Day: August 5, 2025

August 15 marks six months until nominations close for the 2026 BC Achievement award programs and now is the perfect time to begin the process. By starting early, you can reach out for letters of support, gather relevant materials, and contact us with any questions to ensure a strong nomination. Every year, the awards celebrate excellence across five distinct programs, and your nomination could help recognize the next outstanding British Columbian. 

Join Us to RECOGNIZE REMARKABLE 

BC Achievement is proud to present five award programs that honour exceptional people and their contributions across the province: 

• Community Award 
• BC Reconciliation Award 
• Indigenous Business Award 
• Polygon Award in First Nations Art 
• Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design 

These awards shine a spotlight on individuals and organizations that are shaping BC’s future through community leadership, cultural preservation, reconciliation, innovation, and artistic excellence. 

Why Nominate Someone? 

Because recognizing achievement does more than honour one person; it uplifts entire communities. It shares the impact of the work being done, ensures it reaches a wider audience, and inspires others to act. When you nominate someone, you’re helping tell a story that might otherwise go unheard. 

Take, for example, 2024 Community Award recipient Wendy Toyer, whose volunteer work and mentorship has strengthened ALS awareness and support. Or Pam Baker, recipient of the 2024 Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design, whose design practice integrates traditional Indigenous forms with contemporary fashion to celebrate culture and identity. 

Recognition validates contributions, strengthens community bonds, and fosters a culture of well-being and shared pride. For many recipients, the award becomes a platform for furthering their impact. It’s a meaningful step in affirming the value of their work and encouraging others to follow in their footsteps. 

Celebrating Impact Across BC 

Whether it’s a business leader like Seven Generations Environmental Services, honoured by the Indigenous Business Award program for their site restoration services, or a cultural visionary like artist Jim Hart, 2024 recipient of the Award of Distinction, Polygon Award in First Nations Art, BC Achievement awardees are united by their drive to create lasting, positive change. 

These awards highlight innovation, community strength, reconciliation, and creativity, all of which are essential to a vibrant and inclusive future. 

Nominate by February 15, 2026 

Nominations are open until February 15, 2026. By nominating someone remarkable, you ensure their work is acknowledged, amplified, and celebrated. It’s a chance to say: your efforts matter, and your community sees you. 

Visit bcachievement.com to learn more, view past recipients, and begin your nomination. If you have questions along the way, our team is here to support you. 

Let’s work together to #RecognizeRemarkable. 

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.

We’ve all just had statutory holiday for BC Day. What does it mean to you? 

Did you take time with family? Put in time at work? Volunteer at your neighbourhood organization? Or did you reflect on the history of BC? 

Here at BC Achievement, staff did a little of all of the above. 

For most of us, BC Day has meant a day off – one where we can enjoy a summer day at the beach, outside reading a book or playing a sport with friends, or getting a task checked off that never-ending checklist of things to do. 

Let’s take a little look at the history of BC Day, or Civic Day as it’s called in other provinces. Established in 1974, BC Day was officially established by the British Columbia government. The idea was to create a day to recognize and celebrate the heritage, culture, and achievements of the province. 

Knowing a little more about the history of this province, the injustices put on Indigenous people by the original settlers, and our early history with immigrants, we could easily hide our head in the sand. But those things that make us uncomfortable, often make room for growth, realization and understanding. So, BC Day can be a good opportunity to reflect on where we’ve come as a province, how much we’ve learned, and a vision for the future that includes reconciliation, respect, and compassion. 

The growth of a community is often dependant on strong foundations and systems to keep it running, but a significant piece of a community’s strength is in its volunteers. At every level of a town or city, you’ll find acts of service performed by those who wish to give back, or to contribute their expertise and time to a cause or event in their community. Without them, our cities would be black and white. Volunteers add the colour! With so many events, festivals, gatherings BC Day is a perfect time to volunteer your services. 

It’s also an equally good time to get started on those tasks you’ve been procrastinating on, or haven’t yet had the time to tackle. Organizing your closet, fixing the squeaky door, tuning your bike, or catching up on a work assignment while no one else is at the office – each one can provide a great sense of accomplishment when completed. 

I think the most favourite way to spend BC Day for our staff is to make memories with our families. This BC Day we collectively did some fun things: fishing, kayaking, long walks, and even longer dinner conversations. 

Whatever you did this BC Day we hope you took the time to rest, recharge, learn and get ready for a new month. 

Happy August from us to you! 

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.