Valmiera Region: Honorees & People of the Year

They do for real, so their works really live, inspire, touch a corner of the heart, set something new in motion or take care of continuation. They do for real, and it doesn’t matter how big or small the works are, how visible or invisible the doer himself is, their works count if they allow us to see what is really true and real.

Thanks for the important contribution and in anticipation of the 107th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia, on November 16, in a solemn ceremony in the contemporary art space “Kurtuve”, the recipients of the highest awards of Valmiera region “Honorary citizen of Valmiera region” and “Valmiera region’s person of the year” were welcomed.

“While waiting for Latvia’s birthday, it is a special pleasure and pride to welcome the recipients of the “Honorary Citizen of Valmiera County” and “Valmiera County Person of the Year” awards. These people, with their work, attitude and outlook on life, make Valmiera County a better place for us to be, and thus make Latvia stronger. I believe that the news of the award was unexpected for them, but that is what makes their performance special – they act according to their best conscience. without expecting a reward, they do it because they see the need for it and can’t do otherwise! What you have done will continue and start other good works in the future! May Valmiera continue to be a place for your work and passion!” thanked Jānis Baiks, chairman of Valmiera municipality council.

For the contribution to the promotion of the passing down of musical traditions from generation to generation, to the maintenance of brass band traditions, by bringing up several generations in different groups of instruments, for the ability to interest students, as they creatively improve and grow in the field of music, for pedagogical and community strengthening work, creating a community that sounds and inspires, for an invaluable contribution to the development and quality improvement of brass bands, for passion and professionalism, leading brass bands and reaching high results in competitions and shows, for carrying the name of Rūjiena and Valmiera regions, being the chief conductor of the 13th Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival, chief conductor of the Wind Orchestra of Vidzeme Region, the award “Honorary Citizen of Valmiera Region” was received by the Rūjiena Culture Center’s brass band “Tālava taurejās”, the Rūjiena High School Brass Band and the Valmiera Culture Center Brass Band Leader of “Signal”, teacher Guido Brenchev.

For a significant and lasting contribution to the development of the local community, preservation of cultural and historical heritage and promotion of public life, for leading the Rūjiena folk school with an excellent sense of responsibility, creative thinking and the ability to unite different generations in common goals, with care and respect for the past, promoting the transfer of historical knowledge to future generations, for strengthening the local community, creating a cohesive, active and open society, for implementing high-quality events, with creativity and initiative offering diverse cultural and educational events that enrich the public life of the county, for long-term and exemplary activity, working for the county with perseverance and great personal dedication over the years and becoming a vivid example of civic activity and local patriotism, the award “Honorary Citizen of Valmiera County” was awarded to the head of the Rūjiena folk school Gita Zariņa.

For investing work and love in the development of Valmiera, being the soul of Valmiera Pārgauja primary school for 16 years, providing a high-quality educational process with modern and creative approaches not only at the level of teaching, but also at the management level, for humane attitude, warmth of heart, optimism and joy, which students, teachers and parents received every day, for creating confidence that any difficulties can be overcome, proving it brilliantly by leading one of the largest primary schools for a long time In Latvia, where more than 600 students study every year, for carrying the name of Valmiera not only in Latvia, but also in the world, for patriotism for their city, country and passing these values to the new generation, the award “Honorary citizen of Valmiera province” was received by the long-time director of Valmiera Pārgauja primary school, now in a well-deserved rest, Victor Litaunieks.

For an invaluable contribution not only to the development of the sport of rowing slalom, but also to the urban environment of Valmiera, by developing and maintaining the rowing slalom track “Krāces”, which is a unique object in Latvia – built with selfless work, perseverance and public support, for arranging the waterfront and the promenade, which has become a popular place for walks and one of Valmiera’s business cards, for involving a community of abilities in several generations, working together to improve the part of the city, for the contribution to the development of the new generation of rowing by training rowing slalom athletes, including former and current Latvian and Latvian youth champions, for the work that enabled Valmiera to host Latvian championships and international tournaments in rowing slalom, the “Honorary citizen of Valmiera region” award was given to the rowing slalom coach Ligonis Bechers.

For a long-term contribution to the development of sports in the Valmiera region and Latvia, for a contribution to the development of the BMX cycling movement by building the BMX track “Avotos”, as well as founding the BMX sports club “Tālava”, which was the basis for athletes from our region to compete in every Olympic Games since BMX cycling was included in the Olympic Games program, for the still invaluable involvement, taking care and participating not only in the development of BMX sports, but also in the development of tennis and golf. “Honorary citizen of Valmiera region” was received by a sports enthusiast, official John Mattison.

