Past Medal of Good Citizenship recipients

Budd Abbott

Philip Henry Abbott, a retired businessman known to most as Bud, received the medal for his commitment to local service with his involvement in worthy causes like Rotary, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Meals on Wheels and the Salvation Army.

The big-hearted resident was active for years in the Cranbrook Community Theatre and often still shows up with friends at an office building or two to sing Christmas carols or Happy Birthday. Bud has sung regularly at local senior’s homes for 40+ years and "Buddn Frenz" and at the time of this recognition was continuing to sing three times weekly for the "old folks" in Cranbrook and Kimberley.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Cranbrook
• Region: Kootenay

Ray Abernethy

Ray Abernethy was honoured with the medal for his dedication to helping women in transition, single moms and dads on income assistance, new immigrant families, refugees, fire victims, seniors and others in Burnaby by providing basic household necessities to relieve the cost of establishing and maintaining a comfortable home.

From its humble beginnings over 35 years ago in Ray’s garage, the Helping Families in Need Society has blossomed into a local organization that operates out of a 585 square-metre (6,500 square-foot) warehouse and helps more than 1,300 families a year. At the time of recognition in 2017 more than 65 Lower Mainland agencies and government offices rely on the Helping Families in Need services by referring clients to the organization. As Ray himself says, "One person can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone."    

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Burnaby
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

The People of Ahousaht First Nation Community & The Community of Tofino

The Community of Tofino and the People of Ahousaht First Nation Community were honoured with the medal of good citizenship for the selfless dedication demonstrated in October 2015 when coming to the assistance of the families and victims of the sinking of the Leviathan II in Tofino.

The community selflessly banded together to help the survivors and their families, the victims’ families and all those involved in the rescue and recovery effort. Despite the incident leaving the community shocked and in mourning, residents opened their houses to strangers, shared food and blankets, and stood in solidarity beside the victims’ families during the candlelight vigil organized by the community to honour and remember those who perished.

The two communities are the first communities ever to receive the Medal of Good Citizenship.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Ahousaht & Tofino
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

Louise Allen

Louise Allen’s extraordinary vision and dedication have been the cornerstone of the Adanac Housing Cooperative (Co-op) in East Vancouver for nearly 50 years. In the early 1970s, Louise, along with her late husband Jack, tirelessly pursued a mortgage through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation and secured land from the City of Vancouver. Their relentless efforts led to the creation of 160 affordable homes, providing a safe and supportive environment for countless families since the mid-1970s.

Louise’s commitment to the Co-op is unwavering. She has been instrumental in every aspect of its operations, from keeping housing charges low and making critical maintenance decisions, to fostering a sense of community through over 20 active committees. Her hands-on approach is legendary, whether it’s handling emergencies in the middle of the night or managing committees like maintenance, landscaping, and security, Louise is always at the forefront, ensuring the well-being of all members.

Louise has a remarkable ability to connect with each resident personally, creating a close-knit community where people support one another. Her efforts have allowed residents to live fulfilling lives, balancing work and family, volunteering, and aging in place with dignity and security.

Even at the age of 90, Louise continues to be a guiding force, offering wisdom and support to the new generation of leaders within the Co-op. Her legacy is evident in the vibrant, caring community she has nurtured, making the Adanac Housing Cooperative a model of affordable housing and community spirit.

• Year Awarded: 2024
• City: Vancouver
• Region: Mainland/ Southwest

Selen Alpay

Selen Alpay moved to Prince George just over a decade ago. Today it is difficult to find a good cause in our city that he has not contributed to or quietly supported, and the line of people who have been touched by his philanthropy, generosity of spirit or personal kindness is lengthy. He is known for his compassion and enormous heart, and one does not need to know him for long, before one realizes that Alpay is a man on a mission to make his world a better place.

As a person, Alpay models good citizenship and humanity to everyone he meets, giving generously of his time to multiple volunteer boards and organizations in the city and beyond; spending time with elders in care at Simon Fraser Lodge; and supporting and mentoring youth within his company and the community. A new branch of the Boys Club Network is being proposed by the Aboriginal Education Department in our school district, and already Alpay is engaged and involved. Any young man enrolled in this new program will benefit from his deep compassion, kindness and wisdom. 

In 2017, he was named a Citizen of the Year by the Prince George Community Foundation in recognition of how he goes above and beyond in volunteerism and philanthropy. As a lifetime volunteer, he has a deep appreciation for community members who give back, and he frequently endeavors to recognize their efforts. Last year's long and difficult fire season saw Prince George receive and host more than 10,000 evacuees from the Cariboo region. Alpay was a key supporter behind an event to recognize the local volunteers who helped during the crisis. 

As a corporate citizen, he sets an exceptional example of social responsibility for other organizations through his wide ranging support of youth, sport, arts, culture, healthcare and social causes. His quiet personal philanthropy extends to his belief in corporate philanthropy, and his company is his most visible way of giving back to the community through sponsorship of, and donations to, countless organizations and events.

As an employer, he truly believes that good culture starts at the top. In recognition of this, in 2017, his Canadian Tire store was presented the award for Outstanding Corporate Culture at the Prince George Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: Prince George
• Region: Cariboo

Judith Armstrong & Nicholas Marsden

Judith Armstrong and Nicholas Marsden, both Victoria residents, received the medal for their decades of dedication to British Columbians with developmental disabilities. They have helped create joy and life enhancing experiences for people with disabilities and inspired hundreds of volunteers to work alongside them.

The seeds of volunteerism began early with Judith when she assisted a Kiwanis-supported Oak Bay high school club that helped people with disabilities followed by work with the Easter Seal Camps. Observing that there were limited opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in events fueled Judith to launch a large, annual track and field event in Victoria where every competitor is matched with a counsellor for the entire duration of the event. She also founded the Handicapped Recreation Society, again with a goal of increasing access for persons with disabilities.

Her volunteer contributions reach beyond the national borders as she serves on the board for the Canadian Foundation for the Children of Haiti which provides funds, materials and expertise to two orphanages, a home for children with disabilities, three schools and a hospital in Port au Prince. She regularly travels with a team to Haiti to deliver supplies to the Hope Home for young people with disabilities.

Nicholas’ volunteerism extends to many arenas. He is part of an army of volunteers who band under the District of Saanich’s Pulling Together Volunteer Program to remove invasive plants and restore ecosystems, and for years he served on the Gordon Head Soccer Association board. For more than 15 years he has helped co-ordinate the annual Math Challengers Contest held at Camosun College, opening the door for participating students aged 13 to 15 to discover the wonder and fun of mathematics.

For more than 45 years, Judith and co-recipient Nicholas have organized Operation Trackshoes, a volunteer-run sports festival geared towards British Columbians with developmental disabilities. Under their leadership, the festival has grown to become a highlight on the provincial calendar that welcomes some 500 competitors between the ages of six and 80. Operation Trackshoes fosters comradery among the participants, who look forward every year to a weekend of races, games, social activities and giving representation to their home communities. Approximately 600 volunteers, including counsellors, nurses and officials, work to make the event a success.

Judith takes charge of counsellor recruitment and competitor care for the event, while Nicholas is the track and field administrator, ensuring events run smoothly by taking care of a myriad of details including writing the computer programs that assist the efficient scheduling of the hundreds of participants and recording their scores.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Victoria
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

Pat Ashton

Pat Ashton was honoured for the incredible mark he has made on Slocan, improving its vibrancy, physical landscape and economic health in the 12+ years he has resided there.

Starting at town hall meetings, Ashton created community enthusiasm and built a 40-member volunteer squad to paint and renovate a former school to include a community gym and install new landscaping. He oversaw the relocation of the village cenotaph to the square and is now involved in planning the landscaping around the cenotaph and grounds. The beautification of the village is an ongoing part of Ashton’s volunteering and includes litter pick-up around the information site and repairs and painting of the village sign.

Pat also devotes energy to improving the area’s economic health, serving for four years on the Slocan Economics Committee where he oversaw the contract to create a plan for a sustainable future for the Slocan.

His service to community and countless hours of volunteering include serving on the Spirit of Slocan Committee. Many community celebrations have benefited from his ongoing involvement. He plays Santa at Christmas events, helps organize Halloween Hoot fireworks, and every Boxing Day he organizes a family skating party.

As president of the Slocan Valley Legion Branch 276 and as part of his support for the legion he organized renovations for the village-owned legion/community hall and researched grants that helped complete them. He does the yearly Poppy service at the school and officiates the community Remembrance Day service.

• Year Awarded: 2017
• City: Slocan
• Region: Kootenay

Troy Becker

Troy Becker, a resident of West Kelowna, was honoured for contributions to making his community a safer place and helping to create life-enhancing opportunities that build confidence for people with disabilities.

A professional firefighter and volunteer search and rescue member since 2001, Troy created the Community Recreation Initiatives Society to benefit people with disabilities wanting outdoor experiences like kayaking, zip lining, bicycle riding and mountain climbing. He and his organization also run annual camps throughout the province for various groups like Spinal Cord Injury British Columbia and families with children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

His creativity and dedication to his community help people of all ages and disabilities, including some with life-threatening illnesses, gain confidence. As well, his passion has inspired many others to volunteer and bring joy to the lives of individuals and their families.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: West Kelowna
• Region: Thompson/Okanagan

Richard Bergen

Richard Bergen was honoured with the medal for his deep capacity to serve the Forest Grove community that benefits many of its citizens.

His service to community and countless hours of volunteering include a myriad of every day chores done with enthusiasm. His volunteerism includes helping with fire hall operations, mowing lawns and clearing snow for seniors and in public spaces, and volunteering at community activities. He is a regular volunteer at school track-and-field events and he helps coach students in shot put.

Richard, who has limited use of his right hand and arm and requires a brace on his right leg following a devastating motor-vehicle accident at age seven, is a powerful role model for exemplary citizenship, making meaningful contributions throughout the community and supporting citizens of all ages.

Always willing to lend a hand, he helped found the Forest Grove 94 Lions Club, is involved with the Forest Grove Community Centre and helps organize a senior walking club, providing social time to a group of seniors. He is also an invaluable volunteer at the Forest Grove Fire Department, looking after dispatch, keeping the hall clean, preparing reports and ordering supplies.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Forest Grove
• Region: Cariboo

Ruth Billmann

In the heart of Kimberley and Cranbrook, Ruth Billmann stands as the driving force behind Meant 2B Loved Pet Rescue Society. As the founder, Ruth's commitment to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming domestic animals has transformed her into the indispensable “heart and soul” of the organization.

Since its inception in 2019, Ruth’s dedication has shone brightly. Whether it's voluntarily caring for challenging cases like Max, a hard-to-place hound, or spearheading trap, neuter and release (TNR) programs to control the feral cat population, her unwavering commitment extends beyond routine efforts. In 2023, she dedicated two weeks to rescuing and finding homes for 60 kittens.

When wildfires threatened the ʔaq'am community, Ruth swiftly organized an emergency animal shelter, prioritizing the safety of scared and disoriented dogs. These selfless actions underscore her resilience and determination to protect animals in need.

Balancing a full-time job, Ruth miraculously saves hundreds of animals annually, often surviving on minimal sleep. Her dedication doesn't stop at the big moments; she invests time in the little things too, from ensuring fosters have what they need to visiting classrooms and participating in fundraisers.

Ruth's compassionate approach inspires countless individuals to join the demanding yet rewarding world of animal rescue. Despite rarely taking time for herself, Ruth's impact resonates throughout Kimberley/Cranbrook, Fernie, Jaffray, Wasa, Fairmont and Creston.

• Year Awarded: 2023
• City: Cranbrook
• Region: Kootenay

Alberta "Wadzeed" Billy

Alberta Billy is an Elder of the We Wai Kai. One of four tribes of the Laich-Kwil-Tach First Nation . We Wai Kai is a large sea worm that lives in the ocean and can never be destroyed. Her given name is Wadzeed meaning “Precious One”.

Alberta showed leadership at a very young age. In 1981, her and colleagues Thelma Davis and Stan McKay were invited to the General Council Executive of the United Church of Canada. This is when Alberta asked the United Church for an apology for their role in residential schools. This led to an historic moment for Canada when, in 1986, the United Church of Canada became the first religious organization to apologize to Indigenous peoples for its part in colonization. Her request for the apology and the delivery of that apology set the stage for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Alberta has dedicated her life to helping and teaching others and has gained the respect and admiration of everyone who meets her. She trained to help those who have experienced trauma and helps many on their path toward healing.

She is a mentor and a role model to many people and inspires Indigenous women to use their voices to speak out against injustice.

Carrying on and sharing traditional knowledge has been a lifelong commitment for Alberta; it has guided her life.

She has travelled across Canada co-facilitating the Building Bridges Through Understanding the Village experiential workshop. This teaching circle shows how all of us are connected and interconnected and is a transformational experience that helps healing and reconciliation. Alberta's co-facilitation and mentorship of The Village has led many to stepping fully into understanding and reconciliation.

Alberta continues to guide and mentor by serving as an Elder on the Board of Laichwiltach Family Life Services, the Elder Advisory Circles for MCFD Aboriginal Child and Youth Mental Health and the John Howard Society's Elders Council.

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: Quathiaski Cove
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

Joan “Bays” Blackhall

The historic village of Fort Langley is regarded as a charming reminder of a gentler age and a slower pace of life, evoking a time when neighbours supported one another and worked for the common good. That Fort Langley has built and sustained this enviable reputation is largely due to the efforts of a single person, Bays Blackhall.

Fort Langley was Bays’ passion; promoting, enhancing, and protecting the village’s character was her mission. Whenever there was a need, Bays was there: developing strategies, soliciting resources, and building partnerships among diverse interest groups.

Bays was resourceful, doing whatever it took to get the job done. Elected officials knew that to resist her was futile. She was always respectful and respected in return. She would suggest, request, coax, and more often than not, her advocacy succeeded.

Although Bays’ involvement in community-building began as a school girl, her innate interest in environmental stewardship, the arts, and heritage conservation took hold and blossomed in Fort Langley.

She mobilized the community to halt the development of a sanitary land fill at the historic Derby town site. She successfully lobbied for the relocation of a planned Fraser River crossing to protect the site of the original Fort Langley. She led community opposition to B.C. Hydro’s plan for a high voltage transmission line along the village’s southern boundary. Bays was a creator as well as a critic, helping to organize the Derby Reach-Brae Island Park Partnership Association and managing the construction of the Houston Trail at Derby Reach Regional Park. She was an original member of the Fraser Valley Eco Museum Steering Committee and the local liaison for the construction of the Trans-Canada Trail Pavilion in Fort Langley.

Bays was active in both heritage and the arts, creating and managing the Fort Langley Grand Prix and Summer Fair and the Fort Festival of the Arts and Summer Strings program for youth. She served on the boards of the Fort Langley Legacy Foundation, the Fort Langley Community Improvement Society, the Langley Heritage Society, and the Langley Community Music School and its capital campaign committee.

Bays’s devotion to Fort Langley was legendary. She worked as a docent and exhibit assistant at its community museum. She was a fervent supporter of Fort Langley National Historic Site: founding the Friends of the Fort, establishing and fostering the site’s volunteer program, and developing the gift shop. She raised funds to construct the site’s reproduction York boat, a bastion, a gallery, and a squared-log building. She founded and administered the Fort Langley Tourism Information Centre and oversaw the ongoing restoration of the Fort Langley Community Hall. She chaired the C.N. Station Committee, coordinated its volunteers, and masterminded the acquisition of an historic rail car and caboose to complement the site.

Bays was one of a kind; a mentor and team builder – visionary, determined, hardworking and caring. She anticipated needs, seized opportunities, and built capacity in others. She laboured long and hard for many endeavours, not for personal gain, but for the benefit of the community. She was, in short, an extraordinarily good citizen.

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: Langley
• Region: 
  Mainland/Southwest

Suzanne Bolton

Philanthropist and dedicated hands-on volunteer Suzanne Bolton has, for over five decades changed the way British Columbia’s communities operate through her compassion and generosity. 

A summary of her dedicated work includes:

• 40 years with YWCA Metro Vancouver, as a lead donor and former board member, key member of the single mother’s bursary selection committee, and volunteer at Focus@Work where she delivers inspirational support and guidance to women job seekers
• 15 years with the Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver where she served on the board and mentored young women exiting prison to re-enter the work force.
• 23 years of support to children and families suffering from loss and trauma through her role on the board and volunteer of the PACE Child and Family Society.
• Support to at-risk youth through Covenant House Vancouver through raising awareness, contributing financial resources, and volunteering in the clothing room for 14 years
• 23 years of involvement in the hiring and retention of every PACE employee, contributing to the organization’s exceptionally skilled and caring team
• After 17 years serving on the Board of the Greater Vancouver Community Service Society she has moved on to the board of the Boys and Girls Club of South Coast BC

Both Suzanne and her husband have donated generously towards numerous capital campaigns, but she always insists on naming the facilities after individuals who have inspired her. The Maida Duncan Centre — serving marginalized women and children — was named after a long-time volunteer. More recently the second floor of YWCA Cause We Care House was named in memory of Linda Mitchell who was at the forefront of literacy across Canada. Suzanne has also established several bursaries for single mothers and named them after long-time friends who are active in not-for-profits.

Suzanne envisioned a supportive and viable program for women aimed at changing the arc of the lives of their young children. Through her vision and financial support, the YWCA Futures in Focus project was launched in 2014. As a long-time committee member of the YWCA Single Mothers bursary program, Suzanne and her husband created the YWCA Futures Bursary program in 2017 that provides single mothers access to post-secondary education. Unlike other bursaries, the Futures Bursary provides a wrap-around service until individuals complete their education and reach their employment goal. 

