The Far West Ski Association honors top volunteers each year through the Councils’ Volunteer of the Year Program. Each council may nominate a member to be honored throughout the convention. A panel of judges scores the résumés of the nominees and conducts on-site interviews. The winning candidate is announced at the Saturday evening banquet as the FWSA Volunteer of the Year. Big White Ski Resort, our generous sponsor of this program since 2001, gives the winner a ski vacation for two at the resort.

Many may not be aware that the FWSA Councils’ Man and Woman of the Year Recognition Program started in 1982, fol-lowing several different iterations (beauty pageants and “Kings” and “Queens”) that began in 1975. In 2021, the presidents of the FWSA member councils voted to change the award once more, reflecting ever-changing socio-dynamics that de-manded a more gender-neutral title. As a result of this change, we’re pleased to bring you the very first “Councils’ Volun-teer of the Year Recognition Program,” and its very first honorees!

And while we’re here to honor these exceptional volunteers, we also want to extend our extreme gratitude to Big White Ski Resort, who has been our sponsor for more than twenty years. This program would be nothing without their continued support. We look forward to sending our winning honorees to visit our friends in Canada for many years to come.