Steinbach city council has created an award to honour groups and citizens who have made a positive impact on the community. It is called the Community Contribution Award. Mayor Chris Goertzen told city council he got the idea while attending the annual Premier's Volunteer Awards ceremony earlier this year. He adds it's time to give recognition locally where recognition is due.

"Our city has so many great people contributing on a volunteer basis in so many different organizations. We also have organizations that work so hard to make our city better. It's important that we recognize these people, not only when we meet them on the street and when we see them working hard to make our community better, but also through a formal process. So we created the Community Contribution Award that will recognize groups and individuals who make our city better by volunteering their time on many, many different projects."

Councillor Cari Penner made the motion to create the awards.

"I think this is just critical because we have so many people who contribute so very much in very many different ways and organizations in this community. I'm so proud of all of the organizations and individuals who contribute in different ways and we see it every day. It's going to be very difficult to determine who should get the awards because we have so very many capable people who have done so much for us."

Mayor Goertzen says nominations will be brought forward by council members through the mayor's office and will be ratified by city council.