Suzanne and her husband have been funding YWCA Focus@Work in its entirety since 2014. It is the only employment program of its kind in Vancouver. Hundreds of women have successfully found employment and financial stability for themselves and their families through this program.

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: Vancouver
• Region: 
  Mainland/Southwest

Trudie BonBernard

Trudie BonBernard was honoured with the medal for her leadership and compassion benefiting children, vulnerable citizens including long-term care residents, hospice and hospital patients, youth at risk, and comforting families under stress.

Her service to community and countless hours of volunteering have helped to promote and significantly expand the service provided by the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program to Kamloops residents facing a variety of challenges. At the time of recognition, 66 dog-therapy volunteers contribute more than 8,000 hours annually at more than 26 facilities in the Kamloops area. Dog-therapy teams attend community events, join library and school reading programs, visit group homes, university students, and long-term care and mental health facilities. Most recently they are visiting patients at a community dialysis unit.

Under her leadership and work on the volunteer executive of the program, Trudie has developed and implemented a plan for program growth, member retention, community awareness and greater diversity of facility assignments and community events.

She has also inspired a volunteer to do a master’s thesis on the benefits of therapy dogs for at-risk youth in schools and has created learning and educational opportunities for all therapy dog team members.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Kamloops
• Region: Thompson/Okanagan

Daniel Brown

Daniel Brown was honoured with the medal for his service to Campbell River and his countless hours of volunteerism.

Daniel uses his passion for history and his experience from 39 years of working in the forest industry to educate and entertain people of all ages. At the museum in Campbell River, Daniel gives public school students lively presentations on pioneer, fishing and logging history. When the museum’s 1930 Hayes-Anderson logging truck appears in parades and at local events, it is because Daniel has taken on its care and maintenance.

The narrator for historical boat tours, Daniel has produced several presentations on the local history of the area. These presentations are given at the museum, Elder College and around town and it is his voice narrating an episode of Canada Over the Edge about the Ripple Rock explosion on the Knowledge Network. Local senior groups have been enthralled by his presentation of the Yorke Island West Coast defence site (1939-45) that he created for the Year of the Veteran.

Daniel has been a steadfast member of the Knights of Columbus since 1963, serving as financial secretary and on its Community Christmas Hamper Project Committee. He organizes ushers for special celebrations and co-ordinates student bursaries and participates in fundraisers that help the less fortunate. He is also assembling a 50th-year historical book that to tell the story of the Campbell River Knights of Columbus.

Daniel is active in other community groups including the St. Patrick’s Parish, Employee and Family Assistance Program (now known as the Upper Island Assessment and Referral Service), the City of Campbell River Parks and Recreation, the Age-Friendly Committee and the Multicultural and Immigration Services Association.

• Year Awarded: 2017
• City: Campbell River
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

Daniel Brown

If you said, “Thank you” to Daniel Brown he’d be quick to defer such accolades to his volunteer team. As the driving force behind a free meal program, Daniel has selflessly volunteered innumerable hours to make an undeniable impact in the lives of underprivileged, marginalized and street people within Vancouver’s West End.

In 2018, Daniel saw that many living on the streets of his local community rarely had a decent meal. Beginning by recruiting a few friends to make and deliver sandwiches, soon he was spending hours pursuing food donations from local businesses and coordinating a larger team of volunteer help to deliver bi-weekly hot meals.

Daniel's service always came without judgment, full of compassion with the simple gift of hot, delicious food for those in need. “We don't judge,” was his mantra driven by his goal to get food from those who had it to those who most needed it. He never expected reward or recognition.

When fall weather worsened in 2019, he re-envisioned the meal program, taking it inside the Central Presbyterian Church. Using its commercial kitchen and serving area with his culinary skills, the program expanded to four-days a week.

Daniel pursued food donations, receiving texts or calls at all hours to come pick up or receive groceries. He made friends with staff at local business establishments for ongoing donations. Others within the community were inspired to donate money to assist with the work. If he couldn't find a donation, Daniel used his own personal funds to purchase groceries.

The team grew to more than 20 volunteers. Several people who received meals began volunteering with preparation or clean up, strengthening and deepening their own connections to the community. Patiently, Daniel found a way to include and help others find meaning in making a collective difference.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Vancouver
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

W.A. "Sandy" Burpee

Sandy Burpee was honoured with the medal for his tireless work done on behalf of those in need in the Tri-Cities of Port Moody, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. Among his many contributions, Burpee has been instrumental on initiatives that have a lasting impact to the community and organizations he supports.

Sandy founded the Tri-City Area "Together Against Violence" committee and chaired the committee from 1994 to 1998. TAV was a non-partisan group dedicated to facilitating the development of proactive solutions to violence in the Tri-City area through an annual violence prevention month. He subsequently chaired a steering committee to implement a restorative justice approach to youth wrongdoing in the Tri-Cities and New Westminster and was the founding chair of the resulting Fraser-Burrard Community Justice Society, now known as the CERA Society.

As the founding chair of the Tri-Cities Housing Coalition, Sandy has advanced the cause of affordable housing in the region. He joined the Tri-Cities Homelessness Task Group as chair in 2006 and subsequently amalgamated the two organizations.

His efforts saw the creation of temporary shelter space and emergency cold weather shelters. He has been instrumental in the creation of a permanent shelter located in Coquitlam which opened in December 2015. The permanent shelter took ongoing collaboration with levels of government and non-profit organizations, all the while overcoming contentious opposition during the public-consultation process. Sandy continues to support the operation of the shelter, a low barrier facility, as a volunteer and to promote the facility in the community at every opportunity.

As a housing advocate, Sandy has served continuously since 2003 on housing task forces and committees in the Tri-Cities and across the Metro Vancouver region. Most recently in 2015, Sandy was nominated interim chair of the Metro Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness, and subsequently has been working with others on the creation of a collaborative regional approach to homelessness in Metro Vancouver.

In 2004, SHARE Family and Community Services Society added a Food Bank Depot in Coquitlam. Sandy took on the role of volunteer co-ordinator until 2014, organizing, staffing and managing the new depot. He supervised the weekly distribution of food, developing the operating procedures that are still used today. His role also included organizing space to allow for efficient processing of the SHARE Christmas Hamper program.

In 2006, Sandy joined Coquitlam Search and Rescue, the fifth-busiest SAR team in the province. With an average of 40 tasks a year, Burpee, who retired from the team in January 2017, has been a reliable team member, deploying into the field on most tasks and taking many training courses to become a proficient SAR member. He has served on the Coquitlam Search and Rescue Society’s executive as treasurer, establishing better accounting practices and leading the team’s funding and grant application program.

Sandy led the SAR team in a partnership with Coquitlam Alternate Basic Education (CABE) high school in an innovative outdoor education program motivating students to pursue high school graduation. Most recently, Sandy has taken a leadership role in fundraising over $400,000 and helping to plan the construction of a new mobile command vehicle. Recognizing the need to retire the existing command vehicle, the new state-of-the-art command vehicle will serve as the hub of team search activities for the next quarter century.

• Year Awarded: 2017
• City: Coquitlam
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Clayton Cassidy

Clayton Cassidy was honored with the medal for his extensive community leadership and his dedicated service helping Cache Creek residents stay safe and return to their homes following the devastating flood in May of 2015. Whether it was performing back-breaking rock and mud shoveling or assisting with the overall co-ordination of clean up and recovery, Cassidy was there for the community and its citizens. 

A member of the Cache Creek Volunteer Fire Department for more than three decades, Clayton took on leadership roles in the essential service organization including Fire Chief for 10 years, from 1992 to 2002. Under his leadership the department achieved significant milestones including building a new fire hall, purchasing a new fire truck, installing a breathing air compressor, and having 10 members receive their volunteer fire fighting certificate.

His service to community and countless hours of volunteering included coaching minor hockey, soccer and minor softball, and serving on a myriad of community committees including the Cache Creek Elementary School Parent Advisory Committee, and the Cache Creek Graffiti Days Committee.

Tragically, he lost his life in 2017 after being swept away by flood waters. Chief Cassidy was commemorated at the 5th annual Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation memorial ceremony in Ottawa.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Cache Creek
• Region: Thompson/Okanagan

Robert Cruickshank

Through Robert “Bob Shanks” Cruickshank’s words, intentions, actions and unselfish deeds he is making B.C. a better place to live and play.

Bob is a 29 year old living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In 2012, he was introduced to the Canucks Autism Network (CAN). As a result of his passion for the Vancouver Canucks and his innate tendency to want to help others, Bob immersed himself in becoming a community leader through his grassroots fundraising and participation in CAN events.

Since 2012, Bob has made it his mission to raise as much money as possible to assist CAN in providing programs that allow ASD individuals and their families to build the confidence and skills necessary to enjoy a lifetime of sport and physical activity. Bob tells his story to grow his network of support for CAN and push the province forward towards autism acceptance.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a new set of challenges for Bob.  All of CAN’s fundraising events and in-person programs were cancelled. Bob took it upon himself to work even harder and demonstrated resilience, innovation and creativity in providing the CAN community the support they needed. Bob's fundraising continued through phone calls, emails, text messages and social media.  He raised $20,000 in 2020 and at least an another $39,000 in 2021 to support CAN’s programming during the pandemic.

Through his charisma and sense of humour, Bob has created a new network of people talking and learning about autism acceptance. His selfless dedication and drive have ultimately touched and enriched the lives of many across B.C., particularly those living with ASD and those who are vulnerable or less able to help themselves. Bob's mantra, “It’s for the kids,” fuels his fundraising efforts and is his motivation.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Vancouver
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Janicé Dallaire

Since joining Invermere Fire Rescue in June 2017, Janicé Dallaire has profoundly impacted her community through her dedicated service and leadership. As the first female lieutenant of Invermere Fire Rescue, Janice leads with exceptional skill, ensuring her crew’s training, morale, and effectiveness. She has spearheaded vital fundraising efforts, including those for the structural protection unit, which deploys sprinklers to protect buildings from fire. Her organizational prowess shines in events like the annual Firefighters Ball, which raises crucial funds for emergency equipment and training opportunities. 

Beyond her firefighting duties, Janicé has been deployed to several major wildfire operations including Logan Lake and Kelowna, balancing these demands with local firefighting and rescue calls. Her contributions extend to the Invermere Fire Rescue Association, where she served as either chair or vice-chair for 6 years, helping manage and maintain association facilities. Janice’s community spirit is evident in her participation in events like “Feed the Town” and her leadership in initiatives such as the firefighters’ stair climb in Calgary and Seattle for the 9/11memorial, fostering team unity and community pride.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Janicé handmade and distributed masks free of charge to first responders, providing a significant benefit to her community. Her involvement with the Invermere Christmas Bureau as the toy drive coordinator ensures that local children in need have gifts during the holiday season. As a mentor and instructor with the Camp Ignite program, Janice inspires young women to pursue their dreams, showcasing her commitment to empowering the next generation.

Janicé’s energy and enthusiasm have not only saved lives but also motivated others to achieve their goals. Her tireless dedication, compassion, and leadership reflect her lasting positive impact on Invermere and beyond.

• Year Awarded: 2024
• City: Invermere
• Region: Kootenay

Mary Daniel

Mary Daniel has continuously demonstrated her passion for breaking down barriers and making her community more inclusive. Mary sees the potential for growth in all children with diverse abilities.

At the age of 15, she began volunteering for Best Buddies, an organization that forms friendships between individuals living with and without disabilities. She continued to volunteer weekly for Best Buddies throughout university and became an executive member in the University of British Columbia (UBC) chapter in 2021. Mary even organized a grand “Hooping it Up” fundraiser at UBC in 2022, a basketball fundraiser for Best Buddies activities.

In her time at UBC, Mary also served as a student leader for Options Community Services, which supports children and youth with special needs. She led a team in creating a superhero-themed video on coping with anxiety and organized virtual activities for children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mary began working in residential care for youth with disabilities in 2020. She closely supported a youth with significant behavioral challenges and built a sensory room to aid in self-regulation. Her project received the Connect to Community grant from UBC in 2021. After completing her degree, she transitioned to a role where she educated children and youth on the risks of vaping and marijuana use and on healthy coping mechanisms at schools across her school district.

In 2018, Mary was awarded the Coast Capital “Standing Tall” Award, recognizing youth who have faced adversity and are committed to continuing their education. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from UBC in May 2022 and is beginning medical school at UBC.

• Year Awarded: 2024
• City: Vancouver
• Region: Mainland/ Southwest

Brian De Beck 

More than 30 years of Brian De Beck‘s working life was spent as a union negotiator for Retail Wholesale Union (RWU) looking after the welfare of the membership across numerous bargaining units.

His commitment to supporting people went far beyond his responsibilities as the Provincial Representative for RWU. Brian has seamlessly woven himself into the fabric of art and culture in the Vancouver area where he has a multi-decade history of generously contributing to numerous organizations and initiatives. He follows family traditions of giving to community from his grandfather Ned De Beck, his mother Betty, based in Kamloops and his wife’s family, Warren and Ellen Tallman, and their many projects in support of the arts in Vancouver.

In the early 1970s while still a student at the University of British Columbia, Brian initiated the effort to buy a house that became the York Street Commune. Its members collectively began New Star Books, Georgia Straight Writing Supplement, The Mental Patient’s Association, the West End food Co-op, and other projects.

Since 1974, Karen Tallman and Brian‘s home has been a haven for poets, visual artist, single mothers, refugees, recently arrived immigrants, Haida artists, the bereaved and the terminally ill.  They have hosted numerous wakes and celebrations of life and organized fundraising events for the Western Front Artist Cooperative, Pivot Legal Society, Seva, YVR Art Foundation, and others.

Beyond his artistic endeavours, Brian is a pillar of support for individuals facing life's toughest challenges. Whether offering counsel to ESL Vietnamese navigating city bureaucracy or being a steadfast companion through chemotherapy, Brian's generosity knows no bounds. Brian has fostered personal connections with the Haida community in old Massett in Haida Gwaii through a 42-year friendship with five generations of the Davidson family, working primarily with Claude Davidson, and his two sons Robert and Reg. Brian and Karen were recognized by the Davidson family and given Haida names in a ceremony in 2010.

Now in his 70s, Brian‘s commitment to good citizenship remains unwavering. Despite retiring as provincial representative of his union, he continues to chair the union pension plan, providing invaluable advice and mentorship. Notably, he expands his community of care offering emotional and practical support to friends and neighbour’s facing illness and adversity.

• Year Awarded: 2023
• City: Vancouver
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Vishad Deeplaul 

• Year Awarded: 2023
• City: Coquitlam 
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Rabiah Dhaliwal

Rabiah Dhaliwal is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and advocating for mental health awareness. Overcoming her own personal challenges, Rabiah turned obstacles into a platform for advocacy and community service.

At the University of British Columbia (UBC), Rabiah co-led the Disabilities United Collective, championing inclusivity for disabled students. She established weekly support group sessions, providing a vital network for neurodivergent and physically disabled peers. Her advocacy extended beyond campus, when she and other students successfully advocated for the implementation of the Accessible British Columbia Act at UBC, leading to the creation of the university's first accessibility committee.

Rabiah’s commitment to accessibility is highlighted by her role in helping create two sensory rooms at UBC, offering safe havens for students experiencing sensory overload. Rabiah oversaw daily maintenance to keep these spaces functional and accessible. This year, Rabiah curated 'TouchScapes,' the first 3D-printed art exhibition in Western Canada, for individuals with visual impairments and other sensory needs, to promote inclusivity in the arts.

As director of the Voices for Hope Foundation, Rabiah led impactful initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. With support from the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, she coordinated donations of over 1,000 self-care items and meals to frontline healthcare workers, sourced from local B.C. and indigenous-owned businesses, highlighting her commitment to community support and equity. Most recently, she distributed 250 care packages including art supplies and essential items to the unhoused population of Whalley.

At just 19, Rabiah testified before the House of Commons on mental health parity and partnered with Mesut Ozil for the #YourStoryOurVoice campaign, amplifying the voices of 80 million global viewers on mental health stigma.

Rabiah’s mental health advocacy help make a more accessible and compassionate world.

• Year Awarded: 2024
• City: Surrey
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Kamal Dhillon

Kamal Dhillon, a survivor of severe domestic violence, was honoured with the medal for her courage to transcend her suffering from domestic violence to bring a powerful message to the public about domestic violence, offer hope to other victims, and advocate for changes in laws.

Her service to community and countless hours of volunteering include support to victims of domestic violence and willingness to travel to conferences and communities where she brings awareness of the devastation exacted by domestic violence to classrooms, police departments, business and community organizations, and churches. Whether speaking to officials at the World Bank, The International Monetary Fund, or a local group of educators, her inspirational message brings understanding to the complex issue, and hope to victims of domestic violence.

Although Kamal still has residual suffering from her injuries, she remains a tireless advocate for changes in laws, better services for victims, and training for police, social workers, educators and others who may see evidence of someone being abused. In particular, she lobbied for the federal government to bring in the Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act and today would still like those laws to be toughened. Her personal story, told in her book Black and Blue Sari, has raised the issue on the international front and helped those on the front line to better recognize domestic abuse and provide victims with the support they need.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Langley
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Edward Dickins

Ed Dickins epitomizes the definition of volunteer on behalf of his fellow citizens. From the day he volunteered for service with the British Columbia Dragoons (BCDs) in July 1940 to his continued service to the citizens of BC at the Okanagan Military Museum in July 2016. Ed served Canada as part of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps in England, Italy and Northwest Europe including being wounded during World War II. Upon his return to Canada, he continued his service with the Army Reserves until his final retirement in 1975.

