Character Abbotsford Society honoured three locals at its May 18 Character council meeting with Character in Action Awards.
The recipients of the 2023 CIA Awards are Harpreet Jhinjar, Yobdee Marazzi, and Raymonde Tickner.
Harpreet Jhinjar was recognized for his work with the Pathways Program intended to increase grassroots community engagement and reach out to the families of at-risk youth. In a compelling moment, Abbotsford Police Chief Mike Serr explained that “12 years ago our city was known for being the homicide capital in Canada. For the past two years, we have not had any gang-related homicides in Abbotsford. This is in part due to the good work of Harpreet Jhinjar.”
Yobdee Marazzi, a Grade 10 student at MEI Schools, was nominated by committee member Jory Smallenberg for her inspiring volunteerism, particularly in the health care profession.
“Yodbee’s volunteerism is especially remarkable since the healthcare system is currently experiencing staffing shortages,” said Smallenberg. “Yobdee is an example of how Abbotsford youth are stepping up to support.”
Raymonde Tickner was the third award recipient. Kim Riddell, executive director of Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association (ARJAA) honoured Raymonde for “her profound ability to see the big picture and her calm and caring demeanour which helps to create the safe spaces necessary for restorative processes.”
Tickner has provided more than 1,000 volunteer hours in her capacity as “a leader among volunteers.”
Board Chair, Vijay Manuel, opened the event by sharing the mission of Character Abbotsford, namely to inspire character, enable leaders, and influence community.
“Our hope,” said Manuel, “is that by recognizing these inspiring individuals, we are really honouring the many citizens that they represent in the service-rich community of Abbotsford.”
He went on to say that the council hopes this will inspire even more heart-centered decisions and actions in our community.
Each recipient was presented with a formal letter of recognition and a $500 gift card.
The Character Council is a group of leaders committed to practicing and promoting good character in our city. For more information on Character Abbotsford, visit CharacterAbbotsford.com and follow on instagram and twitter @characterabby.
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