The Rotary Club of Penticton Sunrise has named Princess Margaret Secondary School teacher Joshua Walker as the recipient of the 2026 Rotary Unsung Citizen of Penticton Award.
Presented during a special dinner at the Penticton Golf & Country Club, the award recognizes individuals whose volunteer service strengthens the community and reflects Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self.”
Walker is the ninth recipient of the honour and also received honorary Paul Harris Fellow recognition, Rotary International’s highest distinction for non-members.
Walker was recognized for his leadership of the Penticton Robotics Club, which he helped establish in 2019. The program brings together students from School District 67 to design, build and program robots for competition in the Pacific Regional FIRST Robotics Competition in Vancouver.
Under Walker’s mentorship, the club has grown into one of the region’s most successful related programs. The team earned the Rookie All-Star Award in its first year and has since captured several major honours, including the Design Challenge Award (2021), Creativity Award (2024), and the Canadian Pacific Regional Winner title (2025).
Students, parents and colleagues praised Walker’s commitment to helping young people develop technical skills, leadership abilities and confidence through hands-on learning. Many credited him with inspiring career paths in engineering, programming, skilled trades and other fields.
Beyond robotics, Walker teaches a range of technology and trades courses at Princess Margaret Secondary and supports the School District 67 Indigenous Trades Boot Camp.
“The opportunities Josh creates extend far beyond the classroom,” said Princess Margaret Secondary principal Bo Boxall, in a press release.
“His work reflects a deep commitment to service, education and community.”
Rotary officials said Walker’s dedication to students, science and tech education and community service has created a lasting legacy in School District 67, making him a deserving recipient of the Rotary Unsung Citizen Award.