Ed has volunteered and served as: Commanding Officer with the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, President of Branch 26 Royal Canadian Legion, President of the BCD Regimental Association (Whizzbangs), President and founder of the Kelowna Veendam Sister City Association, Provincial President of Junior Chamber of Commerce, Co-Chair of the Kelowna Cenotaph Improvement Project, and founding Director of the Okanagan Military Museum Society (OMMS).

In addition to his leadership roles in all of the above organizations, he was a volunteer veteran representative at Remembrance services at 20 Senior's Homes for 16 years, spoke to numerous schools about his military service, spoke at multiple Citizenship Ceremonies with respect to understanding the history of Canada, and assisted in 2016 (at age 93) in the Okanagan Military Museum Society's refurbishment of a historic World War I Field Gun. It is only in very recent years that Ed has been unable to act as a docent at the Military Museum but he does continue to work on mailing newsletters for the Whizzbang Association in spite of his near blindness.

Ed defines good citizenship. He has spent the last eight decades of his life doing good deeds on behalf of the citizens of this country and this province. Ed's hard work, entailing thousands of hours of volunteer time, is demonstrated by results such as: the Veendam Walk in Kelowna City Park, a new inclusive Cenotaph to recognize those locals who paid the ultimate sacrifice, the Okanagan Military Museum, the BCD Mural at the Military Museum and generations of Canadians that value those who have served their country honourably.

Dickins continues to exemplify good citizenship even in his advanced age. Our British Columbia is a better place because of the compassion, dedication and tireless commitment of Ed Dickins.
 

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: Kelowna
• Region: Thompson/Okanagan

Dave Dickson

Dave Dickson was honoured with the medal for his wide-ranging volunteer contributions made in the Williams Lake and Chilcotin Cariboo region, many of which have helped to make the community safer, reduced crime, and ensured those who are in need or vulnerable are taken care of.

His service to the community and countless hours of volunteering have benefited the Williams Lake Community Policing unit, Canadian Red Cross, Williams Lake Rotary Club, Northern BC Mobile Support Team with the Provincial Emergency Program, the local emergency support services team and the Canadian Cancer Society.

Among his many other contributions, Dave was also instrumental in establishing several programs including the Mounted Citizens on Patrol, a first-of-its-kind program that sees local citizens ride horseback to patrol areas that are difficult to observe; Wandering program for those at risk of going missing; and the Positive Ticketing Program which rewards children for being positive citizens. He has been a member of the Cops for Cancer Tour de North team for a number of years, is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and has been involved in several international projects.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Williams Lake
• Region: Cariboo

Vivian Edwards 

• Year Awarded: 2023
• City: Ashcroft
• Region: Thompson/Okanagan

Greg Ehman

Greg Ehman has been a key leader in the Golden Rotary Club for many years. During the COVID-19 crisis, he took on the challenges of finding new ways to support and benefit his community. His efforts since March 2020 include:

• Developing online videos to provide advice, guidance and application assistance at no charge to support people in receiving access to CERB and other financial supports.
• Developing online videos to provide advice and guidance to local businesses in developing COVID-19 safety plans and access to government funding.
• Starting the "Mask up Golden" initiative and coordinating the production of nearly 4,000 masks to distribute to community members at a subsidized price point.
• Successfully adjusting the annual Interact Club of Golden's Project Anti-Grinch to meet COVID-19 requirements. Working with the Interact Club to cook and prepare nearly 200 turkey dinners on Christmas Eve for vulnerable community members.
• Introducing and coordinating the Rotary Giving Tree program with the Golden Interact Club - ensuring 77 deserving youth in the community received presents on Christmas Day.
• Organizing and delivering four separate youth training programs where 40 students learned valuable employment and team building skills to assist in future job opportunities. Students gained certificates in multiple work skills and gained valuable service experience through community volunteering. During the program, as part of their learning, the youth provided more than 1,000 meals to vulnerable and at-risk community members and isolated seniors.
• Proposing and drafting the Golden Guidelines project with the Kicking Horse Chamber of Commerce.

When COVID-19 restrictions were introduced in B.C. in March 2020, many volunteer organizations fundraising efforts ceased and valuable community support operations were in jeopardy. In April 2020, in response to this need, Greg led the Golden Rotary Club to start 'Rotary Community Online Bingo'. This online fundraiser has grown to include 16 other Rotary Clubs participating across 14 B.C. communities. More than $1.8M has been raised to date to support valuable community programs and volunteer groups across B.C.. The online fundraiser remains a resounding success today and continues to provide financial support for various groups and projects.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Golden
• Region: Thompson/Okanagan

Gail Elder 

• Year Awarded: 2023
• City:  Winlaw
• Region: Kootenay

Aysha Emmerson & Jasper Johnston

Two initiatives spearheaded by Aysha Emmerson and Jasper Johnston, are noteworthy. The ways in which these siblings draw their peers into leadership roles and provide supported platforms for others are remarkable and making a real difference in their communities.

Their first initiative, the Co-VID Student Support Network was a community-based, non-profit effort that digitally connected university student volunteers with K-12 students, to help ease the burden on parents and educators in Canada amid social-distancing requirements.

Since it started on Vancouver Island, between March 2020 and January 2021, the project has assisted approximately 75 families representing more than 25 schools and raised thousands of dollars through voluntary contributions for COVID-19 relief. Along with founding the network and empowering dozens of youth volunteers, Jasper and Aysha served as peer supporters themselves, directly supporting the socio-emotional and educational needs of K-12 students.

Their second initiative, Dear Canadians, is a national, bilingual and digital platform designed to connect Canadians of all ages during this unique period in our country's history while supporting COVID-19 relief efforts. Teaming up with five of their university classmates, Aysha and Jasper launched www.dearcanadians.ca / www.cherscanadiens.ca on July 1, 2020. 

Through the platform, Canadians can write and share virtual postcards with images and messages of hope, hardship, gratitude, or lessons learned. To date, thousands of people representing every province have visited the site, with hundreds sharing cards. Thanks to partnerships with Historica Canada, cards will be included in the national “Canada During Covid-19” archives. The team also partnered with TELUS, which helped to promote the platform and donated $10,000 to Canadian COVID-19 relief efforts in recognition of the project.

Many of the cards posted reflect a clear appreciation for the platform and the way it lifts up diverse voices from across the country. The project has also received coverage from CBC for its positive impact and was recognized by National Philanthropy Day via the Vancouver Island Giving Hearts Honour Roll.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Victoria
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

Chad Farquharson & Wayne McGill 

Chad Farquharson and Wayne McGill were honoured with the medal for being unrelenting advocates for B.C. families who have children with medical needs, and have provided hundreds of families with healthy snacks while they care for their hospitalized children.

Their life-changing journey began when their newly adopted son Grayson was diagnosed with an extremely rare metabolic disorder. After spending time in the intensive care unit and on the ward, Chad and Wayne became passionate advocates, doing countless hours of public speaking and engagements in support of B.C. Children’s Hospital, The Rare Disease Foundation, and Canadian PKU and Allied Disorders.

But their commitment to others doesn’t stop there. Having spent time in ICU with Grayson, they know that eating properly, or at all, takes a backseat when your child is critically ill and needs you. So, they started a program called “From Our Family to Yours” and for more than a year, twice per week, they have been dropping off food baskets of healthy snacks to the B.C. Children’s Hospital ICU and the BC Women’s Hospital NICU for families to help themselves to while they are caring for their child.

They provide much of the funds themselves but have also reached out to others through a GoFundMe page to allow other families and individuals to help support the food basket program.

• Year Awarded: 2017
• City: Surrey
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Edwin Findlater

Edwin Findlater was honoured with the medal for his dedication to the needs of veterans, persons facing special hardships, and the elderly.

Since taking up residence in the Southern Okanagan Valley over 32 years ago, Edwin has served his community and the province in numerous voluntary and leadership positions, including president of the Penticton Red Cross, chair of the Okanagan Falls Legacy Fund, president of Branch 227 Canadian Legion for six years, chairman of the South Okanagan/Similkameen Legion Zone, chairman of the BC Yukon Legion Command for 15 years, chairman of Okanagan Falls Helping Hands, chairman and board trustee of Okanagan Falls United Church, past superintendent of St. John’s Ambulance, director for BC Summer Games in Penticton, and the security chief for BC Winter and Summer Games.

In addition, he has been a member of the RCMP Auxiliary for over 10 years, volunteer for Iron Man Canada for 23+ years, coach for Special Olympics, founder of Citizens on Patrol in Okanagan Falls and Penticton, an Air Cadet instructor, volunteer with Okanagan Falls Visitors Centre, and an organizer for Okanagan Falls Community Policing.

Among his many other contributions, Edwin was also instrumental in establishing the South Skaha Housing Society with the goal of developing affordable housing for seniors living in Okanagan Falls, and because of his vision and leadership, the project is becoming a real possibility.

Arising from his 35 years of service in the Canadian Armed Forces, and subsequently with the Royal Canadian Legion, Edwin has received the Minister of Veteran’s Affairs Commendation and the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award.

• Year Awarded: 2017
• City: Okanagan Falls
• Region: Thompson/Okanagan

Stephanie Fischer

Stephanie Fischer has been integral in establishing Nelson and area as a cultural hub in British Columbia and was the project manager and visionary behind Nelson’s newest cultural cornerstone, Touchstones Nelson Museum of Art and History.

Stephanie was an early champion and founding director of the City of Nelson’s Cultural Development Committee, which has helped develop long term cultural plans and policies for the city. She has been a steadfast volunteer on numerous boards and steering committees including: the Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance, Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership, Selkirk College, Oxygen Art Centre, Nelson Artwalk and the Social Planning Action Network. 

For Stephanie, the value of culture and its contribution to the vibrancy and strength of a community is fundamental. Her enthusiasm has inspired countless individuals to become active in the arts alongside her. Her contributions have created a culture of accessibility within the arts in the region while encouraging and celebrating excellence. 

A student of architecture in Germany, Stephanie completed an internship in the former East German city of Dessau and is credited as key in the planning of a new culture centre for Dessau, that went on to win the Alfred-Toepfer Foundation Award for innovation and initiative of cultural development. 

Of note is Stephanie’s involvement in projects around reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples through partnerships and cultural programming. Her goal is to provide opportunities for our community to learn and appreciate Indigenous culture through artistic expression. For example, an Indigenous dance event offered a learning opportunity for the greater community to build relationships with Indigenous Peoples in the region. 

As executive director of the Capitol Theatre, Stephanie helped raise over a quarter -million dollars to renew the systems and equipment. The 30-year-old institution is now thriving, with increased patron and season package memberships, a steady increase in audience attendance of a broad spectrum of live theatre events, and the provision of space to serve as a performing arts resource and referral facility for the community. 

In recognition of her contributions, Fischer received a special citation from the City of Nelson, and the Community Futures and CIEL Community Innovation Entrepreneur Award. She also received the BC Touring Council award for Presenter of the Year in 2019.

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: Nelson
• Region: Kootenay

Fran Fowler

Fran Fowler has dedicated many years of volunteer service in her community in a variety of areas including: health care governance, multiple all-age sports activities, the arts, and programs specifically for youth and seniors. 

Her service to community and countless hours of volunteering include significant involvement with the Haida Gwaii Arts Council, Balance Rock Community Justice Program, an RCMP restorative youth justice program, Queen Charlotte Seniors Club, Queen Charlotte Community Club, Literacy Haida Gwaii, Willows Golf Club, and the Queen Charlotte Hospital Day Organizing Committee.

Since moving to Haida Gwaii in the 1960s Fran has thrown her passion and energy into supporting a myriad of community activities from literary and musical events, outdoor hiking, golf, geocaching, and food foraging. Her inspired leadership and can-do approach to helping community organizations has strengthened the social fabric of the islands.

Concerned that the islands’ historical past is being lost, Fran has fostered a project, Saving and Sharing Our Stories, aimed at collecting and preserving for the future, the stories of Queen Charlotte on the seniors’ website. Another project, Aging on the Islands, is focused on collecting stories to advocate for improved services for seniors on the Islands.

Among her many other contributions, Fran has also been an instrumental force in a group of citizens calling themselves Operation Refugee Haida Gwaii who have sponsored a family of eight Syrian refugees and continue to support them as they settle into their new life in British Columbia.

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: Queen Charlotte
• Region: Northern BC

Joyce Fraser 

Joyce Fraser is a visionary leader who has worked within the communities of Princeton, Coalmont, Tulameen and Heldley to enhance services for seniors and people with disabilities.

Beginning in 1972 she spearheaded the formation of the Princeton and District Community Services Society (PDCSS) and has now led the not-for-profit agency for 32 years, developing more services and programs to support the vulnerable along the way. 

Today the society operates low-cost housing for seniors and families with children, and seniors assisted living. Its New Beginnings Day Program for adults and youth with intellectual disabilities offers respite services, self help skills, residential services and employment development. Joyce has also found innovative ways to ensure that the community has trained employees to support the needs of PDCSS clients.

With Joyce as its administrator, the PDCSS converted the former Mine Rescue building into a drop-in centre and workshop. Over time the site became the Mini-Chef Restaurant where people with disabilities get job skills training. A popular enterprise, with many repeat customers, it provides the society with a reliable source of income to meet its goals.

To create housing for persons with disabilities, Joyce led an initiative to purchase and renovate a three-storey apartment building and an additional six units were constructed in a partnership with BC Housing. Another partnership with BC Housing, the Interior Health Authority and the Town for Princeton resulted in the development of Vermilion Court in 1997 with 18 housing units for seniors and vulnerable adults - the first assisted living facility in the Province.

Recognizing that PDCSS clients need trained support, Joyce organized a community-based social services certificate to be instructed locally. She also worked with Okanagan College to bring a care aid course to Princeton, enabling many local residents to be trained locally and ultimately helping seniors remain at home as long and as safely as possible. 

Joyce also germinated transportation services for those who are vulnerable first by using her family vehicle to transport residents to medical appointments and to the grocery store. When demand exceeded her capabilities, she spearheaded a drive to raise money for a wheel-chair accessible van that operates as a partnership between the Village of Princeton, BC Transit, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and the PDCSS.

Joyce has been recognized with a British Columbia Community Achievement Award and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: Princeton
• Region: 
  Thompson/Okanagan

Donna Furneaux  

Donna Furneaux’s life showcases resilience, community spirit, and tireless dedication to helping others. Overcoming childhood polio and its lasting effects, Donna became a beacon of hope and action in her community.

Donna spearheaded the establishment of a school for lab technicians at a hospital, rallying support from locals, travelers, and embassy staff to secure essential supplies. Her initiative quickly turned the school into a thriving hub for training, benefiting numerous students.

Donna has immersed herself in community service, co-founding the Parksville and Qualicum Beach Post Polio Society and contributing to the Qualicum Beach Honours Society. Despite facing ongoing treatments for polio-related issues and surviving a deadly cancer, Donna continued to lead by example.

Donna’s impact extended to the Arrowsmith Agriculture Association, where she played a key role in revitalizing the Coombs Fairgrounds. Through her leadership, old structures were replaced, and new facilities like livestock barns and a meeting hall were built, enhancing community cohesion and agricultural education.

Donna’s influence also birthed the Taste of the District food fair and the Qualicum Beach Farmers’ Market, promoting local agriculture and fostering community engagement.

Donna’s commitment to service remains unwavering. Her advocacy for hospice care led to the establishment of a hospice house, providing vital support and palliative care for those in need. Her legacy of volunteerism and community building continues to inspire, demonstrating the profound impact one person can make through dedication and compassion.

• Year Awarded: 2024
• City:  Qualicum Beach
• Region:  Vancouver Island/Coast

Joann Gabriel

Joann Gabriel, a retired public-school teacher, was honoured with the medal for volunteer service spanning 56 years to the community of Princeton.

Her service to community and countless hours of volunteering include serving on the board of the Princeton and District Community Services (PDCSS), a non-profit organization, to meet the needs of the elderly and mentally challenged. Joining in 1979, Joann has been treasurer for eleven years and chair for 24 years, under the administration of three executive directors. She is committed to the work the society does under its twelve programs, which include home care, meals-on-wheels, transportation, housing for the elderly and developmentally disabled, an adult day center, and an activity center with employment opportunities for mentally challenged in the community.

Among her many other contributions, Joann was also instrumental in developing the programs run by the Princeton and District Community Services, demonstrating a passion for making sure that those less fortunate in her community are visible and function in a way that incorporates them into their community as productive members.

Besides PDCSS, Joann has also volunteered and served the executives of the Princeton Curling Club, Royal Purple, Kinettes, Princeton Library, Kokanee Summer Swim Club, Princeton Recreation Commission, Vermilion Forks Field Naturalist Club, Princeton Arts Council and St. Paul’s United Church Board and Women's Group over the past 56 years.

• Year Awarded: 2017
• City: Princeton
• Region: Thompson/Okanagan

Gambier Grocery Group

Gambier Island in Howe Sound has a small full-time population. The community has no on-island services such as stores, gas stations, medical clinics or schools and relies on a 40-person water taxi, the Stormaway, for access to all essentials including groceries.

