Kimberley’s John Boucher to be Honoured with the Jack Ratcliffe Commitment to Community Award

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The City of Kimberley is proud to announce John Boucher as the 2025 recipient of the Jack Ratcliffe Commitment to Community Award, recognizing more than four decades of extraordinary service to the community. At 80 years old, John continues to volunteer with the same energy and generosity that marked his beginnings in the late 1970s, and his contributions have left a lasting impact on countless residents and organizations.

John’s commitment to Kimberley began in the 1970s through volunteer roles with the Kimberley Rotary Club, coaching Kimberley Minor Baseball, and serving as a director for both the Kimberley Hospital Society and the Kimberley Golf Club, establishing a foundation of service that would only grow in scope. Through the 1980s, he expanded his leadership regionally as President of the BC Winter Games, a director on both the Cranbrook Kimberley Futures Committee and the Kootenay Real Estate Board, and co‑chair of the BC Men’s Labatt Tankard Curling Championships. He also volunteered extensively with the Canadian Disabled Ski Championships, eventually chairing both the championship and the associated ski festival.

In the 1990s, John’s dedication took him to the national and international stage. He served as a director for the Canadian Disabled Ski Association and played key leadership roles with the Canadian Paralympic Team, including Chef de Mission for the teams competing in Tignes, France, and Lillehammer, Norway, and later as Alpine Team Manager for the Paralympic Games in Nagano, Japan. His involvement elevated Canadian para‑sport and supported countless athletes on their journey to international competition.

From 2000 to 2010, John continued his service back home as a director of the Kimberley Health Centre, sport chair for the Kimberley–Cranbrook BC Winter Games, and director of volunteers for the Bootleg Sled Dog Races, strengthening both local health services and community sporting events. His contributions from 2011 to 2020 included leading volunteer operations for the Capital One Canada Cup Curling in Cranbrook, serving as President of Zone 7 for the 55+ BC Games Society, coordinating golf for the Zone 7 contingent, supporting the BC and Western Canadian Orienteering Championships, and co‑chairing the silent auction for a major KPB fundraiser.

In recent years, John has continued to exemplify community compassion through both sport and social support. Since 2021, he has volunteered with the Canadian Orienteering Championships, served as a director with the Canadian Mental Health Association – Kootenay Chapter, and provides weekly check‑in calls to isolated seniors who often have no family support and face significant health challenges. He also worked as a Crisis Line Responder for CMHA Interior Health until December 2024, offering critical support to individuals in crisis. Looking ahead, John continues to contribute to local culture and celebration as host coordinator for the upcoming Kimberley Pipe Band 100th Anniversary Tattoo in 2027.

Quietly, consistently, and with unwavering humility, John has shaped Kimberley into a more caring and connected community. His lifelong volunteerism, leadership, and compassion embody the very spirit of the Jack Ratcliffe Commitment to Community Award, making him an exceptionally deserving honouree. In addition to receiving a plaque to take home, John’s name will join the list of other award recipients on a plaque in Council Chambers at City Hall. John is also eligible to donate $500 to a non-profit organization of his choice and has chosen the Kimberley-Cranbrook Hospice Society.

This award honours the memory of its namesake, Jack Ratcliffe, who passed away in late 2025. Jack was known for his dedication to community and his belief in the power of volunteerism. His legacy of kindness, service, and civic pride lives on through this award, which continues to reflect the values he championed and shared with Kimberley throughout his life.