For developing a sustainable business, developing Valmiermuiža as a place as a whole, for promoting learning about the history of Valmiermuiža, developing and glorifying the special story of Valmiermuiža in Latvia and beyond its borders, being able to bring countless tourists to Valmiermuiža and Valmiera with its activities and thus introducing our history, for quality management of the Valmiermuiža brewery since 2006, involving the infrastructure, in the projects of beautification, preservation and strengthening of culture and traditions, for the development of the cultural and historical center of Valmiermauiža, for promoting cooperation between the municipality and the non-governmental sector, contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage and taking care of the continuation of the story of Valmiermauiža, the award “Honorary Citizen of Valmiera County” was received by a businessman Aigars Rungis.

For selfless work in the preparation of the Māras Stromberg BMX track “Valmiera” for the 2025 UEC BMX European Championship, for promoting the development of BMX sports in the Valmiera district, both as a coach and by participating in the organization of competitions, for professionalism and selfless work in preparing young athletes, including student Sandra Aleksejeva won the right to compete in the Olympic Games in London, as well as students regularly showing high-quality performance in the stages of the European championships and world championships, Latvian champion titles won many times, for developing BMX sport on a Latvian scale, acting as a member of the board of the Latvian Cycling Federation, since 2023 being the trainer of the BMX department of the Valmiera High-Class Athlete Training Center and currently being part of the coaching staff of the national team, the senior trainer of the Valmiera Sports School’s BMX department received the award “Valmiera County Man of the Year” Olaf Lakuč.

For responsible, structured, precise work, enthusiasm, welcoming and sincerity, doing much more than the coordinator required, thus ensuring that the participants of the Valmiera region could fully enjoy the 13th Latvian Schools Youth Song and Dance Festival, for personal, interested attitude towards each participant and team, accuracy and depth in the immediate solution of even the smallest problem, ensuring that the participation of the Valmiera region in the ambitious event was so successful and sounded like a model for other municipalities in Latvia, the “Valmiera County Person of the Year” award went to the coordinator of the XIII Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival in Valmiera County Baiba Zaltzmane.

For representing Valmiera region in sports, proving your superhuman abilities and thus inspiring both athletes and everyone about what can be achieved with tireless work, for regular participation in ultramarathons both in Latvia and outside the country, always emphasizing your belonging to Valmiera, which helps promote the city as a place where excellent, purposeful and physically strong people come from, for high self-discipline, perseverance and the desire to develop yourself – values, which are essential not only in sports, but also in society as a whole, for outstanding performances in sports, including winning the Rīga-Valmiera ultramarathon in 2025, becoming the winner of the endurance test “Backyard ultra” for the third time in the “Lūša pēdās 2025” race, convincingly winning the Latvian championship in the 24-hour race, in which not only a new Latvian, but also a world record in the V-50 age group was achieved, the award “Valmiera County Person of the Year” was awarded to an ultramarathoner, a running enthusiast Ritvars Kalniņš.

For her invaluable contribution over many years in laying the foundations of dance for the children and young people of Mazsalaca, being not only the leader of dance groups, but also an inspiring teacher – a person who teaches to love culture, work and Latvian values through dance, for participating in the XIII Latvian Schools’ Youth Song and Dance Festival, bringing with her the name, warmth and joy of dancing from Mazsalaca, for the work of the heart that shows how much a person who believes in his own can achieve dancers and the strength of our folk traditions, for devoting more than 20 years to Latvian folk dance and its dancers, continuing to ignite the desire to dance in children, the award “Valmiera province’s person of the year” was awarded to the dance teacher of the Mazsalaca Music and Art Elementary School, the leader of the Mazsalaca Culture Center’s dance groups and the entrepreneur Aija Vidovska.

The recipients of the awards were presented with a special badge of honor of the Valmiera region. It depicts the coat of arms of Valmiera county – an oak tree on a hill in a golden field and at the foot of water, symbolizing Latvianness, thoroughness, stability, strength, love of nature, succession and traditions, striving for growth and development, life and dynamism.

The event was enriched by singer Goran Gora, the ceremony was led by Valmiera Theater actor Artis Jančevskis and Daile Theater actor Meynards Liepiņš.

The awards “Honorary Citizen of Valmiera Region” and “Man of the Year of Valmiera Region” were presented for the fourth time after the establishment of Valmiera Region. The applications submitted by residents for awards were evaluated by an independent commission approved by the Valmiera municipality council – residents of Valmiera, representatives of various fields.