In mid March 2020, as BC Ferries closed routes to essential service only, it became apparent that ongoing water taxi trips would pose a health hazard to passengers and crew.  Leanne Bruce, a long-term resident of the island, organized and executed a complex venture to deliver groceries twice a week from stores in nearby Gibsons.

Islanders ordered online and Leanne coordinated delivery services with return water taxi runs so Grocery Group volunteers could get to Gibsons to load the orders onboard the Stormaway. Upon returning to Gambier, the Grocery Group would quickly unload the water taxi. Boxes were taken up a ramp from the float to a shed on the pier. The orders were sorted and distributed, or, in many cases, delivered to homes across the southwest peninsula.

Leanne volunteered to coordinate this service along with her husband Bobby to support the Gambier Island community. Despite the stress of losing their own livelihood as entertainers to the pandemic, Leanne and Bobby got this critical service running smoothly and kept it going free of charge until July 2021.

The Gambier Grocery Group relied on several volunteers, including Terry Hall and Joley Switzer who volunteered for almost every run. Rain or shine, high tide or low, heat dome or southeaster – these dedicated people spent several hours a week hauling grocery orders on and off the Stormaway and up the gangway.

Leanne and the other volunteers kept the local community safe and protected the Stormaway crew from getting sick by offering this service and following through with the details. The Gambier Grocery Group has been a lifeline for this island.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Gambier Island
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Abbe Gates

Abbe Gates was honoured with the medal for spearheading initiatives aimed at improving life experiences and inclusion for children, teens and young adults with developmental and physical disabilities. Through her fundraising efforts and ability to bring a community together, Abbe founded a soccer sporting team and has created social experiences that have empowered people with special needs all over the Lower Mainland and nearby communities.

Her service to community and countless hours of volunteering have been focused on gathering the support, monies and resources required for hundreds of players with a variety of developmental and other disabilities, aged four years and up, to play soccer. Nine years later, the Blazin’ Soccer Dogs and Pups, along with the Rain City Wolves, have provided enriching, inclusive and confidence-boosting experiences for participants.

Abbe has also served on the Down Syndrome Research Foundation board and was an effective fundraiser for the organization. More recently, she is an active volunteer helping to promote autism awareness and the creation of the Pacific Autism Family Centre.

Among her many other contributions, Abbe annually mounts The Night to Remember Gala, which provides an annual dance and red-carpet experience to more than 150 young people, aged 15 to 35 years, with development disabilities. As well, she helped establish a social group for teens through the Vancouver Parks board, called Friday Friends. She is now collectively working on establishing the same kind of program for all these young people who are now adults.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Vancouver
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Lorna Gibbs

Lorna Gibbs is a dedicated community volunteer and vocal advocate for improving the programs, services and facilities of Vancouver South. She has participated in numerous community development issues, committees and agencies, focusing especially on seniors’ needs.

In addition to her service on a range of boards and committees, Lorna is a founding member and president of the Southeast Vancouver Seniors’ Centre Society. In this capacity she is a leading voice to reach out and capture the needs of thousands of seniors through her advocacy for a new senior’s recreation centre in Southeast Vancouver. Through her work on a variety of seniors’ programs, services and issues, Lorna has changed the lives of many seniors and has inspired many more to contribute to their community. In 2014, Lorna was rewarded for her efforts to bring all three levels of government together when funding was secured to build a Seniors’ Activity Centre in South Vancouver.

A resident of Vancouver for more than 30 years, Lorna has also brought seniors from diverse ethnic backgrounds together to gather stories, including translation and editing, which has resulted in two published books: Stories of Southeast Vancouver, and Meals and Memories, an illustrated cookbook. This work brought happiness and greater understanding and friendship to the hundreds of seniors who were involved.

Other volunteer services given by Lorna include:

• Board director of Champlain Heights Community Association and the Killarney Community Centre Association
• Chair and president of Southvan Neighbourhood House
• Member of the Citizen Advisory Committee – Victoria Fraserview Killarney, East Fraserlands Committee, and the Everett Crowley Parks Committee

• Year Awarded: 2017
• City: Vancouver
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Lori Girard

At the beginning of the pandemic, Lori Girard began the Riverside Response Innitiative. She created and empowered a team of volunteers from Riverside Church (where she is a volunteer pastor) and the local community to pick up and receive donations of food. They also received monetary donations and purchased groceries. Riverside Response created packages of groceries that those in need could pick up for themselves and their families. Deliveries of groceries were also made available. 

Through Riverside Response, some volunteers were able to run errands for those who couldn't drive or were self-isolating. They also made connections with people who were out of town and were able to check on family members for them. More than $95,000 worth of food has been given to those in need to date.

A few months later, Lori could see many people were negatively affected by the pandemic, both emotionally and mentally. She created Hope Calls, a telephone service many people have used when they need someone to talk with.  They have been offered hope, compassion, prayer and external resources where necessary.

Lori then found out about another community need leading to the Welcome Home Initiative. Many families transitioning from shelters or community programs and moving into their new homes have no furniture, linens, dishes, or sense of community belonging. Lori has made many contacts with individuals and businesses in the Tri-Cities to collect items, clean and restore them, and move them into the home for the family.  The goal for each family is to surprise them with a beautiful ‘REVEAL’ when possible.  There is partnership with a volunteer designer to create a gorgeous, proud home environment for families. Beas Kloset now partner with the Welcome Home Initiative to provide household items that family’s needs.  Social workers have noted the uniqueness of this program and all three of these outreach projects created by Lori are still ongoing today.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Pitt Meadows
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Ronald Greene

For five decades, Ron Greene has demonstrated the ideals of good citizenship through the generous sharing of his time as a volunteer and leader of various organizations. These include coaching youth volleyball, leading local and provincial historical societies, contributing administrative and research expertise to the field of numismatics (the study and collection of coins and paper currency), and supporting community heritage activities.

Ron’s involvement with volleyball began in the late 1960s as a coach at Victoria’s YWCA. His girls teams competed successfully provincially and nationally. He has also assisted the coaches of the men's volleyball teams at UVIC and Camosun College. He contributed to the administration of the British Columbia Volleyball Association (BCVA), occasionally serving as President. For many years, he volunteered as a referee and trained over 500 new referees. In 1987, Ron was awarded an Honorary Life Membership in the BCVA.

Ron has also been inducted into the BC Volleyball Hall of Fame in the Co-Builder category.

A great interest of Ron’s is the study of BC's historical coins and paper currency. He has been a member of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) since 1956. Providing a British Columbia perspective, he has organized conferences, edited books, established special interest groups, and served as an executive. In 1986, Ron received the highest award in Canadian Numismatics, the J. Douglas Ferguson Medal; in 2015, he was deemed a RCNA Fellow.

Ron’s interests in supporting the history of Victoria and British Columbia are outstanding. For example, in 2012 and 2013, he organized symposia on the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Victoria and the 170th anniversary of the founding of the HBC’s Fort Victoria. This involved countless hours of recruiting volunteers and speakers, organizing field trips, and hosting visitors. He has served the Victoria Historical Society and the British Columbia Historical Foundation as either their President or Treasurer.

An accomplished researcher, in 2015 he published the award winning book, Carlo Gentile, Gold Rush Photographer, 1863-1866. Ron is fully aware that archives and museums need support, whether through volunteer or financial aid. At the Provincial Archives, he helped create the Friends of British Columbia Archives, for which he has raised money in support of research collections, organized lectures, and arranged and led special events of the Archives. 

The Greene family’s business, Capital Iron, is located on Victoria’s historic waterfront. Ron restored the company’s buildings, earning Capital Iron a Heritage Canada Regional Award in 1982. Subsequently, through talks and freely-given advice, he has inspired others to conserve Victoria’s built heritage by sitting on the City of Victoria’s Heritage Advisory Committee and later serving as a Board Member of the Victoria Civic Heritage Trust, acting as Chair for two years.

For over five decades, Ron Greene has made outstanding contributions to various organizations. His selfless volunteer work and many leadership positions have supported thousands of young volleyball players and hundreds of historical enthusiasts, enabling them to participate in well-run and highly-appreciated community activities. Not least, Ron is widely respected by his peers. This is demonstrated by the citations and awards bestowed upon him that honour both his volunteerism and leadership.    

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: Victoria
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

Amber Gregory

Amber Gregory worked to assist many not-for-profits that were unequipped through their infrastructure to serve or distribute food. She negotiated a partnership with a major restaurant chain where food could be purchased and served to the community. She organized volunteers who provided food to those who could not attend the more traditional food banks, including seniors, those with disabilities and those grappling with the loss of their livelihood.

Concurrently she created, “Porch side visits” with more than 100 nursing students who were at risk of losing their graduation criteria because there were no practicums available.  The students gave back 5,000 hours in porch side visits, attending and supporting individuals who were grappling with deteriorating mental health. Materials and resources were made available by another team of practicum students. Amber used these resources to help prepare training on compassion fatigue for frontline health care workers.

Amber knew the more traditional approaches to engage youth in mental health services were not going to be effective during COVID-19.  She connected a group of innovative basketball coaches that engaged more than 300 youth over a six-month period enabling them to provide the tools the youth needed.

Amber brought networks together so actions could be taken, not just discussed. She never took no for an answer and broke many barriers, but she knew that in this unprecedented time, there needed to be an unprecedented response.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Coquitlam
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Matthew Heneghan

Matthew Heneghan’s remarkable contributions to his community and country embody the essence of good citizenship. A veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces and a former paramedic, Matthew has faced significant personal challenges, including exposure to traumatic events that led to his diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

He served our country with distinction. He was a pallbearer for a fallen comrade killed by a suicide bomber and was selected as a member of the honour guard for another fallen soldier.

After the loss of his mother and sister to suicide, Matthew turned his grief into action. He wrote a poignant memoir, A Medic’s Mind, which tells the story of his journey through addiction, recovery, sobriety, confronting his traumatic past and the challenges of mental health. He frequently mails his books along with gift cards to first responders and those who may benefit from his experiences. 

Matthew has been a vocal advocate for mental health awareness. He volunteers with the Memory Project, a speaker’s bureau that arranges for veterans and Canadian Forces members to share their stories of military service at schools and community events across the country. Through his speaking engagements, books and podcasts, he works to destigmatize mental health and encourage open conversations.

Matthew’s dedication to mental health advocacy and community service has earned him admiration and respect from his community in Falkland and beyond.

• Year Awarded: 2024
• City: Falkland
• Region: Thompson/ Okanagan

Dr. Bonnie Henry, O.B.C.

"Be kind, be calm and be safe." Dr. Bonnie Henry has used this phrase to guide British Columbians through the COVID-19 pandemic in her role as Provincial Health Officer.

She has been a beacon of light throughout this pandemic. With her gentle spirit and strength, she has encouraged the people of B.C. to stay strong, and has been provider of hope.

Dr. Henry has extensive experience in public health including responding to other significant health challenges such as the SARS outbreak in Toronto, the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, the Ebola crisis in Uganda and polio eradication in Pakistan. She is recognized nationally and internationally for her extensive knowledge and experience in public health.

She has performed her duties tirelessly throughout this pandemic and has brought the community together in the fight against the COVID-19 virus standing firm at her post, encouraging patience, and educating the public in a clear and calm manner.

She has remained positive in the face of adversity and has continued to put her community first, through aiding and educating British Columbians. Not only has her expertise been demonstrated over the course of the pandemic, but her kindness, optimism and professionalism have been far reaching.

Dr. Bonnie Henry has played an integral role in guiding the residents of B.C. through this difficult time.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Victoria
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

Dr. Kendall Ho

Dr. Kendall Ho is an emergency physician at Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), and a digital emergency medicine researcher. He is also an accomplished and decorated health professional and UBC professor in the Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Ho has made outstanding contributions in two specific areas relevant to COVID-19.

COVID-19 challenged our health system as a new and poorly understood disease, creating anxiety for the general public and challenges in disease management for the health system. In March 2020, telephone calls to 8-1-1, a B.C. service for the public to get health information and advice, experienced a seven fold increase. Dr. Ho set up a new virtual physician service to complement the 8-1-1 line, answering callers’ concerns with medical expertise using videoconferencing. This diverted three out of four callers safely away from visiting emergency departments. As of January 2022  the physician team under Dr. Ho’s leadership has provided advice to more than 65,000 callers.

Rapid communication with the public to disseminate accurate health information about COVID-19 is vital for individuals to stay well and control community spread.  VCH invited him to volunteer as a medical spokesperson on COVID-19 using his command of Chinese languages to provide information and advice to Chinese communities. Through his dedicated service during the pandemic, many Chinese community members experiencing language barriers have benefited.

These services are above and beyond Dr. Ho’s usual work and help B.C. to meet the needs of citizens for COVID-19 information and service gaps. Dr. Ho has provided timely, relevant, and impactful contributions to help address the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Vancouver
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Dave Holmberg

Dave Holmberg received the medal for his ongoing volunteer and philanthropic contributions to the city. Dave has been actively involved in dozens of community projects and services including the building of the 10 km Discovery Trail in Abbotsford. He has worked tirelessly for countless fundraising drives, many of which have resulted in bursaries and major equipment and building projects for organizations such as the Salvation Army, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Fraser Valley, Ledgeview Golf and Country Club and the 4-H Club.

Dave’s efforts have resulted in the building of the first free-standing hospice facility in Abbotsford on the Campus of Care. He and his wife, Lee, spearheaded the fundraising activities and contributed significantly through their personal donations after they tragically lost a son to illness in 2011.

Holmberg House, named in memory of Dave Holmberg Jr. is a gift to the city of Abbotsford and was built by the donations and gifts-in-kind from many generous volunteers, staff, civic and provincial governments and community members – but it would not have been possible without Holmberg.  

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Abbotsford
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Christopher Horner

Christopher Horner (gudangaay k’uuk ahl iiwaans) is the Elders Center Coordinator with Old Massett Village Council and provides supports for elders including adults with ability challenges. He has incorporated the food bank into the program that services all of Old Massett, Masset, New Town, Port Clements, and Tow Hill Rd Community. As pantry coordinator under ‘Local Food 2 School’, Christopher teaches life skills and incorporates client participation in support of the program. In his work he is also involved with The Warrior Program (funded through Gwaii Trust and Old Massett Village Council) where he facilitates mental health wellness programming for young and adult men.

Christopher has led the greenhouse and community gardens programs teaching children all aspects of greenhouse operations from planting to harvesting. Through knowledge sharing and intergenerational participation, children learn about building community food stocks and how to grow, harvest and preserve food. They gain skills in canning, jarring, dehydrating, smoking and vacuum sealing. This program was responsible for providing 259 raised garden beds at homes in Old Massett, Masset and New Town and if requested, seeds, education and support with germination, planting and harvesting was provided.

Since the onset of the pandemic Christopher has overseen these programs every week and has chosen to continue working in the evenings and weekends consistently. He always finds time to particpate in evening community meetings, grant proposal writing or whatever is asked of him. 

Chris’ work has made a positive impact on the residents in this community.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Masset
• Region: Northern BC

David Horton

David Horton is one of the directors of the Ness Lake Bible Camp and was immediately put out of work when COVID-19 hit. Rather than sit idly by, he began putting together free events that would be permitted by Northern Health for the entire community.

He started by purchasing and borrowing the equipment needed to put on FM transmitted drive-in movies playing his first free showing on the side of the local Canadian Tire for 200 vehicles. Seeing that his community was hungry for safe ways to gather he started regular movie nights, drive-in trivia and kids drive-in trivia nights. He then offered his technical services to any person or group that needed help to make their events happen. This led to weddings, funerals, church services, bridal showers, birthday parties, graduation ceremonies, annual general meetings and more.

Dave also created three free city wide events (Candy Cruise, The Family Day Adventure Cruise and The Most EGGcellent Cruise) that ranged from a Halloween drive-thru to massive scavenger hunts. These  events combined, engaged hundreds of volunteers, raised over $10,000 for charities, created $75,000 of economic impact, safely entertained over 9,000 participants and gave opportunity for dozens of companies and non-profits to give back to the community safely.

David has to support six children of which four are adopted and one having severe disabilities, so the financial impact has been hard on them. He did not allow his own financial struggles to stop him from spending most of his free time doing events throughout the pandemic.

With the help of a local city councillor and friend, David hosted the first approved outdoor community concert called Rooftop Rock which had over 7,000 attend. In total he hosted 65 free activities and events that were all vetted and approved by Northern Health.

When you consider that in northern B.C. there are not as many opportunities to be around people as there are in the south, we are most fortunate that this gentle and humble man almost single handedly kept the community from feeling much of the isolation and impact that COVID-19 brought with it.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Prince George
• Region: Cariboo

Patricia Housty

A pillar for the community, Patricia Housty was honoured with the medal for being a generous volunteer, role model and community caretaker within the Heiltsuk First Nation and all of Bella Bella. Patricia has offered many quiet acts of kindness ensuring impoverished families have food and is a powerful mentor and champion for the community’s youth.

After the loss of the community’s grocery store in a fire, Patricia took the lead in having an interim location set up at the United Church building. Thanks to her quick thinking and resourcefulness, the store was back up and running in two days and the residents of Bella Bella were able to shop for food and supplies.

Her service to community and countless hours of volunteering include mentoring youth; serving as a Heiltsuk Tribal Councillor; fundraising for the local basketball team, now the pride of the Heiltsuk First Nation; and facilitating food service for important community gatherings including weddings, funerals and potlatches. Patricia was the first Indigenous person to receive the honour.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Bella Bella
• Region: Northern BC

Song Hu

Song Hu has daily updated the Chinese community about COVID-19 since March 2020.

