Gena Barzan was caught by surprise as she was presented with Vernon's Good Citizen of the Year award by JCI Vernon at the Animal Auxiliary Thrift Store on 29th Ave. (Pete McIntyre/Vernon Matters photo)

By Pete McIntyre

annual award

‘To see people smile, or save their animal, or feed somebody, is beyond words’: Vernon’s Good Citizen of Year

Jan 25, 2024 | 3:00 PM

To say Gena Barzan was surprised that she had been named Vernon’s Good Citizen of the Year for 2023 would be an understatement.

Barzan, the executive director of the Animal Auxiliary Thrift Store, was getting the monthly seniors food hampers ready to distribute Thursday when members of JCI Vernon and Kidston Helm Ross Lawyers entered the store en mass and presented her with the award that recognizes community service.

“I can’t believe it. This is amazing. I never expected anything like this. It’s definitely a group effort, and a community effort, but I really appreciates this,” Barzan exclaimed.

Here’s how it looked:

Council grants

Vernon to distribute over $50k in Council Discretionary Grants, $20K to the food bank

10h ago

Possible firearm involved

One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream

Dec 13, 2025

Fatal Collision, Highway Closed

One person dead in crash near Revelstoke

Dec 13, 2025

Barzan said their store on 29th Avenue sells used clothing and other items and uses the funds to help people with animals, rescue groups and seniors in need.

“We’re disaster commanders for floods and fires, and we help people daily with animal food and needs that can’t afford it, plus we have a monthly senior program where we give food hamper to seniors once a month,” Barzan told Vernon Matters.

Good Citizen winner Gena Barzan with colleagues from the Animal Auxiliary Thrift Store and members of Kidston Helm Ross Lawyers (Pete McIntyre/Vernon Matters photo)

Barzan said they have been providing services in Vernon for about six years, while her work in disaster and animal rescues goes back to around 2005.

She said it’s rewarding.

“Yes it is. To see people smile, or to save their animal, or feed somebody, is beyond words, and knowing they can come to us to get help is very rewarding.”

As part of the award, Barzan gets $500 from the law firm to donate to the charity of her choice which she said she would donate to Forever Home Sanctuary which she said “needs barns for their animals.”

Good Citizen award winner Gena Barzan with members of JCI Vernon and Kidston Helm Ross Lawyers. (Vernon Matters photo)

Dayna Watters, past president of JCI Vernon, said Barzan was among about a dozen people nominated for the award, and she was nominated by Robin Steg.

“It’s definitely one of our favourite projects that we get to do in the year,” Watters said.

Michael Isobe, president of JCI Vernon, said Barzan stood out among the nominees as someone who cares for animals and seniors.

“We’re recognizing someone in the community who does good work, who is nominated by the community, for the charitable work they do for Vernon,” Isobe told Vernon Matters.

As part of the award, Barzan will be part of the Vernon Winter Carnival parade on Saturday, Feb. 3.