Nominations – 2025 Knights of Pythias Community Volunteer Award

Daryl Richardson, CFKR Board Member, and Laura Kennedy, Recipient of the 2024 Community Volunteer Award

Cranbrook, BC (November 3, 2025) – As we approach the season of giving, the Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies (CFKR) is delighted to invite nominations for the 2025 Knights of Pythias Community Volunteer Award.

This award recognizes an unsung hero who volunteers their time and energy in a quiet, dedicated, and selfless manner, making a positive impact in Cranbrook and the surrounding area. Preference will be given to nominees who have not previously received a community/volunteerism award from another organization.

Nominations are open from November 3rd to November 24th and can be submitted quickly and easily via the online form: https://forms.gle/wPTywCQ3J2zw7vPx5      

The Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies will announce the 2025 recipient on Giving Tuesday, December 2nd. The recipient will have the opportunity to direct $750.00 to a local CRA-registered charity/qualified donee of their choice.

In 2024, Laura Kennedy received the Knights of Pythias Community Volunteer Award, in recognition of her life-long dedication to community service, leading and supporting multiple groups, committees, and boards, including youth programs, Rails to Trails, Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce Turkey Drive, Sam Steele Days/Spirit of the Rockies, and Cranbrook Rotary.

CFKR is honoured to steward the Knights of Pythias endowment fund, which includes the direction to recognize a community volunteer on an annual basis, including a donation to the recipient’s charity of choice. Previous award winners of the formerly named “Sustainable Community Builder Award” include:

  • Mike LeClair in 2023, in recognition of his dedicated volunteerism to establish and lead the Therapeutic Paws of Canada chapter in Cranbrook, which offers free therapy pet visits throughout the community;
  • Nancy Banks in 2022 for her over 25 years of volunteer service to the Christmas Wrap table in the Tamarack Centre Mall, which provides a valuable community service and raises significant funds for the Canadian Cancer Society;
  • Jim Nicol in 2021, recognizing his leadership, dedication, and many volunteer contributions to the Cranbrook Community Forest Society;
  • Colin Campbell in 2020, posthumously awarded, in recognition of his significant community contributions through Rotary, the Masons, and various community projects;
  • Jean-Ann Debreceni in 2018, for her many years of service with the East Kootenay Community/StellerVista Credit Union Board, Cranbrook Community Theatre, Cranbrook Garden Club, Key City Theatre, and Fort Steele Heritage Town;
  • Donna Brady Fields in 2017, for her dedication to and advocacy for the United Way and their funding recipients, including poverty reduction, food security and many social issues that impact the community;
  • Robert Williams in 2016, celebrating his many contributions to ʔaq̓am and the Ktunaxa Nation;
  • Gord Johnston in 2015, recognizing his work with the Cranbrook Boys’ and Girls’ Club (now BGC Cranbrook) and Habitat for Humanity;

For more information, please contact Lynnette Wray, CFKR Executive Director, by phone (250-426-1119) or email ([email protected]).

Knights of Pythias

In 2010, upon the surrender of their Charter and dissolution of their Lodge, the Knights of Pythias Crescent Lodge No. 33 gifted the then Cranbrook and District Community Foundation with $25,000, to establish the Knights of Pythias Crescent Lodge No. 33 endowment fund. The Knights of Pythias Crescent Lodge, and their companion branch, the Pythian Sisters, had a long history in Cranbrook, and, at one time, owned a hall located between City Hall and Rotary Park. They contributed to many charities and good works in this area.

The Fraternal Order Knights of Pythias began in 1864 and was the first non-sectarian fraternal order to receive a charter by a special act of the United States Congress, when Abraham Lincoln was President. It is based on the legendary friendship of Damon and Pythias during the ancient days of Syracuse and the philosopher Pythagoras. Pythians practice Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence.

Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies (CFKR):

Established in 2003 as a federally incorporated not-for-profit and a CRA-registered charity, the Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and employs one staff person. CFKR stewards a total of approximately $6.5 million in 48 permanently invested funds. Since 2003, thanks to the income earned from its endowment funds as well as external project funding, CFKR has granted a total of over $1 million to more than 300 local non-profit projects in the communities of Elkford, Sparwood, Fernie, Cranbrook, and the surrounding rural areas.