When B.C. declared a public health emergency due to COVID-19 the province entered a social lockdown – workplaces, schools, theatres, recreation centres, restaurants were all closed. Any social gathering was banned.

As a realtor in Victoria for many years, Song is deeply-rooted in the community and well-connected with many members of the Chinese community. He immediately identified a great need for comprehensive and ongoing updates on COVID-19 in Chinese. Without delay Song posted the latest statistics and news about COVID-19 on his personal website (http://www.victoriasummer.ca) and more widely shared these updates with the Chinese community through the WeChat social media platform.

Song’s computer skills enable him to compile the data into tables that clearly show the number of new cases in different regions in B.C., with a separate table dedicated to Vancouver Island where he lives. His expertise in biochemistry helps him to answer people’s questions about vaccines, treatments, symptoms and variants of COVID-19 virus. More importantly, Song provides timely information on travel rules, latest research on COVID-19 vaccines, and other critical news such as requirements for international travelers, how to get a vaccine passport, quarantine and information for international students.

Song has quietly and dependably updated COVID-19 information, reaching thousands of people who have greatly benefited the Chinese community.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Saanich
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

Gayle Ireland

Gayle Ireland has proven to be an outstanding leader in the community as we navigate our way through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gayle has been president at the Goldstream Food Bank for 20 years, and a volunteer for more than 35 years. Her unwavering dedication to the community has never been demonstrated more than this past year and a half when unforeseen challenges arose during the COVID-19 global pandemic. As quoted by Gayle herself, “We have to keep calm and carry on.” Despite the unknown of where the pandemic was headed, Gayle altered the regular operations of the food bank to ensure the safety of both clients and food bank volunteers by adhering to all B.C. health regulations and guidelines.

Under Gayle’s leadership, the need to continue and provide food to those suffering financial hardship was immediately identified. Campaigning for community and municipal support was increased to guarantee they could sustain its charitable service during the pandemic. It is estimated that more than 6,000 food hampers have been provided during the period of the pandemic. Her success was exhibited in never having to shut the food bank’s doors or turn anyone away.

Between Gayle’s organizational skills, immense compassion for the community and the extraordinary team of more than 50 volunteers, the Goldstream Food Bank is unstoppable. Gayle Ireland has displayed outstanding leadership in such unprecedented times.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Langford
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

Brian Ironmonger 

• Year Awarded: 2023
• City: Elko
• Region: Kootenay

Mohammad Aminul Islam 

• Year Awarded: 2023
• City: Surrey
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Renée Katz & Dr. Stan Shaw

When COVID-19 hit, the Jewish Food Bank saw an immediate and dramatic rise in demand for food from seniors and families. It was clear from the start that the existing facilities could not meet the demand for and frequency of food distributions. Renée Katz and her co-chair, Dr. Stan Shaw, immediately took on the task of finding proper space to expand the program and applied their professional expertise to oversee the planning, renovations, permit applications and facility set up.  Over an eight-month period Renée was the public face of the project with civic officials and licensing staff while at the same time maintaining her own architectural practice while Stan was the liaison between the staff and the volunteers.

Not only did Renée and Stan take on the responsibility for this project, they provided extensive professional services at no cost. The beautiful new space opened in March 2021. As a result, the Jewish Food Bank has gone from distributing food from a small cramped space in a rented facility that had to be set up on a weekly basis, to having a purpose built, fully integrated food centre with a large warehouse and loading bay, a kosher kitchen, a children’s play space and offices for professional staff.

This inviting new space not only enables Jewish Family Services to serve many more clients, it can now offer a range of other programs and services to support families and seniors and expand both their social and nutritional options.

This new space, called the “Kitchen” has become a flagship program in the Jewish community and could have never happened without the hard work and untold volunteer hours freely given by Dr. Stan Shaw and Renée Katz.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Vancouver
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Aditi Kini

During the past year, people have struggled to keep their jobs, families have worked hard to make ends meet, businesses have grappled to survive, and kids have faced the challenges of new teaching methods and restricted interactions in cohorts. Despite these odds, high school student Aditi Kini has helped several affected communities through her mission to make a difference in her local community.

In the past year, Aditi has helped several affected communities impacted by COVID-19 through her implementation of 17 plus service-related projects raising around $50,000 to help hundreds of individuals and families in the Black, Indigenous and People of Colour community, Indigenous youth in Northern B.C., school districts, the SPCA, hospitals, homeless shelters and single moms across B.C. Furthermore, she started a sandwich making initiative at her school Seaquam Secondary, to provide meals for the homeless.

An example of her initiative is when she partnered with a local SPCA location to aid in their efforts to accommodate their increase of abandoned animals during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, she virtually mobilized a team of youth who worked tirelessly to purchase quality food alongside various other items and find suitable storage sheds to help prevent food wastage.

In addition, Aditi learned that due to COVID-19, hospitals were not allowing visitors to see patients, impacting their mental health and recovery. To counteract this, Aditi purchased, designed, packaged, and delivered entertainment packages consisting of puzzles, sudoku, word searches, amongst other things, to keep patients in the Royal Columbian Hospital happy and their minds engaged.

Moreover, she has set up a not-for-profit organization, “The New Horizons Foundation”. Her first global initiative was to raise funds to provide e-learning opportunities and basic sanitary supplies to 12 schools in Southern India to promote girls’ attendance in schools. Aditi has built several networks with partner charitable organizations to support her post-pandemic cause.

Aditi currently mentors and guides youth to identify opportunities to make a difference and connects them with organizations that require support. She is a role model for reflected servant leadership, exceptional attitude and perseverance. She inspires people around her to never stop giving.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Surrey
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Jim Kojima, CM

Jim Kojima is a distinguished figure recognized throughout B.C. and Canada for his extensive contributions to martial arts and community service. Jim, a judo master with the rare honor of an eighth-degree black belt, has been awarded both the Order of Canada and Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun.

As a resident of Steveston, Jim’s impact is profound, serving on the boards of the Steveston Judo Club, Steveston Community Society, Gulf of Georgia Society, Richmond Sister City Committee, and the Minoru Seniors Society.

Jim’s journey began with the establishment of the Steveston Judo Club in 1953, following his family’s displacement during the internment of Japanese Canadians. Despite facing significant adversity, he earned his black belt in 1957 and led the club to international success, sending numerous Canadian black belts to global competitions. His leadership and dedication helped overcome post-internment challenges, fostering a spirit of resilience and excellence within the community.

Beyond martial arts, Jim’s community involvement is extensive. As a member of the New Building Committee for the Steveston Community Centre project, he leverages his decades-long connections to ensure the development of a hub that serves all age groups. His current role as president of the Minoru Seniors Society highlights his commitment to enhancing senior living in Richmond, where he advocates for diverse and inclusive programming.

Jim’s legacy extends to his involvement in helping organize major community events, such as the Steveston Salmon Festival and the Steveston Farmers and Artisans Market. His hands-on approach, from setup to cleanup, exemplifies his tireless work ethic and dedication to his community.

• Year Awarded: 2024
• City: Richmond
• Region: Mainland/ Southwest

Esther Lang

Esther Lang defines good citizenship and is a volunteer extraordinaire. She has a remarkable pulse on her community and on the world around her and respects the rights and values of others.

Esther has chaired and currently chairs a number of non-profit and charitable organizations. She spent seven years on the board of the local Thompson View Manor Society, a home for elders. She is active in her local church and in overseas missions. She is currently chair of the local Community Resources Society and Community Christmas Food Hamper program.

Esther worked tirelessly to ensure that no one fell between the gaps during the pandemic. She was an integral part of establishing the COVID-19 Care Helpline. This collaboration of local community organizations joined together and created a call-line where people in need could get connected with the help they required such as grocery pickups, a listening ear and prescription pick-ups. Esther not only helped to answer the phone line and attend the regular roundtable, but she also headed a network of volunteers who provided countless services for those in need. Throughout the pandemic, she has been a lifeline for elders and persons with special needs. She respects and cares for people where they are at and gets them connected to the things they need to thrive.  She does all this while she is an elder herself.

Where some may have opted to cut corners or not to try at all because of COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines, Esther instead spends the time researching, crossing her “Ts" and dotting her "Is". She finds a way to fill the needs and gaps within safety restrictions and guidelines.

Esther steps up time and time again and does so much for so many with a wonderfully humble attitude.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Ashcroft
• Region: Thompson/Okanagan

Michael O. Langridge

Michael Langridge is an adult with an intellectual disability, born in BC and currently residing in Victoria. I have known Michael for 12 years. He has successfully overcome many challenges to become an active and successful member of his community.

Michael's early community involvement began as a Navy Cadet. He proved to be an eager volunteer in all fundraising activities, most notably the annual Poppy Drive. Michael reached the rank of Petty Officer 2, a significant achievement for someone with with limited spoken and written communication skills. Michael received the Commander's Cup, a prestigious award given to cadets who best exemplify the values and standards of the Navy Cadet program. 

Michael's affiliation with the military came also through his brother's service in the Canadian Forces. Unfortunately, his brother suffered PTSD and took his own life. In the face of great loss, Michael channeled his emotions and is supportive of efforts by the Royal Canadian Legion to raise awareness of issues surrounding PTSD. Michael recently needed to downsize. Through the Military Family Resource Centre, he donated many items including his most precious possession, the big screen TV his brother had bought on his return from Afghanistan. Each year, Michael stands proudly at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day and helps his ‘Silver Cross’ mother lay the wreath that honours his brother and all those who have served their country. 

From 2007 to 2012, Michael was a Director on the board of People First of Canada, a national non-profit organization for people with intellectual disabilities who support each other to claim their right to be recognized as full citizens. Michael volunteered for the organization for over six years.

Michael's leadership and dedication led him to join the advisory board of Community Living British Columbia (South Island Community Council) from 2009 to 2016. The group's mission is to encourage, inspire, lead and support inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of the community. Michael was a role model to young people transitioning out of the system, showing them how to become involved in their community. Finally he served as Vice-Chair of the Community Council and was being nominated for Chair of Council but his term was ending.

Michael joined the Special Olympics 15 years ago. The organization provides sports programs for people with intellectual disabilities so they can develop physical fitness, life skills and friendships. Michael gives back to Special Olympics by volunteering for its fundraising activities such as "Free the Fuzz", "Staples Give a Toonie" and "Torch Run", and is frequently the DJ at Special Olympics dances. 

Michael's sport performance won him a place on Team Canada where he represented British Columbia and Canada at the 2017 International Special Olympics Games in Austria. He is extremely proud that he wore the Canada flag, just as his brother did overseas. He won two Gold medals for Canada. That fall Michael travelled to Parliament Hill where he was honoured along with the Team by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Sports and Persons with Disabilities. 

In 2018 Michael was the proud recipient of the provincial Athletic Achievement Award from Special Olympics B.C. He was described as; “A great teammate and an inspiring leader.”

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: Victoria
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

The Laur Family (Darren, Beth and Brandon)

For over ten years, Darren, Beth and Brandon Laur, known as “The White Hatters”, have visited more than 350 schools throughout B.C. and Canada, and just about 100 schools in the U.S.A. (connecting with just over 430,000 students in total), to share their pro-active message of social media safety and digital literacy with students, principals, teachers, school counsellors, parents and law enforcement officials. 

Even though the Laur family run a for- profit company, they spend hundreds of voluntary hours every year assisting schools, tweens, teens, parents and law enforcement with information and guidance when it comes to everything and anything to do with safety, security and privacy as it relates to the digital world. 

Never did the Laur family expect their company to become a digital outreach to those who they present to, but it has. To date, the Laur family have been directly involved in 183 successful interventions of teens who have connected with them with cyberbullying or sexting gone wrong challenges, and who were considering, or in the process of self-harming or suicide. 

All this outreach has been done free of any financial or material gain. Every year a portion of the Laur family business profits are given back to the community, to help financially support two not-for-profit organizations that are dedicated to helping youth in need when it comes to bullying and suicide prevention – Need2 and Bullying Ends Here. The Laur family believe they are a for profit company, striving to do well, by doing good things for others in their community.

The Laur family makes the following promise in all their presentations at schools, "If there is any student or young adult in the audience who is online and needs help, and you don’t know who to connect with, you can connect with us and we will help, and if we can’t, we know someone who can." This is why the Laur family will take phone calls, emails and text messages anytime day or night, and all this is done on their own time and at no cost. The Laur family also dedicates hundreds of hours every year to students who would like help in securing their social networks. To date thousands of students, and even teachers and parents from across British Columbia have taken Darren, Beth and Brandon up on this offer.

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: Langford
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

Peter Lawless

Peter Lawless was honoured with the medal for being a passionate advocate for sport as a means to transform community and his leadership and dedication has been vital to numerous initiatives becoming reality.

While his accomplishments are many, SoldierOn is one program where he has made a specific and notable difference. When hearing about this Canadian Forces program that assists ill and or injured members in their recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration through sport, Peter, the vice president of the Canadian Olympic Committee, used his sports experience and connections, as well as the facilities in the Victoria area, to create a meaningful sport experience for these military members.

Peter set up a multisport camp that hosted over 30 athletes from across the country. He connected the military athletes with high-performance coaches from the Paralympic Team and arranged for fully funded access to Victoria’s high-performance training centre with financial assistance from PacificSport Victoria.

He next volunteered to coach for the 2016 lnvictus Games in Florida. He facilitated free access to the new high-performance training centre in Toronto and arranged for various Olympic Champions to give motivational talks and coaching to the Canadian lnvictus team.

Upon his return from lnvictus Games in 2016, he arranged for every single B.C.-based athlete to receive a Bravo Zulu commendation from the admiral in command of Maritime Forces Pacific. His passion, enthusiasm and success further resulted in him being asked to be the head coach for the entire 2017 Canadian team.

• Year Awarded: 2017
• City: Victoria
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

Christopher Lee

At just 13 years old, Christopher Lee founded the Helping Hearts Youth Foundation to empower young people to be “The Change We See.” Under his leadership, the organization has grown to include over 500 volunteers from more than 30 schools, with 90 percent of them in grades seven to 10. Christopher’s ability to inspire and mobilize these young volunteers has led to the foundation raising over $50,000 in the course of two years, funding thousands of care packages and meals for those in need throughout Vancouver.

Christopher’s personal touch and genuine interest in others have transformed perspectives on volunteerism. Many who initially joined Helping Hearts for service hours have found themselves inspired by his passionate speeches and hands-on approach, igniting a true commitment to service. His habit of personally thanking each volunteer, even at large events, demonstrates his deep appreciation and humility.

Christopher’s leadership extends beyond the foundation’s growth. He has implemented transparency measures to keep volunteers informed and engaged, fostering trust and deeper community connections. His strategic vision continues to drive Helping Hearts toward an even more impactful future.

Christopher’s dedication, humility, and commitment to empowering youth and aiding those in need have not only transformed his organization but have also inspired countless individuals to strive for a better world.

• Year Awarded: 2024
• City: Vancouver
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Peggy Lee

Peggy Lee is a humanitarian and role model who broke both gender and race barriers. Despite the societal obstacles that lay in her path, she remained patriotic and went on to help make Canada and British Columbia a better place.

Her volunteer spirit showed itself early when, during the Second World War, she volunteered with the Women’s Ambulance Corp (St. John Ambulance Women’s Corp in Canada). At the age of 19 she was the youngest member of the only all-Chinese Women Platoon in Canada. Her war efforts have in recent times served as examples of the diversity that helped win the war. In 2008 she was a panelist along with Major Harjit Sajjan, now Canada’s Minister of National Defence, in a veteran’s multicultural event called Unity within Diversity at the Vancouver Public Library. 

But more significantly for Canadians, war contributions like those of Peggy and other Chinese Canadian veterans, helped change attitudes and ultimately gain Chinese Canadians their full citizenship rights with the passing of the 1947 Canadian Citizenship Act.

Raising four children, including triplets, starting her first salon at age 17, and growing a hairdressing and beauty business to four salons in Vancouver, charity remained close to her heart. She devoted hours to organizations like Variety-The Children's Charity, Canuck Place and helped raise money for the African Pikin Foundation to promote education and build schools in Sierra Leone. She co-founded the Vancouver Chinese Canadian Activity Centre Society, which over the course of her 36-year involvement, went on to build a daycare and seniors’ residence serving Chinese Canadians. For 28 years she volunteered first as one of the original directors and then sat on the Board of the Chishaun Housing Society, which operates Oakridge House, a high quality residence for low income seniors. She is a founding member and active fundraiser for the Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society, the only museum in Canada devoted to Chinese Canadian Veterans’ history.

Her contributions have been featured in books and documentaries that highlight the contributions of Chinese Canadians during the Second World War, including The Power and the Grace: WWII, Heroes Remembered, The Memory Project, Chinatown: Then and Now; and Celebration: Chinese Canadian Legacies in British Columbia. She was also one of the veterans photographed in the travelling exhibit One War. Two Victories shown in the War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario and the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, BC. 

An abbreviated list of awards and recognitions given to Mrs. Lee include: the Variety Telethon fundraising trophy for Canuck Place; Variety Clubs International Life patron trophy; and a recognition certificate from Prime Minister Stephen Harper for her selfless acts of service and sacrifice during the Second World War in defence of Canada and our shared values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City:  North Vancouver
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Joan LeMoine

Joan LeMoine was honoured with the medal for her contribution to many Parksville organizations and events touching a range of citizens from young people with special needs to senior citizens living alone, as well as to those looking for family fun.

