Nominations are being sought for the 37th Home Town Hero. This year marks the 14th anniversary of the program sponsored by the Meadowridge Sports Hero Society.

The program recognizes new heroes into the program every year.

Posters with write-ups about the Home Town Heroes are displayed across the community at schools, recreational centres and local businesses as a way to inspire youth in the community.

"The message is simple, if we can tell our youth that these heroes played 'in my gym,' 'in my sports league,' or 'on my team' and that they, too, can get there from here," said William Robson, who is running the Home Town Heroes program.

Last year's nomination went to kayaker Sean McBeath who as a child once told his father "I want to be on that wall someday." It seems the program is working.

Other past Home Town Heroes include Brendan Morrison, Cam Neely, Andrew Ladd, and Debbie Brill.

Deadline for this year's nominations is Friday, Sept. 7.

The criteria for Home Town Heroes are that the athletes must have lived in Maple Ridge or Pitt Meadows, attended school in Maple Ridge or Pitt Meadows, played on local sports teams or local youth organizations, and gone on to compete at an international level.

Nominations should be directed to RMSportsheroes@gmail.com.