Supply Centre
- PIBC Leadership in Advocacy and Innovation
- Award of Excellence (for Budgeting for City Services) - International Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals Videographer Awards
- Awards of Distinction (for Improving Home Energy Ratings and Rebates for Home Energy Evaluations) - International Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals Videographer Awards
- Honourable Mention (for Step Up Your Home Construction and Budgeting for Property Taxes) - International Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals Videographer Awards
- Climate and Energy Award – Honourable Mention
- Partners in Climate Change – Milestone Four
- MarCom Platinum (Budgeting for City Services digital video)
- MarCom Gold (Budgeting for City Property Taxes – digital video & Property Tax Facts – brochure)
- MarCom Honourable Mention (Tax Brochure - Direct Mail)
- Reader’s Choice Awards – Campbell River Mirror, awarded Oct. 19
- Best sports facility – Sportsplex
- Bike friendly community – Campbell River Seawalk
- Best craft fair – Toy & Craft Show and Sale
- Best swimming hole – McIvor Lake
- Best playground – Sportsplex
- Best gym/fitness studio – Sportsplex
- Best personal trainer – Sally Feast
- Best local free event – Spirit Square concerts
- City project worth the wait – Bike Park
- Distinguished Budget Presentation (for exemplary 2019-2028 Financial Plan) - GFOA
- Smart 50 Award (CRadvantage -municipal broadband network)
- Small Business BC (CRadvantage – municipal broadband network and Modern Entrepreneur initiative)
- Excellence in Workforce Development (Campbell River Chamber Business Awards of Distinction
- Fire Department among top three finalists for Community Spirit Award (Chamber Business Awards)
- Distinguished Budget Presentation (for exemplary 2018-2027 Financial Plan) - GFOA
- Climate Action Milestone 4 (for corporate and community initiatives to reduce emissions) – FCM
- BC Climate Action Community 2017 – Level 3 recognition for Accelerating Progress on Charter Commitments (recognition for our efforts to reduce corporate and community-wide GHG emissions)
- Marcom Gold (for watershed signs)
- Reader’s Choice Awards – Campbell River Mirror, awarded Oct. 25
- Best sports facility – Sportsplex
- Best City project worth the wait – Big Rock Boat Ramp
- Best swimming beach – McIvor Lake
- Best local event – Spirit Square
- Employee Awards:
- Vancouver Island Top 20 under 40 Awards Winner – Amber Zirnhelt
- Top 10 Municipal Innovator (FCM national innovation network) – Amber Zirnhelt
- Vancouver Island Top 20 under 40 Awards Finalist – Myriah Foort
- Professional Service Award (for volunteer leadership) – Julie Douglas
- 10 Years of Service, Municipal Management (CAMA) – Ron Neufeld
- 20 Years of Service, Municipal Management (LGMA) – Deborah Sargent
- Marking Innovation Award (for Campbell River Investment Portal) – BC Economic Development Association
- Silver Award of Excellence (for Refresh Downtown) – Planning Institute of BC
- Distinguished Budget Presentation Award (for the 2017-2026 Financial Plan) – GFOA
- Reader’s Choice Award (for best gym/fitness centre, Sportsplex) – Campbell River Mirror
- Awards of Distinction (for At Your Service, Campbell River and Our Forests, Our People, Our Future) – International Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals Videographer Awards
- Honourable Mention (for Work Where You Love to Live) – International Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals Videographer Awards
- BC Climate Action Community 2016 – Level 3 recognition for Accelerating Progress on Charter Commitments (recognition for our efforts to reduce corporate and community-wide GHG emissions)
- Employee Award: Vancouver Island Top 20 under 40 Awards Finalist – Amber Zirnhelt, Myriah Foort
- Distinguished Budget Presentation Award (for 2016-2025 Financial Stability and Resiliency Program) – GFOA
- Awards of Distinction for Campbell River Smile & Revitalizing Downtown, Campbell River’s People Place – International Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals Videographer Awards
- Employee awards:
- Ron Neufeld, Award for Excellence in Leadership – BC Local Government Management Association
- Ed Travanut, Water Operator of the Year (Excellence in the Water and Waste Industry Award) – BC Water and Waste Association
- Amber Zirnhelt & Myriah Foort, Future 15 – Chamber of Commerce
- Recreation Department Facility Service Workers – WorkSafeBC What’s Wrong with this Photo contest winners
- Vancouver Island Top 20 under 40 finalist – Amber Zirnhelt
- Gold Award (for the Utility Kiosk Wraps) - MarCom (International Marketing and Communications Professionals)
- Honorable Mention (for the Leaky Toilet Brochure) - MarCom (International Marketing and Communications Professionals)
- Vancouver Island Top 20 under 40 Awards Finalist – Amber Zirnhelt
- Gold Award (for information boards re: watering restrictions) – MarCom (International Marketing and Communications Professionals)
- Silver Award of Excellence (for planning practice re: St. Ann’s block upgrade project) – Planning Institute of BC
- Reader’s Choice Award (for best gym/fitness centre, Sportsplex) – Campbell River Mirror
- Gold Award (for St. Ann’s block upgrade communications) – MarCom (International Marketing and Communications Professionals)
- Gold Award (for new City website) – AVA (international) Digital Awards
- Excellence Award for Leadership and Innovation (for Power Down energy conservation and video challenge) – UBCM (also received honourable mention for Climate & energy Action Award from Community Energy Association)
- Honourable mention (for new initiatives to build awareness re: land use planning and regulations, including LUKE cartoon series, how-to videos, builder/developer forums, fact sheets, development permit handbook) – Planning Institute of BC
2013
- Climate and Energy Action Award (with School District 72 for projects to reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions) – Community Energy Association, Province of BC, UBCM, BC Hydro, FortisBC
- Environmental Award (for Compost Challenge) – Recycling Council of BC
2012
- Award of Merit (for Campbell River Airport expansion) – Vancouver Island Commercial Building Awards
- Vancouver Island’s Most Valuable Player Award (to Teresa Davis, Tourism Campbell River for outstanding contributions to Tourism Vancouver Island) – Tourism Vancouver Island
2011
- Gold Award (for Highway 19A communications) – MarCom (International Marketing and Communications Professionals)
- National Winner, Sustainable Development and Best Community Exhibit (for Baikie Island restoration) – Communities in Bloom (shortlisted for environmental action and community involvement)
- Excellence Award, Civic Engagement (for Local Government Awareness Week activities & Sustainable Official Community Plan development process) – UBCM
- Solar Community of the Year Award (for use of solar technologies in municipal facilities and infrastructure) – SolarBC
- 2011 Provincial recognition for Agriculture Plan
2010
- Honourable mention, 2010 Energy and Climate Action Award (for City Hall green roof) – UBCM
- 5-Bloom Award – Communities in Bloom
- Award of Excellence, Building (for environmental, energy, sustainability planning and waste reduction initiatives related to the City Hall green roof) – Federation of Canadian Municipalities
2009
- 5-Bloom National Level Award – Communities in Bloom (exceptional for first-time entry)
2008
- 5-Bloom Award – BC Communities in Bloom
2007
- 4-Bloom Award – BC Communities in Bloom
- North American Micro City of the Future designation (acknowledging Campbell River as one of the top five “Quality of Life” destinations) – Foreign Direct Investment, a United Kingdom-based magazine
- 4th Place – Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Contest