Her service to community and countless hours of volunteering include working with organizations such as:

• The Society of Organized Services (SOS)
• Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock fundraising campaign
• Branch 49 of the Royal Canadian Legion
• Tim Hortons Camp Day fundraising campaign, which helps send children with special needs to camp
• Coffee with Council, which provides an opportunity to spend one-on-one time with the Mayor or council members

Through the Oceanside Community Safety Volunteers, she calls seniors living alone to ensure their well-being and offer friendly conversation.

Among her many other contributions, Joan was also instrumental in re-establishing the Parksville Beach Festival Society that now organizes a world-famous sand-sculpting event. She and her late husband helped form the Parksville Beach Festival Society in 1999 and convinced the city that a family-friendly event would be, once again, viable. Last summer, the festival broke all attendance records with more than 104,400 people from all over the world attending.

Joan put in countless hours over her 15 years as volunteer co-ordinator of the society and helped grow its solvency. Today the society diverts a portion of ticket sales to other philanthropic groups and, to date, close to $350,000 has been distributed to other non-profits and community projects.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Parksville
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

James Lester

When the pandemic began many people and organizations found it nearly impossible to source the alcohol-based cleaners and hand sanitizers they needed. James Lester, co-owner of Sons of Vancouver distillery, immediately recognized the role that he could play in this situation.

He saw there was a shortage of hand sanitizer in North Vancouver and how it was affecting care facilities and first responders. His company had the ability to produce sanitation grade alcohol. James had been contacted by a needle exchange, care homes, women’s shelters, municipalities and others asking for help. His dilemma was that producing it would technically not be in compliance with the law. The sense of urgency he felt around the issue caused him to advocate and push hard in all the ways that he could. Fortunately in the days that followed, provincial and federal leaders made the necessary changes for production.

Soon Sons of Vancouver was not only producing sanitation grade alcohol and hand sanitizer, but also giving it away for free to the public and organizations across the region. They hosted sidewalk giveaways to allow individuals and families to get free hand sanitizer every week and partnered with local grocers to sell bottles of hand sanitizer to raise money for Lions Gate Hospital. The local constituency office distributed thousands of litres of hand sanitizer to child care providers and non-profit organizations.

Throughout this process, James never demanded nor expected any gratitude or attention in return for his business’s generosity. Even tax receipts for donations in kind from eligible charitable organizations were an afterthought for him and his team. He has since returned Sons of Vancouver to the core business of liquor production, but countless individuals and organizations benefited from the rapid pivot he made at the start of the pandemic.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: North Vancouver
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Ping Li

People in need have been assisted through Ping Li’s consistent and outstanding volunteer work since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Even before the first wave of the pandemic was officially declared in B.C., Ping was part of a group of volunteers that provided support for those in self-isolation after travelling, such as airport transportation to their home and food drop-offs.

After the start of the lockdown, Ping was inspired to contact local grocery stores and bakeries for food donations and organized bi-weekly food pick-up and drop-offs to receiving charity sites. She organized multiple groups to help distribute the donated food in two different ways. She had one group organize the food donations into family sized boxes filled with some perishable and non-perishable products that were then delivered to families and people in need. Another group met bi-weekly at her home to prepare, cook and package perishable foods such as sandwiches, rice boxes, wraps and stews. The prepared foods were then delivered to homeless shelters, Downtown Eastside homeless people and to health care workers for lunch. This started in May 2020 and she has not missed a week since.

Ping has never stopped working and has now provided more than 20,000 meals since the pandemic began.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Vancouver
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Beverly Lore

The Bayview Market has operated for more than 60 years as a local grocer in rural and remote Port Clements, Haida Gwaii. Beverly Lore was an employee when she purchased the store in 2008 because she wanted to keep it locally owned and operated. This personal dedication to community has meant that the Bayview is not just a grocery store, but the hub of the community.

Beverley recognized the risk her employees took every day being on the front lines during COVID-19 and immediately increased wages.

Bev and the Bayview are icons of community spirit. Through it, Beverly sponsors community, sporting and church events and has helped purchase playground equipment for Port Clements’ children.

Bev provided free grocery delivery service to seniors and the frail. Since COVID-19 hit, all Bayview customers receive this service. At the peak of COVID-19 Bev and her family were providing free delivery service to other communities as far away as Masset, 40 km to the north and Tlell, 25 km to the south.

There are no pharmacies in Port Clements so the Bayview serves as a prescription pick-up location. Prescriptions are delivered to the store where they are held for residents to claim. This valuable community service allows vulnerable people to live in their home community longer.

When delivery drivers can’t find an address or no one is home to receive a package in Port Clements, Bev will accept parcels for people through the store – again without asking for anything in return.

In the very early days of COVID-19, Bev set up a hand-washing station outside her store, complete with warm water. Her community spirit shone through this dark time as she provided lyrics for people to sing while they washed their hands. Spirited acts like this are the essence of Beverly Lore.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Port Clements
• Region: Northern BC

Talia Lorincz 

Talia Lorincz is a remarkable young woman whose compassion and initiative have made a profound impact on the lives of Ukrainian refugees in Metro Vancouver. At the age of 16, Talia initiated a Free Store for Ukrainian Refugees, starting as a small project and swiftly transforming into a recognized haven for those in need.

In March 2022, with the intent of preparing welcome baskets for 15 Ukrainian families, Talia's project quickly evolved into a fully operational Free Store, located in her basement. What sets Talia apart is not just her incredible work ethic but her forward-thinking approach and a heart that knows no bounds. 

Talia's Free Store was an actual store, ensuring a shopping experience that preserves the dignity of those seeking assistance. No mere charity, it offered a genuine shopping experience with personalized appointments, creating a warm atmosphere where Ukrainian visitors could find not only necessities but also a sense of community.

Talia's dedication goes beyond the norm for a graduating senior. While most young adults plan a relaxing summer before university, Talia continued running the Free Store as a full-time job. Even from her dorm room, after leaving Vancouver, she continued coordinating this project, demonstrating a high level of commitment at such a young age.

Despite her impactful work, Talia remains humble, caring more about the heartfelt messages from grateful store visitors than official recognition. She insists The Free Store’s success is the product of the community working together, contributing clothing to carpools for visitors to reach the store.  The Free Store became a place for people to connect, share stories, practice English and receive advice on various aspects of life. Beyond just a distribution centre, the store turned into a community hub.

The Free Store served more than 600 people and is a reminder of the impact kindness and community collaboration can have on people's lives.

• Year Awarded: 2023
• City: Vancouver
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Stan McCarthy

Stan McCarthy was a great community-minded citizen, dedicating many years to the protection of his community. When Williams Lake and 150 Mile House were hit by wildfires in 2017, McCarthy went above and beyond what was required to help anywhere and in any way he could to protect citizens, homes and local structures.

McCarthy was the fire chief for the 150 Mile House Volunteer Fire Department. He’s been a pillar of the 150 Mile community since the 1970s. He was one of the founding members of the fire department and has been the fire department's chief since the 1990s.

During this time, McCarthy helped create a vibrant fire department focused on community service and constant improvement. He advocated for and led the department through professional training and certification for members. This ensured their safety and at the same time, provided a professionally trained core of volunteers ready to respond to the community.

Training now includes the National Fire Protection Agency's 1001 accredited training standard, an accomplishment that many volunteer fire departments do not achieve. McCarthy was also one of the first leaders to see the need to add medical aid for the community and started the fire department’s medical first responder program.

McCarthy also organized social activities. He helped create a skating rink at the fire hall that the community has enjoyed for two decades, and he plowed the rink after every snowfall so members of the community could take full advantage of it. Since 1982, McCarthy  led the fire department in the annual Halloween event. It has now grown into a large community-focused celebration where McCarthy ran the BBQ and served hot dogs to residents and provided treats for the children.

McCarthy was one of the responding members who travelled to Kelowna to assist the province in the emergency response during the 2003 firestorm. In 2017, he once again faced a firestorm, this time for five weeks in his own community. He led the department through this challenging time ensuring all fire department members’ needs were met while protecting citizens of the community, along with their homes.

McCarthy reached out to the community and offered extra help wherever possible ensuring the little things were looked after while managing the huge responsibilities that came with the fire response efforts. Notably, he initiated efforts to help the community's animal population left behind during the evacuation by arranging for food and water to be delivered by fire department members.

McCarthy's ability to see the big picture and ensure the fire department's high level of training and professionalism saved the community in its darkest hours. Its members were able to use their training to respond and indeed excel, during the long weeks of fire response that summer. Because of McCarthy's foresight and vision, the fire department was able to thrive during the fire event and keep the community safe. 

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: 150 Mile House
• Region: Cariboo

Jeffery McLellan

During COVID-19, “I Love Port Moody” on Facebook became a resource for isolated and elderly people. Jeff McLellan, who ran the site, always stepped up to the plate to help anyone by picking things up for them, taking them places, or simply being there to talk. He started fundraisers in the community to help those with lost income and encouraged residents to “shop local.” He posted about local restaurants, suppliers to purchase from, and encouraged the community to support local food trucks so the merchants would survive. Jeff's connected network also engaged volunteers and local business to help build a new sustainable garden on the community's oldest resident's property.

Jeff also started a fundraiser for SHARE and picked up and delivered hanging baskets to raise money for the food bank.

Jeff does so much more for the City of Port Moody than anyone sees or even knows. Over the holidays, he and his daughter Madison dressed up in Christmas gear, supplied the sound system and music, and sang carols outside the hospital for staff and patients. He is on many committees to further the betterment of Port Moody and still finds time to promote local business and be involved in almost every activity, event or promotion that encourages a sense of community.

Jeff's heart, energy and kindness kept the community going, and we will forever be grateful to this absolutely incredible man, with energy and the time for everyone. If you ask him why he does all this, he simply states, “Because I can.”

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Port Moody
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Reihaneh Mirjani

Reihaneh Mirjani, Co-founder of Soul Bite Food Inc., a social enterprise that produces plant-based comfort food and donates 51% of its profits to charities dedicated to fighting hunger and combating food waste, and Vice President of Immigrant Link Centre Society, exemplifies the essence of good citizenship through her innovative approach to addressing food insecurity among low-income families, immigrants, and refugees in the Metro Vancouver region.

Recognizing the unique challenges faced by these communities, Reihaneh has dedicated herself to ensuring access to healthy food. Under her leadership, 370 volunteers at the Immigrant Link Centre Society (ILCS) collect and distribute unsold, usable food from local grocery stores. This initiative supports 29 food distribution centers, saving over 1,000,000 kg of perishable food annually, valued at over $7 million.

Beyond reducing food waste and preventing it from ending up in landfills, this effort also significantly lowers the carbon footprint, preventing emissions of over 2 million kilograms of CO2 equivalents each year. The collected food provides essential nutrition to 4,500 vulnerable members of the community.

Her model alleviates the stress of accessing nutritious meals for those in need, fostering a sense of security and belonging. Her profound understanding of inclusivity and support is evident in the positive impact on these communities.

Reihaneh’s leadership at Soul Bite Food Inc. and ILCS has sparked innovation and community engagement. Her approach to collective action has inspired individuals from diverse backgrounds to join her cause, showcasing the power of collaboration in creating lasting social impact.

• Year Awarded: 2024
• City: Coquitlam
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Niis Miou (Travis Angus)

Niis Miou (Travis Angus) is a Nisga’a Two-Spirit Indigenous person, a single foster parent of three young aboriginal children. He has lived in Vancouver for many years, and now lives in south Vancouver and has a close relationship with the area’s Indigenous community of approximately 50 plus families.

At the start of COVID-19 Niis saw food security needs for the Indigenous families and his immediate neighbours. There was limited access to transportation, extreme stress and anxiety of the unknown, the uncertainty and fear of leaving their homes so single parents with young children were homebound and elderly people were not able to use transit. Niis addressed these needs by providing non-perishables from his own pantry and fresh vegetables from his own backyard garden as he continued to offer support to families to help their day go by with ease. 

After finding out about Niis’ endeavours to offer a hand up to community and neighbours, in April 2020, South Vancouver Neighbourhood House (SVNH) approached Niis to inquire about the needs in his neighbourhood. This became a partnership where Niis was the voice of the community and bridge between families and SVNH resources  through trust building, consistent communication and support to his neighbours during these very difficult times.

In the first week, five Indigenous families were identified and food hampers prepared by SVNH and distributed by Niis. He continued reaching out to his neighbours that could use the hand up instead of just a hand out.  It became clear for him for SVNH to assist the families in the community, a trusting relationship needed to be quickly built within the diversity of the neighbourhood.  Every week, Niis dropped off SVNH flyers about resources while continuing to reach out and support families in the community. Niis then built on the relationship by having conversations about resources that SVNH was providing. He recognized that without cultural understanding, consistency and trust, he was not going to make any headway in providing food.

As the relationships with the neighbours grew stronger, the food program expanded to 40 plus families.  SVNH food hampers were personalized according to cultural and dietary needs reflecting the deeper understanding of the community.

Niis stands as a symbol of service for his Indigenous community and neighbours.  He exemplfies the true meaning of how cultural inclusion can co-exist with diversity.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Vancouver
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Dr. Lois Nahirney

Lois Nahirney is a pragmatic visionary and tenacious activist for gender equality and the economic advancement of women. Her work has accelerated the pace of change and impacted thousands of women and girls to be champions of equity for themselves and others. As a lifelong volunteer and community leader, Lois has founded and/or chaired numerous organizations dedicated to advancing women including the Women's Executive Network, Premier's Women's Economic Council, WE for SHE and Women in Technology to promote, educate, implement and accelerate systemic change for women.

In addition to her extensive volunteer work, Lois is a trail-blazing senior female executive in male-dominated industries including forestry, shipping and technology, pioneering change within the workplace. She saw the importance of developing champions, sponsors and advisors to elevate women's careers and has been an activist in this area for 20 years. Now, as the CEO/Founder of a DNA company, dnaPower Inc., she employs a team of women scientists and managers in the rapidly changing biotech world to apply personal genetics in the areas of diet, fitness and wellness to help people live healthier lives.

Lois is best known as the active chair of the Women's Executive Network in BC for 15 years, as the innovative inaugural Chair of the Premier's Women's Economic Council, a founding member of the WEB Alliance and the visionary co-founder and co-chair of WE for SHE, bringing the focus of women and gender equity to the forefront in BC. She has changed companies, advised government and inspired thousands of women in advancing their place in the economy.

As the co-creator of WE for SHE, Lois led an unprecedented collaboration of over 25 women's organizations, representing 10,000 women across the province, to create groundbreaking annual forums and action plans for government, business and individuals focused on advancing senior women, entrepreneurs and women in non-traditional and emerging sectors. This annual forum brings together 1400 people -- high school girls along with business leaders to inspire both young and senior women to be bold in their careers. It has spawned other events and mentoring programs around the province and has drawn in corporate, government and community partnerships to collectively take action.

Wherever Lois goes, she selflessly and tirelessly contributes to her community in many ways. She was a volunteer and director with Junior Achievement for over 10 years, Chair of the Vancouver Economic Development Commission for five years and is part of a family charity, Vietnam Education Society, that supports children in Vietnam and has built over 10 rural schools, sends hundreds of at-risk girls to camp each summer and provides 50 scholarships to girls each year. She is also proud to be a transgender advocate in support of her son. Lois loves travel, hiking the BC forests and living in North Vancouver together with her husband, Tom and twin teen children Levi and Kailyn.

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: North Vancouver
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Lawrence Napier

Lawrence Napier, a cornerstone of the Mackenzie community, has dedicated nearly five decades to volunteerism and community service. As a member of Mackenzie Search and Rescue (SAR) for over 46 years, Lawrence has played a crucial role in numerous life-saving missions, mentoring new volunteers and often sacrificing personal commitments to aid those in need. His commitment and expertise have helped transform the SAR team into a professional and effective organization.  Recently, the Mackenzie SAR team honoured Lawrence’s outstanding contributions by naming their new facility the “Lawrence Napier Training Centre.”

Lawrence has also made significant contributions to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 273. Starting as a member he then took on more responsibilities serving on the executive. He is the current president and works tirelessly to support Legion causes and ensure it remains a vibrant community hub. For the past several years, Lawrence has held an executive position for the Central Zone committee.  Whether it’s overseeing local dances, providing bingo to the long-term patients at the Mackenzie hospital, or taking care of the medical equipment loaning program, Lawrence’s dedication to the Legion is unwavering. 

Lawrence helped to start the 787 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron.  Since its inception in 1984, Lawrence served as an officer, training youth ages 12-18 in leadership, citizenship, and survival skills. He continued to support the air cadet squadron as a sponsoring committee member when he retired.

Lawrence has been involved in the formation of the Men’s Shed Mackenzie chapter.  They provide complimentary handy-man and carpentry work for those in Mackenzie who need it.  He has also helped start the non-profit, Williston Lake Elders Society, where he sits as a director on the board. The Society’s goal is to advocate for a care home in the Mackenzie and larger Williston Lake area including the communities of McLeod Lake, Tsay Keh Dene and Kwadacha.

Lawrence has been actively involved with the local Snowmobile Club and the B.C. Ambulance Service, demonstrating his broad commitment to community well-being. His extensive volunteer work has earned him respect throughout the province and solidified his reputation as a reliable and invaluable community resource.

