Outstanding Leadership
& Community Impact Award - 2021

Kavi's contributions to Hollyburn from 2016 to 2021 were truly exceptional. As an integral sailing coach and performance coach, eventually taking on the responsibility of HSC’s Program Director, Kavi's visionary leadership and community impact were unparalleled.

HSC is proud to recognize the outstanding impact that Kavi had during his tenure, which included over 5,000 recorded work hours.

During Kavi's time as HSC's Program Director, he made significant and positive changes to the organization. Kavi was able to run every fiscal year at a surplus, which was a stark contrast to the ~$30,000 lost by the previous administration in 2018. Under Kavi's leadership, HSC's seasonal race teams tripled in size, with a record 96 participants and 7 teams in the fall season of 2020, and grew to have ~400 annual participants. Kavi also showed a remarkable commitment to the future of HSC by leading the project to replace HSC's fleet with 32 modern dinghies, which allowed for more students, higher quality teaching, and larger performance race teams. Additionally, Kavi created all current administrative structures, handbooks, and procedures for staff, which has made HSC a more empowering and supportive place to work. His initiatives included ensuring there were multiple pathways for club employees to advance and grow, hiring an RCC for staff professional development and guidance, implementing paid mental health days, and formalizing employee-to-director feedback sessions to promote long-term employee well-being.

Kavi's exceptional leadership at HSC created an excellent community that has continued even after his retirement. Kavi's leadership was tested by two enormous challenges: the COVID pandemic, which started a few months after Kavi took the position of Program Director, and the tragic suicide of an employee. Nevertheless, Kavi dedicated himself to facilitating the growth and psychological well-being of others and ensured that his team had the tools to further help students during challenging times: epitomizing trickle-down care and leading to him being called a mentor by many. Kavi developed a strong reputation for helping people to be their best selves. Beyond his own helping, Kavi created a culture that taught healthy resiliency, praised open communication, normalized conflict resolution, revolved around genuine trust, centred discussions around mental health, and ultimately led to a space where staff and students alike could be safely seen, heard, and supported. During a time when many communities fell apart, Kavi used his challenges to strengthen his, as evidenced by his ability to retain the same group of 19 paid employees (i.e., no turnover) while overseeing a record total of 50 volunteers between 2019 – 2021.

The physical and administrative changes, the empowered groups of individuals, and the shared set of values that unite them will persist as Kavi’s legacy.

Thank you for all you have done.