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Heidi Romich féted as Citizen of the Year
Heidi Romich was féted as 2019 Cranbrook Citizen of the Year during a gala evening at the Heritage Inn and Conference Centre Jan. 24.
The owner of The Heidout Restaurant and Fisher Peak Brewing Company was recognized for a wide range of reasons, “backed by overwhelming support from many different areas of the business community,” as the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce noted.
The long-time Cranbrook Rotary Club member has also been a stalwart Downtown Business Association volunteer and a key part of the College of the Rockies Culinary Arts program. As those gathered at the gala learned, Heidi has also been a rock and mentor for many city residents.
The evening featured guest speakers such as City of Cranbrook Councillor and business owner Mike Peabody, who submitted the nomination for Heidi as Citizen of the Year, along with former B.C. government cabinet minister and long-time Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett (who is also President of Cranbrook Rotary), Cranbrook Tourism’s Kristy Jahn Smith, Heidout manager and executive chef Amanda Martz and Rusty Cox and Marlies Romich, with a touching and funny tribute to her mom.
Kootenay East MLA Tom Shypitka, City of Cranbrook Mayor Lee Pratt and Cranbrook Chamber President Jason Fast made presentations. D’Arcy Kennedy and Jason Wheeldon served as evening emcees while Barry Graham and Little Jazz Orchestra provided musical entertainment.
Cranbrook’s Citizens of the Year
1973 – Veronica Main
1974 – Edna Gilmour
1975 – Rick Spooner
1976 – Joyce Metcalfe
1977 – Grace McNeil
1978 – Robert Sheffield
1979 – Alex Demchuk
1980 – Yvonne Skrepnechuk
1981 – Laura Proctor
1982 – Murray Wheaton
1983 – Mike Moore
1984 – Hank Mayberry
1985 – Sam Barrett
1986 – George Poulos
1987 – Maxine and Bud Caldwell
1988 – Don Rogers
1989 – Marlene and Stephen Hudock
1990 – Rick Jensen
1991 – David Stephanuk
1992 – Bud Abbott
1993 – Dusan Tadey
1994 – Garry Anderson
1995 – Marvin ‘Skip’ Fennessy
1996 – Dorothy, Gordon, Josephine and Nancy Van Ochten
1997 – Cheryl McNab
1998 – Wilf Molnar
1999 – Cathy and Mike Patterson
2000 – Gordon Murphy
2001 – Pamela Spiers
2002 – Paul Kershaw
2003 – Loree Duczek
2004 – Dorial and Allan Davis
2005 – Nella Rounsville
2006 – Frank Sandor
2007 – Gary Lancaster
2008 – Dr. Arnold Lowden
2009 – Rod Osiowy
2010 – Art Gruenig
2011 – Chris Ayling
2012 – Jason Wheeldon
2013 – Ken Bridge
2014 – Derek Kotschaga
2015 – Frank Vanden Broek
2016 – Karin Penner
2017 – Mike Adams
2018 – Ann and Jim Wavrecan
2019 – Heidi Romich
Lead image: Ann Wavrecan, left, 2018 co-recipient of Citizen of the Year presents Heidi Romich with the 2019 honour Jan. 24. Jim Wavrecan was unable to attend. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW photo
e-KNOW