• Year Awarded: 2024
• City: Surrey
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Shawna Narayan

Shawna Narayan created Empower The Future (ETF), a non-profit organization that connects inner-city students with post-secondary students to encourage personal and academic growth. She recognized that many inner-city students like her do not have the support, knowledge, or resources needed to continue their learning whether it is through full-time careers, volunteering, or higher education. She wanted to provide these students with the same opportunity that other students have. She connected with the Surrey School District to make a difference in Surrey students’ lives. Being a young woman from a diverse city, she showcases what the next generation is capable of by helping inner-city students with similar difficulties that she overcame. 

She organized the Life After High School Project where students are mentored on five main topics: dealing with financial stress; finding credible information about post-secondary education; preparing to enter the workforce; searching for quality volunteer opportunities; and caring for yourself. Her Life After High School Project gained the support of the University of British Columbia through a $10,000 Innovation Grant. Other supporters of the Life After High School Project include the Vancouver Foundation and the Government of Canada. This year, over 300 students have participated in the Life After High School workshop. She also launched a Women in STEM project to encourage more inner-city females to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields which was supported by a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) grant. 

Shawna has volunteered over 4000 hours for ETF and other initiatives while attending UBC for full-time studies for a Bachelor of Science in Physics. 

She has consistently demonstrated exemplary volunteer work, academic excellence, and a strong commitment to helping others and making a difference in the community around her.

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: Surrey
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Leon Ng

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Vancouver
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Steven Ngo

In April 2021, Steven Ngo was accosted by two Caucasian males with anti-Asian insults and threats. He tried to report this hate crime to the Vancouver Police Department and noticed the online form on the VPD website to report hate crimes was only available in Chinese. Steven, who is part Vietnamese and whose first language is English, cannot read or write Chinese.

Rather than give up in frustration, Steven made this glaring deficiency known, not only to other Vancouverites, but to the entire world. His story has been captured in over 30 media outlets, including the Globe and Mail, The Guardian, CBC, Global TV, CTV, the Vancouver Sun, the Province, among many others. He gave interviews, he created a comprehensive website: https://fixpolicereporting.ca, and he participated in dozens of speaking engagements, including the National Forum on Anti-Asian Racism hosted by UBC and events hosted by the Bank of Montreal, Salesforce Canada and Law Society of Ontario. Through his relentless efforts, the VPD has now expanded its online hate crimes reporting forms to be available in 14 different languages and has also translated its website into over 100 languages. Steven has not stopped there. He is working to help make the reporting of hate crimes more accessible and user-friendly in cities across all of B.C. and Canada.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Burnaby
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Paul & Terry Nichols

Paul and Terry Nichols devote themselves to bringing awareness to the difficulties Canadian soldiers can face when they transition back into civilian life. They also have developed a program to help returning veterans overcome operational stress injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) incurred from military deployments.

When Paul returned home from serving with the Canadian military on a United Nations Peacekeeping mission in the former Yugoslavia, he came home to a wife, family and community who had little understanding of his experience as a contemporary veteran. There was also little understanding of PTSD and the important role that community plays in the wellness of their veterans.

During a chance meeting with a survivor of the siege of Sarajevo, Paul heard for the first time that his own contribution in the Balkans made a difference and was thanked for his part in a Canadian mission that had saved countless lives. Through this discussion he realized the power of a shared story.

Paul and Terry understood that their struggles and their story are very similar to hundreds of others across Canada. They believed they had the skills and experience to make a difference.

Paul and Terry operate a farm in the Quesnel area where Paul found therapy while taking long, solitary rides on his beloved horse Zoe. Terry, a therapeutic riding instructor, used horses for her own rehabilitation after a traumatic injury left her wheelchair bound for many months. Together they know first hand the healing power of horses. Knowing that thousands of soldiers return from combat zones with physical and mental injuries, they began to see a vision to bring awareness to the difficulties facing returning soldiers as they re-enter our communities.

In 2014, Paul and Terry formed the Communities for Veterans Foundation and set a plan into motion that would see Paul ride across Canada on horseback to collect and share stories and to raise awareness. On April 15, 2015, they started out from the Parliament Buildings in Victoria with a seven-person crew, eight horses and a route from British Columbia to Newfoundland. Along this route, after successfully completing an in-depth riding lesson with Terry, Canadian veterans were invited to join Paul on the ride through their own communities.

During the ride veterans interacted with the public and were encouraged to share their own stories and thoughts as they discussed the challenges that our veterans face. Eleven thousand kilometres and 211 days later, 363 veterans had ridden with Paul and hundreds more had taken part in Terry’s program. Thousands of veterans and tens of thousands of Canadians came out in support of the Nichols’ mission.

Back home, their veteran program operating on the farm gives veterans from across Canada tools to deal with PTSD while helping to build stronger relationships and families. The Nichols have reached out and invited the community to assist in running the program, as they believe that for our veterans to find support in communities, a societal shift in understanding and appreciation must happen; an investment in veterans will lead to stronger veterans and stronger communities.

• Year Awarded: 2017
• City: Quesnel
• Region: Northern BC

Sylvie “Silvakantie” Pather 

In 1973, Sylvie Pather and her family left South Africa and emigrated to Canada due to the Apartheid Regime in the country. She experienced firsthand the poverty that the black population endured. Working as a nurse she also developed a love, caring and empathy for people marginalized in the community. On arrival to Canada, Sylvie worked at Lionsgate Hospital in nursing for 30 years. During that time she participated in various social activities at the hospital including the organization of retirement, Christmas and farewell staff parties. She has worked with various organizations dedicating almost 40 years of her life to serving the community. 

Her volunteerism has included working with the Franciscan Sisters Benevolent Society for over 23 Years. She donated eggs and cold meats to the society, which was a luxury to the clients, and participated in weekly preparation of sandwiches for the homeless and those in need in the Downtown East side community. She also helped to serve dinners during the Christmas season. 

Sylvie volunteered for the North Shore Crisis Services Society (NSCSS), (formerly known as Emily Murphy House), where she volunteered for four years and later became their Public Relations person for 10 years. She campaigned with United Way (affiliated with NSCSS) for funding and took her booths to social events to make women aware of NSCSS and all relevant information they needed. She also took part in campaigning and fundraising for a new and safe transition house on the North Shore, where women in crisis can be safe leaving their abusive situation. 

For 15 years Sylvie organized the Diwali Celebration also known as The Festival of Lights. This event encouraged much of the South-Asian community to come together with those of other cultures in celebration.

She volunteered for five years donating food to support the work of Harvest Project on the North Shore. The Harvest Project is an organization that helps people through difficult transitional periods in their lives such as job loss, divorce, illness or injury. At Harvest Project, she volunteered as an ambassador to the community, where she helped support the food-drive program with schools and other groups by giving presentations on the North Shore. At the grocery depot, she helped create a welcoming and inclusive space for clients. Her work has helped transform the lives of hundreds of North Shore residents such as single parents, new residents and other people who are transitioning through serious crises in their lives. The contributions made by her enabled individuals and families to reconnect and become more productive members of the community. 

Presently with North Shore Neighborhood House, Sylvie continues to demonstrate tremendous dedication in her volunteer work and commitment to their service program. She continues to faithfully volunteer her time with St. Andrew’s Church in the community kitchen making sandwiches and distributing them to people as part of their meal program which has just been discontinued. 

Sylvie also continues her volunteering efforts with the Highland’s United Church Saturday Lunch Program where she helps in the kitchen serving soup to people. Her warm personality exudes hospitality to the guests, among them being the unsheltered homeless. Her friendliness and compassion has touched many people’s lives. Every year she contributes to the food hampers assembled for guests. 

At the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, Sylvie volunteers as an ambassador and greeter and helps transform a potentially stigmatizing space into a welcoming, non-judgmental environment where people are treated with dignity and respect. She demonstrates a considerable amount of competency when engaging with people who have experienced a number of different life difficulties, along with the food insecurity and poverty that bring them there. The food bank has an edible food garden where clients can purchase vegetables at a nominal price and if they do not have any money, Sylvie will cover the cost of the food. She has shown great amounts of empathy for people who are living with various challenges in their lives.

Sylvie believes that the satisfaction of volunteering outweighs every other job that you can do. “It is just so satisfying.”

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: North Vancouver
• Region: 
  Mainland/Southwest

Kris Patterson

Kris Patterson has helped raise more than $1 million for literacy programs in the Alberni Valley. He has published eight books and donated the proceeds towards various community organizations including the local museum, community arts council, and Compassionate Friends Society. 

Kris has a passion for local history. He writes a weekly historical column for the local newspaper and spent 500 hours digitizing radio interviews that his late father conducted about the history and growth of the area. He donated the interviews and a collection of historical photos to the Alberni Valley Museum. Kris received the 2013 Heritage Award for his commitment to the preservation of cultural heritage. 

For more than 25 years, Kris has been a long-standing volunteer with several Port Alberni organizations including: 

• The Raise a Reader Campaign 
• Canada Day celebrations 
• Junior A hockey 
• Port Alberni Non-Profit Housing 
• Compassionate Friends Organization 
• Alberni Valley Museum 
• Chamber of Commerce 
• Dragon Boat Society 
• Community Arts Council 
• Young Professionals 
• Alberni Clayquot Regional District Solid Waste Planning Committee 
• Alberni Valley Hospice Society 

Kris transformed the pain and loss of losing his child into a grief and loss book, which was welcomed by the Compassionate Friends Organization and the library at BC Children’s Hospital. He also personally donated a child heart monitor to Children’s Hospital. 

Patterson has a reputation for serving his community to the fullest. He has been recognized as a “Top 20 under 40” finalist three years in a row.

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: Port Alberni
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

John Phare

John Phare, a Roberts Creek tree faller, was the first recipient of the Medal of Good Citizenship.

John, who was honoured posthumously, spent his entire working life in the logging industry and worked as a faller, felling danger trees on the Old Sechelt Mine fire during the unusually busy 2015 fire season. The 60-year-old father of three died while fighting the Old Sechelt Mine fire on July 5, 2015.

• Year Awarded: 2015
• City: Roberts Creek
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Amber Price

The Book Man’s owner, Amber Price is a bright light of progress and positivity in Chilliwack. With a downtown business, she’s witnessed the devastation of the opioid crisis, homelessness, increased property crimes, violence and fear that was driving residents away from the once vibrant downtown. She didn’t despair. Instead, Amber is instilling vibrancy, inclusion and civic pride in Chilliwack.

Amber organized cleanup crews and alongside the volunteers she recruited, she swept the sidewalks and picked up garbage in Chilliwack’s historic downtown. Amber saw the core needed basic necessities and pushed for city funding. She inspired others and crowd sourced money through GoFundMe for murals and property improvements.

Compassion also drives her. Amber co-organized the collection of 8,000 bottles of water, sunscreen and aloe vera that were provided to the needy during the heatwave. Public lighting downtown has improved immensely because she saw the need, and took the initiative to apply for grants to solve the problem.

She started fundraising for bike helmets to ensure all kids could safely use the new public Pump Track. She fundraised and curated public art to show diversity and acceptance making the downtown more vibrant.

One weekend, when demonstrators protested COVID-19 vaccines and safety precautions at the hospital, Amber saw that hospital workers’ morale was low. She organized a community delivery of thousands of dollars of donated gift cards, gift baskets and snacks for the healthcare workers to show appreciation for their dedication and relentless sacrifices.

In her store Amber has hung rainbow flags and promoted the October Purple Lights campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence. Amber is inspiring Chilliwack to embrace diversity and inclusion through her Rainbow Crosswalk Initiative after city hall’s bylaw denied one. Her same progressive and positive attitude is one that she shares on the boards she is on.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Chilliwack
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Rory Richards

Rory Richards started the 7 p.m. cheer for health care workers at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. That cheer was simply one of countless acts of activism, community mindedness, and quiet heart-led leadership that have defined her for decades.

Here are just a few of the people who Rory has positively affected:

• A nurse who speaks to the impact to the health care community of the 7 o'clock cheer.
• A film and TV producer who was drawn into supporting refugee rescue efforts by Rory's calls to action.
• A rabbi who praises Rory's activism as “holy impatience”.
• A retired social worker who felt she was still able to contribute to her community and the world due to Rory's example of good works.
• A businessman who praises Rory's entrepreneurial skill that balances building successful companies with supporting her employees and the wider community.

She is the rare epitome of servant leadership. She listens. She cares. She serves quietly and leads by example time and again. It happened when she raised awareness about social issues by shopping local or reducing use of single use plastics. It happened when she got a “Group of Five” to sponsor a Syrian refugee – and then kept going, quietly sponsoring and putting together more and more citizen led circles. She continually points the spotlight towards others. 

Rory is incomparably generous with her time, an unsung hero whose selflessness, positive attitude and unwavering commitment to modelling conscious care for people and our environment are done in her “spare time”.

She is a proud Jewish and Indigenous woman who is decolonizing business as usual, and living her vision of a world where our actions reflect the truth that we are all interconnected, and our survival relies on doing the right thing for each other and our planet more often.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Vancouver
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Marilyn Rushton

Marilyn Rushton was honoured with the medal for her inspirational life of service to the visually impaired community, her contributions to families with blind and visually impaired children, and her energetic support for the musical community.

Blind since birth, Marilyn is a powerful role model, teacher, and gifted musician. She has volunteered countless hours with the Maple Leaf Singers; and is the director and accompanist for The Tempos, a choir for blind and partially-sighted children, youth and adults. Marilyn is the president of the BC Vision Teacher's Association and this year served as chairperson for the Canadian Vision Teachers’ Conference entitled Seeing Beyond the Horizon. She serves on the board of Blind Beginnings, a non-profit that supports B.C. families with blind/partially-sighted children.

Among her many other contributions, Marilyn was co-director and accompanist for the Burnaby Children’s Choir, has been a governor on the Douglas College board, and a board member for the Burnaby Hospice Society. In the 1990s she was a Burnaby school trustee and effectively used the role to advocate for diversity and equity in public education. Her contributions in education are recognized through her membership in DKG International, an honorary society of women educators; and PEO, a North America-wide organization which provides educational opportunities for women.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Burnaby
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Ken & Lou Ryan

Ken and Lou Ryan were a dynamic North Burnaby couple that for decades stepped up to either organize or volunteer for a myriad of events and services in the community. Ken passed away in 2017 but the community legacy created by him and his wife Lou will continue.

For the past 23 years they were the engine behind the Burnaby North Community Fair in Kensington Park, which promotes businesses and organizations and gives families a chance to come together in the summer time, ride the midway and listen to live music. Every year the couple ran a Christmas Holiday hamper program, approaching local businesses and community members for donations to fill gift hampers with non-perishable food items and other everyday essentials for low-income families.

The couple regularly rolled up their sleeves to help at food banks, school hotdog days, and at the Lochdale Community School Christmas pancake breakfast. In the course of serving during Homelessness Action Week, they met a homeless man who made such an impact on them that they invited him to live in their home and join them in their community volunteer activities.

That man, Wes Thompson, passed away this year as a loved member of the Ryan family, no longer homeless and no longer isolated.

In the 1990s Ken created Comshare, a North Burnaby Community Association summer camp program that provides six weeks of camp experiences and outdoor adventure for children in Grades K to 6. He also served over the years as the acting treasurer of the BNCA, president of Burnaby Optimists, as well as Block Watch Captain, working closely with the local RCMP.

Under the auspices of the Optimists, Ken and Lou organized Burnaby’s Got Talent performances which helps fund bursaries for deserving children within Burnaby, as well as the Optimist Communication Contest, a scholarship for deaf and hard of hearing students.

Together Ken and Lou were very active with Volunteer Burnaby and the Lochdale Community Association.

• Year Awarded: 2017
• City: Burnaby
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Lita Salanski

Lita Salanski passed away in September 2015 and her legacy to her community will continue for future generations. The posthumous honour, accepted by her family, recognizes the impact she had on Grasmere, its ranching and farming community, educational infrastructure and spiritual foundation through her involvement with the Triangle Women's Institute (TWI), the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association, Canadian Council of Cattlemen, East Kootenay College Board and Grasmere United Church.

At the same time Lita was adjusting to married life, raising a family and building and running a business, she became involved in the many projects of the TWI. Her leadership skills along with her enthusiasm played a major role in TWI's success in bringing a modern highway, electric power and telephone to the isolated community of Grasmere. She spent countless hours writing letters, lobbying the government, knocking on doors and selling the idea that the residents of Grasmere were part of British Columbia and needed to have the amenities others took for granted.

She was passionate about the need for education and became a local school board trustee and later became the chairman of the board. Lita was a founding member of the East Kootenay Community College board and later an honorary member of its board. She worked to improve the economy of the area through her involvements in local farming organizations, leading her to become the first female president of the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association. She also served on the Canadian Council of Cattlemen board.

Her service to her community extended to many other organizations like 4-H and the Grasmere United Church and she was instrumental in ensuring the congregation established a place of worship within the community.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Grasmere
• Region: Kootenay

Marion Sallenbach

Marion Sallenbach, a resident of Winfield, was honoured for her many years of volunteerism within the community, her selfless actions having a tremendous impact on countless families in the Okanagan.

An active volunteer in the community for over 50 years, Marion began volunteering with the Hospital Auxiliary in Winfield in the late 60’s, her efforts helping to raise thousands of dollars for the Kelowna General Hospital. Ten years later, she helped bring the Red Cross Health Equipment Loan Program (HELP) to Winfield and over the next four decades the impact of the BC HELP program grew, loaning 170,000 pieces of equipment – such as crutches, canes, walkers and wheelchairs – to 94,000 British Columbians in 2014-15 alone.

