OUR 2025 AMBASSADORS

Our 2025 Team is led by Youth Ambassador Kara Kakuno and Vice Ambassador Avaiah Pelletier. The 2026 candidates will be officially introduced to the community at the Youth Ambassador Banquet and Ball in April.

Pictured here are members of our 2025 Youth Ambassador team throughout their year.

THE COMMITTEE

The Cranbrook Youth Ambassador Program is run by the 1992 Sweetheart Society and has been coordinated by Karin Penner since its inception in 1965. We are a non-profit society made up entirely of volunteers who are passionate about giving back to our community and helping provide a unique learning opportunity for our youth.

For many of us, the reason we help out is because of the valuable life lessons this program taught us and the lasting, positive impact it has had on our personal and professional lives.

Our Committee’s Board currently has six members. Throughout the course of the program, we bring in guest speakers and community volunteers to assist in all facets of the Program.

  • Founder and Coordinator

    Karin Penner has been Coordinating the Program since its inception. She has been named a Cranbrook Citizen of the Year, is a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient, recipient of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, and the recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her community service, leadership, dedication and volunteerism.

  • Director

    Jenn was a candidate in 2002, and after relocating back to Cranbrook, wanted to get back involved in supporting the youth in our community. She has been an active member of the committee for 15 years. A mom of four, and a Director with Connect Church, Jenn is known for her heart centered, deeply compassionate leadership style. She assists candidates in every way possible and provides one of the most valuable sessions of the year when she shares the Financial Management and Budgeting lessons.

  • Treasurer

    Abbey is our newest Committee member, having served five years on the Committee in an official capacity and is the current Treasurer. Abbey works in her family business. She was the Sweetheart Youth Ambassador in 2017 and has remained involved in the program ever since. She brings new ideas, fresh energy and so much spirit to the team. Abbey married her husband Noah this September!

  • Director

    Nikki was a candidate in the program in 2007 and after pursuing her post-secondary studies in Theatre and Stage Management in Alberta, returned to Cranbrook and to the Program as a Committee member 15 years ago. Her strong background in theatre makes her a valued member of our team as the Stage Technical Director, choreographer and mentor for candidates. She has returned to her theatre roots and is heavily involved in Cranbrook’s theatre community with her husband Matt.

  • Director

    Loree is the Communications Manager for the Regional District of East Kootenay. She has extensive public speaking and communications training. She has been involved in the program for over 30 years and has been assisting with the Program Coordination for over 20. She is the recipient of Cranbrook Citizen of the Year Award (2003), CMHA Volunteer of the Year, Government Game Changer, Sam Steele Super Trooper award, and Tracy Wright Stoke Award for her community involvement. In 2024, she received the King Charles III Coronation work for her crisis communications work and service to the East Kootenay.

  • Selection Panel Chair

    Adrianne is a Director on the Committee and for the past 3 years has served as our Selection Panel Chair. She is a former Miss Penticton and has dedicated years of community service and volunteerism - not only to our program, but to numerous sports and dance programs through her three children’s activities. Through her role as Selection Panel Chair, she oversees the organizing of the selection panel for the program, and acts as an independent member of the committee in this role.