The City of Burnaby has revealed its 2021 Outstanding Citizen of the Year winner.
Mary Gates was chosen as the Kushiro Cup recipient and the outstanding citizen of the year for "her kind approach to community building and inclusion," the city said in a staff report.
The award honours citizens who make tremendous contributions to their community and supports the city's corporate strategic plan goals of having a connected, inclusive and healthy community.
Gates has been the chair of the District 4 Community Policing Advisory Committee, a Burnaby Citizens Crime Watch member, Block Watch Co-Captain and a volunteer with the Southwest Community Police Office.
She has also been volunteering with Girl Guides of Canada for more than 30 years.
"Mary is a role model and a natural leader who has made community volunteerism her lifestyle," the city said in a news release.
"Through decades of selfless service and dedication, she has constantly strived to make the world around her better and safer for all."
Her nominees said Gates is a natural leader who has made community volunteerism her lifestyle and is constantly striving to make the world a better place.
"Mary Gates is a testament to the sentiment best described by Plato many centuries ago: 'This city is what it is because our citizens are what they are.'"
