BRITISH COLUMBIA RECONCILIATION AWARD 2024

On November 5, 2024, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, in partnership with BC Achievement Foundation, announced the recipients of the fourth British Columbia Reconciliation Award. The award recognizes extraordinary individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect and commitment to furthering reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in the province of British Columbia, or inspired others to continue reconciliation efforts.

The Award draws inspiration from the work of Steven Point [Xwĕ lī qwĕl tĕl], 28th lieutenant governor of British Columbia and a founder of the award. His hand-carved red cedar canoe, Shxwtitostel, currently on display at the B.C. Parliament Buildings, was created as a symbol of reconciliation, with the understanding that “we are all in the same canoe” and must “paddle together” to move forward.

In honour of this legacy, this year’s recipients received a print of a canoe paddle designed by Tsm’syen/Nisga’a artist Shawna Kiesman to commemorate the award. Shawna is the Crabtree McLennan Emerging Artist recipient of the Polygon Award in First Nations Art. The paddle designed by Shawna was installed alongside previous BC Reconciliation Award paddles at Government House in Victoria on Nov. 5, 2024.

The 2024 recipients of the BC Reconciliation Award were recognized in a ceremony held at Government House on January 15, 2025.

Highlights

• View the recording of the live streamed event.
• Browse photos from the event.

Click on an image to learn more about the award recipient’s contributions.