The City of Nelson held the 2024 Annual Reception at the Adventure Hotel on December 10, where Mayor Janice Morrison announced the 2025 Sports Ambassador and provided three Sustainability Leadership Awards.
2025 Sports Ambassador: Atlyn Proctor
The Sports Ambassador designation is awarded to an individual athlete, group, team or other individual for achieving a high standard of excellence in their athletic pursuits and who will represent Nelson’s sports and recreational community over the coming year.
Atlyn Proctor graduated from L.V. Rogers Secondary School in the spring. After graduation, she went to Hutchinson Community College in Kansas on a full scholarship. She plays volleyball for the college’s Blue Dragons as a left side. She was first in the conference for kills. Atlyn earned her second Team All Star this year, and says she hopes for bigger and better things for her team and herself next year.
When City staff told Atlyn she had been selected as our ambassador, she responded by saying: “I am honoured and humbled by being selected for Nelson’s Sports Ambassador as we have such a sports-minded and supportive community. I can’t thank you enough for this, and I am proud to be selected for this award.”
Sustainability Leadership Awards
The City’s Sustainability Leadership Awards go to organizations or individuals contributing to the five pillars of sustainability as set out in the City’s Path to 2040 Sustainability Plan. These pillars are cultural strength, healthy neighborhoods, robust ecosystems, prosperity and resiliency.
There are three recipients this year.
L.V. Rogers Secondary School Green Team
The Green Team is a non-credit school club at L.V. Rogers Secondary School. Its main aim is to increase the sustainability and eco-friendliness of the school as well as to provide an outlet for students who are ecologically minded. The club has approximately 25 members and meets once a week to discuss initiatives and all things ecological. Over the three years teacher Tim Wooldridge has been involved with the club, they have:
- Checked on the efficiency of the solar panels on the school roof
- Run a weekly recycling drive to collect recyclables such as pop cans, paper and cardboard
- Contributed to the education of students as to what is and what is not recyclable at the school
- Held Climate Action Summits and Symposiums at the school with invited speakers and guests
- Fundraised and implemented a 100% bear-friendly garbage can system at the school with the assistance of the Ursa Project
- Fundraised and contributed to a 100% Green School in Malawi, Africa
- Created a Green Team Courtyard Garden
The Green Team will be using the $1,150 honorarium that comes with their award towards even more initiatives to help LVR be the greenest school it can be.
Brett Adams
Brett Adams has over two decades of coaching experience and 12 years of dedicated service as the Technical Director of the Nelson Soccer Association. This past July, under Brett’s leadership, Nelson Soccer Association achieved an unprecedented feat—coaching three teams to medal victories at the BC Soccer B Cup Provincials. The U15 girls and U17 girls both earned gold, while the U15 boys brought home silver. Moreover, Nelson Soccer Association received the prestigious Fair Play Award, a testament to the exemplary sportsmanship and character that Brett instills in his players.
Nelson and District Credit Union
Nelson & District Credit Union supports the communities they serve through their community investment program. They provide funding assistance and sponsorships in the areas of education, community, economic development, social responsibility, wellness, recreation, arts, culture and heritage. They have programs to support elementary and secondary schools, with the expectation that, over time, as many students as possible will receive some benefit from this support. They also recognize students with scholarships for their academic, volunteer and community achievements. In the past 24 years, the credit union has provided more than $4 million back to local communities through their generosity.
Joy Barrett, Cultural Development Officer, and Sydney Black, from the Cultural Development Committee, presented the Cultural Ambassador and Heritage Awards. Details on those awards and the recipients are included in the related press releases.