JCI Kootenay was honoured as Chapter of the Year at the Junior Chamber International Convention in Edmonton.
“It was a really exciting moment for us. JCI Kootenay has won it before, and this is the one we aim for every year because we see it as a culmination of a year’s worth of work,” said Jonah Gowans, JCI Kootenay president. “We have won other awards over the years, but this is the big one in most of our members’ minds because it’s the one that speaks to us as a whole.”
The award comes from the local JCI chapter’s involvement in a number of local and internal events.
“We run some great projects like the bike swap, which is run with Northstar Bicycle Company, our work on Canada Day when we partnered with the Fire Hall and recently we were at Ed Fest, working with the Key City Theatre,” said Gowans.
“We also hosted the [JCI] National Convention last year at the ski hill in Kimberley, and we provide 12 training sessions a year to our members,” explained Gowans. “JCI’s job, before all of the projects, is to provide leadership opportunities to our members.”
Past president of the local chapter was also honoured at the event.
“Shonna Murphy won President of the Year, which deserves to be highlighted. It’s a tough award to win,” said Gowans.
Gowans said JCI Kootenay also received a Chapter Excellence award.
“JCI Kootenay was founded 20 years ago and at this year’s national convention, we were awarded with Chapter Excellence for the 15th year in a row,” said Gowans. “That gets us to the Diamond level, which is the highest level in the country.”