In addition to her work for the hospital, Marion has also volunteered with the Winfield Community Church, the Red Cross, and the Independent Order of Foresters, through which she has donated her time and expertise in a myriad of ways, which includes helping with the ‘Wheels to Meals’ for seniors, bookkeeping services, and assisting the ‘Adopt‐a‐Road’ initiative.

Now in her ninth decade, Marion continues to dedicate her time to the community, her volunteer work also complimented by the assistance of her two daughters, Joanne Galigan and Sharyn Fiwchuk, making her contributions a family affair.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Winfield
• Region: Thompson/Okanagan

John Scott

John Scott was honoured with the medal for his wide-ranging and selfless contributions to the community of Prince George, enriching the lives of youth, comforting those through illness and trauma, focusing well-deserved attention on the sacrifices veterans have made for Canada, and helping to revitalize the local branch of the Canadian Legion and neighbourhood commemorating veterans.

His service to community and countless hours of volunteering include support for a myriad of organizations including the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43, 2618 Canadian Army Cadets, and chairman of the Cadet League for Cariboo North, former district commissioner of the Nechako Scout district and Scout trainer II and the Legion’s Connaught Youth Centre. He is also president of the Prince George and Northern BC Chapter of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping.

The veteran peacekeeper has been instrumental in helping revitalize Prince George’s Veterans’ Land Act neighbourhood and galvanizing support for new facilities for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43. John also helped steer the Connaught Youth Centre to becoming a non-profit society that now supports a range of youth programs in the city. He is currently serving the Royal Canadian legion as a vice-president of BC/Yukon Command.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Prince George
• Region: Cariboo

John Simpson

John Simpson was honoured with the medal for his pioneering services that he offered free to people with acquired brain injuries (ABI). For more than three decades John devoted thousands of hours of service and emerged as an influential advocate in the field that resulted in the formation of local and provincial supporting organizations.

It has been estimated that John has provided more than 16,000 hours of free support to individuals with acquired brain injuries and their families since the 1980s. Many of the people he helped had no funding and no one else to help them.

He set out to educate the community and professionals about ABI, establishing the first annual brain injury conference in 1982, which ran for 25 years. John was also instrumental in establishing what is now the BC Brain Injury Association, which has the first Lower Mainland drop-in centre for people with ABI and now bears his name.

In 1997, he founded the Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association and he is still active with the group that serves more than 150 clients each year in five cities.

In 2014, under his leadership, the Brain Injury Alliance was formed, to better serve the estimated 22,000 British Columbians who have ABI. Through his advocacy, the Province contributed $3 million for services provided by community-based brain injury associations. The alliance also received a $1 million endowment fund for education, employment and training for people with ABI.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Chilliwack
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Natalia Skapski

Natalia Skapski has gone over and above contributing to the safety and well-being of the Capilano University community during the COVID-19 pandemic. As well, she has a long history of volunteerism locally, nationally and internationally as part of a life dedicated to the health and safety of others.

Since the pandemic began, Natalia has dedicated herself to the safe operations of all campus locations and engaging as a citizen in reconciliation through her extended canoe family.

No safety question is insignificant to Natalia; she offers equal time and patient consideration to calming an anxious employee with factual information; reassuring a student worried about attending an in-person class; or supporting a manager seeking guidance for their team. Natalia’s leadership, her guidance to others, her mentorship of a fledgling Emergency Operations Centre crew and her absolute commitment to the safety of others is awe-inspiring.

In the Fall 2021, new and returning students owe their welcomed return to CapU in-person learning to Natalia’s leadership, perseverance and personal sacrifice. Natalia collaboratively worked through a deluge of information to keep the campus safely moving forward. She has built trust by working alongside members of the community and demonstrated tenacity, fairness and unwavering commitment to public health.

Natalia volunteered for 15 years with the Red Cross both in Ontario and in B.C.. In 1993, she was deployed as a volunteer to aid the Red Cross mission to the Mississippi Floods. Natalia was one of six Vancouver-area Red Cross volunteers who assisted in the response to the 9-11 tragedy in Queens, New York.

More recently, Natalia began actively volunteering with Team Rubicon Canada. In December 2021, she was able to dedicate time to mucking-out flooded homes in the Sumas Prairie area of Abbotsford, B.C.  

Natalia's life is deeply entwined with local First Nations and Indigenous values of family, caring, community and responsibility. She is a founding member of the Sema7maka (Snowbird) Squamish Nation canoe family, a member of the Pulling Together Society of canoe families. Natalia actively lives the values of uniting as people on a journey of reconciliation to make the world a better place.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: North Vancouver
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Dr. Michal Smialowski

Dr. Michal (Mike) Smialowski is a rural B.C. Family Physician (CCFP), GP Anesthetist (GPA) and Sport Medicine Physician (Diploma Sport Medicine) who lives in a remote area of the West Chilcotin called the Tatlayoko Valley. For the past decade he has been dedicated to providing medical care to residents of this area who otherwise would have to endure the six hour round trip to Williams Lake to consult a physician.

He and his wife Leslie moved to the Tatlayoko Valley because of their love of the mountains, the lakes and the wilderness. They have stayed because of the strong sense of community. Initially practising from an office in his home, he soon expanded to the West Chilcotin Health Centre in Tatla Lake where he joined the RN (Ruth Kuehl-Venn) to form a two-person medical team.

As a rural doctor, he was essentially on-call 24/7, 365 days a year. He was British Columbia's first volunteer Community Response Doctor with the BC Ambulance Service and was dispatched to many emergencies over the years ranging from home deliveries to critical injuries and urgent medical complications.

Although now retired, Dr. Smialowski has become an advocate for improving medical care along the Highway 20 corridor (500km Williams Lake to Bella Coola) a region which, in his estimation, has traditionally been neglected by the relevant Health Authorities. This advocacy has been facilitated through the West Chilcotin Health Care Society (WCHCS) which has raised over $90,000 (including a Health Ministry grant) to purchase much needed medical equipment for the West Chilcotin Health Centre. In addition, the Society successfully petitioned the Interior Health Authority (IHA) to place Tatla Lake on their physician manpower plan thus making it a permanent position.

Before retiring, Dr. Smialowski and the WCHCS successfully recruited a replacement physician (Dr. Rob Coetzee) who has now served the community for nearly three years. Monthly meetings now occur in collaboration with local Health Care Providers (RN, NP and MD) the Interior Health Authority (IHA) and First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) to develop an effective Medical Emergency Response Plan (MERP) for the Highway 20 corridor. A good portion of this effort is aimed at ensuring basic standards of care as well as baseline needs of emergency equipment and ongoing training.

• Year Awarded: 2017
• City: Tatlayoko
• Region: Cariboo

Dr. Rachel Staples

Dr. Rachel Staples of Urban Smiles dentist clinic in Colwood, lost her 16-year-old son to a drug overdose in 2018, while concurrently going through treatment and radiation for breast cancer. After working tirelessly during the pandemic, in December 2020 while cycling to work she was struck by a vehicle and suffered more than 20 broken bones and a major concussion. Despite this she made herself available to her associates, her staff and her patients by phone call, video chat, and text message.

Dr. Staples had the foresight to see that the COVID-19 pandemic was not going to be a two week ordeal. While in isolation after attending the 2020 Pacific Dental Conference, Dr. Staples took the initiative to order plexiglass barriers, hospital-grade air purifiers, face shields, and disposable masks, gloves and foot coverings for her office to ensure her staff were protected, which allowed them to return to work as soon as it was safe.  This also ensured her patients remained safe when they came in for appointments.

During COVID-19, Dr. Staples helped with more than 250 dental emergencies. She performed hundreds of emergency fillings, extractions, and root canals, fielding emergency phone calls in her off-hours, sometimes even returning to the office late at night after a full day of treatment.

Dr. Staples’ willingness to unhesitatingly work to alleviate the suffering of dental emergencies is the very embodiment of the virtue of good citizenship; her selflessness and dedication to the community are a constant inspiration. In the early days of this pandemic, when so much was still unknown and terrifying, she did not hesitate once when someone asked for help.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Oak Bay
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coastal

Isabelle Tang

At a very young age Isabelle Tang was inspired by the people around her to give back to the community. She participated in the Children's Hospital 'Balding for Dollars' raising an amazing $19,331. She volunteered her time and organized her friends to assist in the 'Children We Care Gala' and 'Time to Shine Gala'. She has also given piano performances at Villa Cathay Senior Home and South Granville Park Lodge.

Along with her family, Isabelle recognized a need on the east side of Vancouver for protective masks. Masks were supplied to more than nine community organizations. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become very difficult for high school students to participate in volunteer activities within their communities. Isabelle has worked to find safe volunteer opportunities for her friends.

In February 2021, she delivered 500 pink masks to her high school in support of Pink Shirt Day. School staff, administration and students were all encouraged to wear the pink masks.

In May 2021, Isabelle organized the necessary volunteers to assist in B.C. Children's Hospital – ‘Shine Mother’s Day Tea At Home’, preparing the packaging and organizing the delivery. This project raised $31,000.

A June 2021 fundraising project called ‘Villa Cathay Rejuvenation Project - Charity Dragon Boat Dumplings’ was initiated by Isabelle and her family. She assisted with organizing volunteers, packaging and delivering the dumplings. A total sell out, the event raised $15,000.

In September 2021, Isabelle set up the Orange Youth Volunteers with the support of the principal and the administration of her school.  The project created awareness of the impact of residential schools. Orange masks were provided to the staff and students on a donation basis. All proceeds were donated to the Orange Shirt Society.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Richmond
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Rhoda Taylor 

• Year Awarded: 2023
• City: Duncan
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

Sahib Thind

Sahib Thind was honoured with the medal for his unwavering dedication to human rights.

For almost a quarter century he had been the driving force for a formal Parliamentary apology for the 1914 Komagata Maru incident in which hundreds of passengers from India who sought refuge in the country and province were denied entry to Canada and turned away without benefit of the fair and impartial treatment benefitting a society where people of all cultures are welcomed and accepted.

His foundation, the Professor Mohan Singh Memorial Foundation, criss-crossed Canada, and travelled abroad to bring attention to the cause and lobby for an official Parliamentary apology in various legislative assemblies, including those in B.C. and in the Indian State of Punjab. All the travel costs were personally paid for by Sahib.

The Professor Mohan Singh Memorial Foundation lobbied the B.C. provincial government for an apology for its role in this tragedy. After 94 years, the B.C. legislature unanimously passed a motion on May 23, 2008, apologizing for the Komagata Maru incident. “This house deeply regrets that the passengers who sought refuge were turned away,” said Liberal House Leader Mike de Jong.

In May 2016 the federal government apologized for the Komagata Maru incident and for his part in this struggle, Sahib and his organization have been recognized in the Punjab State legislature in India, and in the Canadian Parliament.

With the official Komagata Maru apology in hand, Sahib is continuing his efforts and expanding his actions to include issues faced by many other communities by working to establish diverse curricula in all Canadian provinces.

The non-partisan, non-denominational, human rights foundation hosts the Mela Gadri Babiyan Da in Bear Creek Park in Surrey, with Sahib leading all organizational efforts. The festival, which invites South Asian performers from around the world, is attended by 70,000-100,000 festival-goers. It is all put on by volunteers, and the foundation charges no admission.

•  Year Awarded: 2017
• City: Surrey
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Parminder Virk 

• Year Awarded: 2023
• City: Saanich
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

Spencer van Vloten

Recognizing the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly difficult on British Columbians with disabilities, Spencer van Vloten was determined to make a difference. He put hundreds of hours into developing B.C. Disability – an online information and social hub that connects disabled British Columbians across the province.

Online since mid-2020, between its webpage and media accounts, B.C. Disability has more than 15,000 members. It is a place where persons with disabilities across B.C. can find pandemic resources, provide mutual support and advocate for their well-being.

Spencer personally responds to every inquiry and spends hours each day helping the people who reach out for support, whether it was researching emergency benefits or chatting on the phone with a total stranger who is feeling isolated.

Spencer has also directly contributed to the material well-being of disabled British Columbians by using his 'Show My Work' series to promote local artists with disabilities, which includes purchasing their creations and featuring them in online showcases.

Spencer’s pandemic leadership extends to the boardroom. He chairs Community Living B.C.’s Vancouver Council, where his leadership during the pandemic has been instrumental. Spencer has organized mental health workshops, online social activities to curb pandemic isolation, as well as meetings with MLAs and city councillors so persons with disabilities and their families could ask elected officials COVID-19 related questions.

Every week he volunteered as a greeter at a senior's thrift shop, helping ensure that seniors are safe and following COVID-19 protocols. He worked each day as a Youth Program Leader for Easter Seals B.C., where he developed virtual programs for youth with disabilities across B.C. who couldn't attend in-person programs due to COVID-19.

Spencer has made it his mission during the pandemic to help others, without any consideration of himself or expecting any recognition.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Vancouver
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Dylan Van Rooyen

Dylan Van Rooyen, who works as a firefighter in Surrey where he was raised, was honoured with the medal for inspirational leadership demonstrated in his involvement with many organizations and events centered on helping Surrey youth and families.

His service to community includes countless hours volunteering at organizations like the Child Development Foundation of British Columbia, Tong Louie Family YMCA, Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society as a director and committee member of its charity golf tournament and Leave a Legacy group.

Through his leadership, participation and fundraising doubled for the Child Development Foundation’s Run, Walk & Roll for our Kids event, resulting in additional help for children with special needs. In nine years with the Tong Louie Family YMCA, he has led numerous charity campaigns to help families, individuals and children who do not have the means to participate in the YMCA’s services such as camps and swimming lessons, in addition to gym and facility access. 

Among his many other contributions, Dylan volunteers as a delivery driver for the Snack Program, which operates in Surrey schools and brings food to children who arrive at school with no breakfast.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Surrey
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Larry White

Larry White was honoured with the medal for the leadership and volunteer hours he has contributed to a wide range of civic, cultural, historical, outdoors, and youth organizations and activities in the Northern B.C. community.

Since moving to Tumbler Ridge with his wife Crys in 2001 his service to community and countless hours of volunteering include:

• Serving as vice-president on the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society, White also helps develop and maintain the ski cabin as well as hiking and cross-country trails. He led the partnership with BC Parks in Monkman Provincial Park to build backcountry trails and campsites and runs Itchy Feet, the group’s armchair travel club
• An active volunteer and director of the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation, White attended training at the Royal Tyrrell Museum to voluntarily participate in B.C.’s first dinosaur excavation and he assists his wife to run the Tumbler Ridge Archives
• For years he has been the race supervisor of the Emperor’s Challenge on Mount Babcock and the biggest off-road running event in B.C.
• A member of the Grizzly Valley Saddle Club board of director, he volunteers with trail construction and maintenance and arena maintenance and has an assistant donkey handler for many events
• He volunteers for the Tumbler Ridge Community Garden and is the president of its Board of Directors
• He volunteers for the Tumbler Ridge Community Forest and Emergency Social Services (ESS) and has been president of the library board
• The community can better serve youth through many of his efforts including fundraising for and the construction of the community skate park, obtaining the climbing wall for the teen centre, travelling to the Yukon to bring it to Tumbler Ridge and then helping train volunteers to operate the equipment and belaying of climbers, and coaching baseball and coaching and refereeing minor hockey

In addition to these contributions, Larry was involved from the onset of the drive to develop the Tumbler Ridge Aspiring Geopark, which in 2014 was designated the Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark, the second Global geopark in North America. As well as being a director and past vice president of the organization, he is the Geopark’s representative on the Canadian National Committee for Geoparks and attends UNESCO Global Geoparks conferences.

While Larry is being nominated for his volunteer contributions, his professional and political careers were also spent in the service of others. He served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1970 to 1996, qualifying as an engineer, serving in the Persian Gulf, and rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He served for three years as councillor in Tumbler Ridge, followed by three years as mayor, and served on the Board of the Peace River Regional District.
 

• Year Awarded: 2017
• City: Tumbler Ridge
• Region: Northern BC

Jonathan Yeung

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: West Vancouver
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Terry Yung

Terry Yung was honoured with the medal for his devotion to an organization that helps create a world of multicultural harmony and helping newcomers to Canada integrate into society and fulfill their professional aspirations for success.

As one of the largest non-profit social service agencies in British Columbia, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. has a mission to build bridges and foster integration through services in settlement, senior’s care, and affordable housing. Terry has been a strong supporter of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. for twenty years: first as a volunteer, then as an instructor for youth employment training and seniors’ safety programs, and most recently completing a six-year term as a board director where he chaired the Governance, Human Resources and Nominations Committees, as well as serving as vice chair.

As a dedicated individual who is committed to youth leadership development and employment training, Terry has helped youth and newcomers find employment so they could fulfill professional aspirations in their new country and become contributing Canadians.

His service to community and countless hours of volunteering include developing new and effective solutions for process improvement. As an example, he led the review of the society bylaws with the goal of increasing efficiency at the board level. In addition, during his tenure as the chair of the Governance Committee, Terry not only led recruitment for new board members based on the skill sets required, but also ensured succession planning is in place for board continuity and sustainability.

In addition to his community service to S.U.C.C.E.S.S., Terry served on the board of Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver for 13 years, and as president of the Vancouver Cambie Lions Club. Terry also volunteers on organizing committees for community events such as the annual Chinese New Year Parade. He currently sits on the Community Security Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver to build safer and more connected neighbourhoods.

Terry is a member of the Vancouver Police Department.  

• Year Awarded: 2017
• City: Vancouver
• Region: Mainland/Southwest