Ucluelet has crowned its 2024 community champions.
The town announced its annual Business, Volunteer, Youth and Citizen of the Year awards during the closing ceremonies of the 50th annual Ukee Days festival on July 28.
A nomination period ran for several weeks prior to the festival and the names of the finalists in each category were placed on ballots at a voting booth set up at the Seaplane Base Field fairgrounds throughout the weekend.
Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce executive director Josh Jenkins announced the Business of the Year Award, which went to Image West Gallery and Gifts.
“This is fitting in multiple directions because this business has taken a bit of a hit this year and the voting is a good reflection on how our community comes together and supports businesses and people when they’re having a tough time,” he said, referencing the district’s construction work on Peninsula Road that prevented both residents and tourists from accessing the popular store for a large chunk of the summer.
“It’s also very deserving. This business has been kicking butt for a while and been part of this community for a long time.”
A delighted Courtney Johnson came to the festival fairgrounds’ mainstage to receive her well-deserved accolade and thanked the community, saying “there were so many great businesses on that list” and she had not expected hers to be called.
She said Image West prides itself on contributing to the community and added that the town’s support of the business has given her the opportunity to direct the Tofino Ucluelet Glee program as well as the recently re-launched dinner theatre events.
“I want to let you know that business has done so much for the community, but also for me. I can teach Glee and I can do dinner theatre with my best friend because of that business that my husband has had for 40 years,” she said. “I’m beyond grateful. We are still here. We are still here because of you. That was such a fight to be here and we are here and I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
Mayor Marilyn McEwen then stepped to the centrestage to announce the town’s Volunteer, Youth and Citizen of the Year Awards, beginning with Food Bank on the Edge executive director Cris Martin who earned top volunteer honours.
“Cris has been involved with the food bank for many many years as well as other initiatives and we are so pleased to have her in our community,” McEwen said.
Martin, who was also celebrated as Ucluelet’s top volunteer in 2019, thanked the cheering crowd.
“It’s a privilege for me to give my time to this beautiful community. It’s never work, it’s always a gift because you give so much to me,” she said, battling through joyful tears of gratitude.
Youth of the Year went to Emma Riddick, who McEwen heralded for “being heavily involved with our youth leadership group.”
Riddick was not in attendance to accept her award, but Johnson accepted it on her behalf and spoke to how impressed she’s been to see Riddick follow her parents’ dedicatedly spirited Ucluetian footsteps.
“Emma, you are really an incredible kid. It’s been an honour to know you since you were 5 years old as a Glee student and you have just turned into a stellar young lady,” Johnson said, adding “Look who her parents are, so that tracks.”
This year’s Citizen of the Year award struck a more sombre chord as Laurie Gehrke received the honours to loud cheers and applause. Gehrke recently announced her resignation as general manager of the Co-op, which she served for 10 years, as well as her decision to leave Ucluelet citing negative and hurtful comments she’d received from community members during the lead up to a July 9 Co-op amalgamation vote.
“Laurie embodies community spirit, tirelessly improving lives with her dedication. As the heart of our Co-op, her leadership has driven many beneficial initiatives. A strong supporter of non-profits, Laurie ensures the Co-op contributes through financial aid, resources or volunteer work,” McEwen said. “Her relentless efforts keep our Co-op on a community cornerstone. Laurie’s leadership and compassion make her an exemplary Citizen of the Year.”
Gehrke was not in attendance, but Co-op board of directors president Marnel Saunders accepted the award on her behalf and read a statement Gehrke had provided.
“I’m deeply honoured and touched to accept citizen of the year. This recognition means more to me than words can express, especially as I prepare to leave this wonderful community that I’ve been so proud to call home. My time here has been filled with countless memories, cherished friendships and a sense of belonging that I will carry with me wherever I go. This town, with its incredible spirit and warmth, has shaped me in ways that I will always be grateful for,” Saunders read from Gehrke’s words.
“I want to thank each and every one of you for your support, encouragement and collaboration over the years. Together we have accomplished so much and it has been a privilege to work alongside you in making our community a better place. Although I am leaving, please know that this town will always hold a special place in my heart. I will carry the lessons I’ve learned and the love I’ve received with me and hope to continue making a positive impact wherever life takes me next.”
Saunders told the Westerly News after the ceremony that she had been particularly emotional reading Gehrke’s letter because she is also leaving Ucluelet herself, though for personal reasons unrelated to the amalgamation vote.
“Ucluelet’s just been a wonderful place to live over the last two decades. I love the community. I love the people. My son graduated from the high school here and it will be hard to leave,” she said.
She said her partner passed away four years ago and she’s been alone in her Ucluelet home and feels it’s time to move on, so she is heading to Victoria.
She suggested that the local Co-op will remain strong despite losing its general manager and board president, adding she will complete her current term as president, travelling to the community when required.
“The Co-op will continue strongly. A recruitment committee has already started looking for the next GM. It’s going to be really hard to fill her (Gehrke’s) shoes, but we’ll do our best to get the next great GM in for the Co-op,” she said.
She added she understood why Gehrke chose to leave the community in the wake of the vitriolic comments she endured, particularly over social media, over the weeks leading up to the amalgamation vote.
“I think Laurie’s heart was crushed and I can understand why she needs to move on,” Saunders said.
Both Martin and Johnson also spoke to the profound impact Gerhke had on Ucluelet as well as themselves.
“Over the years, she has made sure the Co-op has donated to the glee program and dinner theatre as well and that is absolutely pivotal to keep those programs moving forward,” Johnson said. “I’m hopeful that that will continue to happen, but a lot of times I think that people don’t consider how far those branches go to support things in the local community. I want to make sure people know how grateful I am to her for that.”
Martin said losing Gehrke is “a big disappointment for us.”
“It is a big blow to the food bank specifically. The tenure she had here was game changing for us and the amount and quality of the hampers that went up because of her initiatives. She was always supporting us, always had us in mind to do promotions and work on our behalf.”
She added Gehrke was consistently “the first one to step up” during the food bank’s Christmas Hamper season, including the annual Stuff the Cruiser event held in the Co-op’s parking lot.
“She loved that thing and I know she’s going to miss it and we are totally going to miss her,” Martin said. “I only hope that the (Co-op) board can find somebody who has the same level of empathy and respect and dignity that Laurie has and brought to us.”
After speaking to the Westerly at the fairgrounds, Johnson reached out to add her admiration of Martin.
“When I first moved here, I found myself in need and visited the food bank. It can feel embarrassing to ask for help, but I never once felt judged. If I hadn’t had that support when I desperately needed it, I may not have been able to stay here,” Johnson wrote in a statement to the Westerly.
“The work that I do, friends I’ve made and the community programs I’ve created can be credited, in part, to that support. I firmly believe that everyone deserves to be fed and Cris has touched countless lives because of that mindset. She has certainly touched mine and I am very grateful for it.”
