Bernadette Siracky (second from left) and James Schnackenberg (right) accepting the Excellence in Food Banking Award. (Image Credit: Food Banks Canada)

By Victor Kaisar

National Award

Kamloops Food Bank wins national excellence award

Jun 28, 2025 | 3:22 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Food Bank is the recipient of the Excellence in Food Banking Award for a large food bank, which it won during the Food Banks Canada National Conference gala in Montreal last week.

This biannual award is given out to a food bank that serves more than 1,500 clients per month. It is meant to celebrate the most outstanding food banks in the Food Banks Canada network.

“The Kamloops Food Bank has consistently demonstrated excellence through innovative programs and resilience in the face of challenges,” Kirstin Beardsley, Chief Executive Officer, Food Banks Canada said, in a statement.

“Whether through their exceptionally robust food recovery program, their efforts to share their expertise with other food banks or their leadership during natural disasters, they exemplify impact. “

In the statement, the Kamloops Food Bank said its foodSHARE program has kept three million kilograms of greenhouse gas out of the atmosphere and 25 million pounds of food out of the landfill.

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It also notes that in 2024, it collected 2.6 million pounds of food valued at $9.3 million.

The Kamloops Food Bank – which is a hub for other smaller food banks in the Interior – serves over 10,000 people a year, an 80 per cent increase from 2021. Over the past two years, it has continued to expand its services with fundraisers, staffing, and equipment.

“It was an honour to be selected amongst this amazing group of passionate and dedicated individuals who wake up every morning with one thought on their mind: advancing humanity,” Kamloops Food Bank Executive Director Bernadette Siracky said.

“Everyone in that room and across our country does excellent work every day when we provide an individual or a family with some food when they are lacking. This award is truly an honour, even though I know there are so many deserving food banks across Canada accomplishing the same goals.”

This the second time that the Kamloops Food Bank has won the national award during Siracky’s tenure as Executive Director, which began in 2008. Kamloops previously won the award in 2015 when it was classified as a nedimood bank,for the medium food banking category.

Siracky accepted the award alongside James Schnackenberg, Non-Perishable Operations Lead at the Kamloops Food Bank.