The annual Presidents’ Awards, now in its 21st year, were presented at the 49th Athlete of the Year ceremony on March 12, 2015, The President's Awards are presented to volunteers from Sport BC member and partner organizations who represent the spirit of volunteerism, and whose dedication, energy and commitment contribute to development of their sport or organization in the province of British Columbia.
The BC Games Society honoured the President and Vice President of the Nanaimo 2014 BC Summer Games, Jeff Lott and Bruce Hunter, the strong and dedicated leaders of those highly successful BC Summer Games.
Jeff and Bruce are each in their own right community leaders. Longtime residents of Nanaimo, they guided a volunteer workforce of 2,946 in hosting 3,182 athletes, ,and officials over four days at twenty venues in July of 2014.
As the BC Games Provincial Sport Organization partners know all too well, the details required to host an event of this magnitude are many, and with Jeff's and Bruce’s influence and leadership, the 2014 BC Summer Games were a hit.
Both gentlemen would be the first to say how proud they are of their board and the volunteers who stepped forward and that the Presidents’ Award is recognition of the collective work of the Nanaimo residents. Having said that, it still takes leadership and determination such as that exemplified by Jeff and Bruce.
Jeff is a retired member of the RCMP and an Honourary Aides-de-Camp for British Columbia's Lieutenant Governor. Honourary Aides-de-Camp are military or civil officers in uniform, acting on a volunteer basis, who mark the official status of The Queen's representative at all official engagements. Bruce is the Athletic Director at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo and is chairing the Legacy Committee for the Games.
The Nanaimo 2014 BC Summer Games were named the News Story of the Year in Nanaimo for 2014. The legacy from Games will be announced later this year.