Covid-19 heroes set to be honoured at awards event
Communities across Stirling are to be given the chance to thank those who have made a difference to local lives, including over the course of the pandemic.
The Provost’s Civic Awards is to take place in early spring 2022.
The awards had been scheduled to take place in autumn 2020 but were postponed due to the global Covid-19 crisis.
Nominations made for the postponed awards will still be eligible for consideration.
While previous ceremonies have taken place at a Stirling Castle reception, the 2022 affair is expected to be more low key - but still face-to-face.
The 2022 Provost’s Civic Awards event will be the 14th held since the award scheme’s inception in 1998.
The event was developed to formally recognise the significant contributions made by individuals or groups to Stirling communities, and those who have achieved national recognition in other areas.
At a meeting of Stirling Council’s civic panel, it was agreed that Provost Christine Simpson and the depute panel convener and chief officer for governance should decide on the venue format at an appropriate time, given the ongoing uncertainty, and will also consider a final list of categories.
Categories over the years have included: academic, arts and culture, business, community, special achievement, sport, international relations, voluntary work, youth.
In addition, in 2010 an award for outstanding citizenship was introduced - the William ‘Citizen’ Jaffray Award.
In a report to the panel, officers said: “As this is a high profile event to thank those members of the public that make a significant contribution to their communities, the awards event has customarily been held at Stirling Castle.
“However, due to the pandemic it is felt that a more low key ceremony would be appropriate. The event could take the format of an afternoon tea or a wine and canapes evening.
“Should a face to face event be unachievable then a virtual celebration could be arranged. It will be necessary for planning purposes to agree the form of the event in early course.”
Officers said nominations received for the postponed 2020 awards were still on file, although consideration of where they would fit into the finalised list of categories for the 2022 awards may have to be looked at.
Councillor Susan McGill said: “I was going to suggest have two sets of awards the ones we would have given then, given the extraordinary circumstances we have been through, another set of awards.”
Councillor Graham Houston added: “I wonder whether we should just reflect the special circumstances we have come through. In respect of arts and culture there has been very little they have been able to do and sport was virtually stopped. Perhaps we should just be looking for people who have made contributions to the lives fo their communities amid the challenges rather than thinking of the categories.”
Provost Simpson said: “I think we should try to reconcile the nominations we already have and incorporate them into the total nominations for this event. “
Councillor McGill said while she agreed “to a point” over the pandemic there had been some who had shown themselves to be leaders and enthusiastic community members who may not have been able to do that before.
Officers said they could write to those who submitted nominations in 2020 to inform them that there would be some focus on contributions made during the pandemic and asking if there was further information they should consider.