The City of Kitchener announces 2026 Senior of the Year

The City of Kitchener's 2026 Senior of the Year, presented by the Mayor's Advisory Council for Kitchener Seniors (MACKS) in partnership with Mayor Berry Vrbanovic and City Council, honours one outstanding citizen over the age of 65 who has enriched the social, cultural or civic life of their community. At a special recognition event held recently at Victoria Park Pavilion, local community volunteer Randy McCarten was awarded Kitchener's 2026 Senior of the Year.      

Randy was recognized for his decades of leadership, teamwork, and unwavering commitment to supporting children, youth and families in our community. He has been a reliable volunteer driver with Family & Children’s Services for more than 15 years, completing more than 3,000 drives to help children get to school, access programs and stay connected with family. For more than 30 years, Randy has taken on key leadership roles with Kitchener Minor Hockey Association, including Coach, Convenor, Director, Vice-President, President, and now Past President. He is known for creating positive, inclusive experiences for young athletes. As a Director with the Kitchener Rangers (OHL), Randy’s leadership helped bridge minor hockey and major junior hockey.  

The celebration also recognized the outstanding contributions and achievements of 12 incredible nominees, including: 

To learn more about this year's Senior of the Year award recipient and all the nominees, their bios are available at Kitchener.ca/SOTY.  

The Senior of the Year selection panel, made up of members of Kitchener City Council, MACKS, Volunteer Waterloo Region, and City of Kitchener staff, carefully reviews each nomination and selects a candidate whose contributions make a unique and positive impact on the community.    

The month of June is also recognized as  Seniors Month in Ontario, a time to acknowledge and honour the amazing seniors in our lives across the province.