Award Category: Community Award

For more than 25 years, Dan and Sandi Wiebe have guided Box Lake Lumber, a family-founded operation established in 1985. Following two devastating mill fires in the 1990s, Dan assumed a primary operational role in 1998 and, together with Sandi, rebuilt the business with a focus on Western Red Cedar split rail fencing and value-added production, utilizing low-grade and previously unused timber. As part of this innovation, Dan designed and built a bale machine that compresses mulch byproduct into compact 4×4-foot cubes, improving efficiency in transportation, storage, and retail distribution.

Their shared leadership has strengthened both the business and its contribution to the economic and social fabric of Nakusp. Under their direction, the family-run business has become a stable employer, supporting more than 25 local jobs, along with contractors and related economic activity across the region. In the wake of major industry closures, Box Lake Lumber has played an important role in sustaining employment and helping stabilize the local economy.

Dan and Sandi continue to navigate shifting forestry policies, fibre shortages, and market pressures by adopting innovative approaches, including the use of wildfire-affected timber and low-waste production practices. They are also active contributors to community life, supporting organizations, events, and families. Their work reflects a long-standing commitment to local employment, community resilience, and responsible stewardship.

Crystal (Crys) White is a long-time community volunteer whose contributions have supported cultural, environmental, and recreational initiatives in Tumbler Ridge since 2001. She has worked with numerous local organizations, including the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society, Tumbler Ridge Emergency Social Services, BC Parks, the Grizzly Valley Saddle Club, and the Tumbler Ridge Community Garden, taking on both leadership and hands-on support roles that strengthen community life.

Among her most significant ongoing contributions is her role as volunteer Archivist for the Tumbler Ridge Museum. Over the past decade, Crys has obtained the necessary qualifications and developed the archives from the ground up, working alongside local historians to preserve the region’s heritage. She contributes to research and publications on the early history of Tumbler Ridge and has supported palaeontological initiatives, including dinosaur track site excavations.

Crys also promotes community well-being through teaching seniors’ fitness classes and organizing local concerts as a piano teacher. She has further contributed through volunteer coordination for events such as the Emperor’s Challenge. Her sustained involvement reflects a deep commitment to preserving local history, strengthening community programs, and supporting residents across Tumbler Ridge.

Chyanne Trenholm, a member of the Χʷomaɬkʷu (Homalco) First Nation in Campbell River, has built her career in service of her community and territory. She began with Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours as a summer student, welcoming visitors and sharing the stories, lands, and traditions of her Nation. After earning a Bachelor of Tourism Management with a Minor in Recreation from Vancouver Island University, she returned full-time, advancing through marketing and operations roles before becoming General Manager.

An emerging Indigenous leader in tourism, Chyanne brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her work. She serves as the Vancouver Island Regional Director on the Indigenous Tourism BC Board and Commercial Bear Viewing BC Board, ensuring regional voices are reflected in provincial decision-making and connecting board strategy with community realities.

Her leadership is collaborative and values-driven, grounded in cultural integrity, regenerative growth, and community well-being. She is committed to creating opportunities for Homalco members while strengthening connections to land, language, and culture. Chyanne also co-founded Nine Peaks Tree Care, a tree-service company, expanding Indigenous ownership into another sector. Across her work, she advances economic self-determination and demonstrates how tourism can support culture, protect lands, and build resilient futures.

Kukpi7 (Chief) Willie Sellars is a member of the Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) of the Secwepemc Nation and has served in elected leadership for more than 15 years. First elected to Council in 2008 at the age of 24, he became one of the youngest Councillors in the Nation’s history. After a decade of service, he was elected Chief in 2018 and is now in his second term. Prior to his leadership roles, he worked as a Wildland Firefighter and later as a Special Project Coordinator in WLFN’s Economic Development Department.

As Kukpi7, he has advanced initiatives that support economic development and self-determination, including implementing a land management system and negotiating agreements with industry partners. His approach emphasizes relationship-building and partnerships as pathways to reconciliation, helping to generate resources that support community programs and services.

He has also played a key role in the investigation of the former St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School site, contributing to truth-seeking and healing for survivors and families. In addition to his leadership, he is an author of children’s books and actively supports youth well-being through sport, culture, and community engagement.

Haley Regan, Syilxwa Spuʔus (“Big Heart”), is an emerging Indigenous arts and community leader from the Penticton Indian Band in the Okanagan Nation. Her work connects cultural expression, youth engagement, and community programming. She trained through the National Indigenous Professional Artist Training Program at the En’owkin Centre, grounding her practice in Indigenous arts, knowledge, and cultural teachings.

Her leadership began early through volunteer service with the Penticton Indian Band youth group and Princess Margaret Secondary School’s Amnesty Global Awareness group. In 2022, she joined the Powwow planning committee for Powwow Between the Lakes and was soon entrusted with the role of Volunteer Coordinator, supporting large-scale event delivery, coordinating teams, and contributing to planning and fundraising.

Haley facilitates Indigenous fine art workshops for schools and community groups and has contributed to public art projects, including a youth-engaged mural through the BC Human Rights Commissioner’s “From Hate to Hope” initiative. Haley continues to support youth through her role as Volunteer Coordinator for the Gathering Our Voices, Canada’s largest Indigenous youth conference, where she leads hundreds of volunteers to help deliver a transformative experience for thousands of Indigenous youth.

Rochelle Prasad is an educator, nonprofit leader, and policy advisor working across education systems and youth engagement. She is the Founder of SPARK Foundation, a youth-led organization that has reached more than 500,000 young people globally, delivering leadership programs, scholarships, and workforce development initiatives, with strong roots across British Columbia.

Over more than a decade, she has secured funding to deliver free, youth-focused initiatives, including workshops, camps, and classroom resources for individuals aged 15 to 25. She has built and led teams of staff and volunteers while designing programs that center youth voice and create pathways for sustained engagement and leadership.

Her work includes advancing awareness of the history of indentured labourers and supporting Girmit (Girmitya) remembrance initiatives, particularly within Indo-Fijian communities in Surrey. She mentors students across K–12 and post-secondary settings and develops curriculum focused on civic engagement, social justice, and workforce readiness. Rochelle also contributes to policy discussions on education and youth engagement, advising governments and international organizations, including within the United Nations system, on inclusive approaches.

Her contributions have been recognized through numerous honours, including Forbes 30 Under 30 and RBC Top 100 Women Leaders in Canada.

Jacki McPherson is a health professional and leader with more than 40 years of experience working with First Nations communities across British Columbia and at national levels. She currently serves as Health Director for the Penticton Indian Band and previously held similar roles with the Osoyoos Indian Band and Lower Similkameen Indian Band.

Throughout her career, she has led the development and delivery of community-based health and addictions programming for individuals of all ages. Her recent work includes establishing the Snxastwilxth Recovery House, a day treatment program, and advancing a comprehensive mental health and substance use strategy to address the opioid crisis within the Penticton Indian Band. She also contributed to the creation of the “Big Worries” mental health program for First Nations children and families.

Jacki has supported increased service capacity through partnerships with organizations including the First Nations Health Authority, Interior Health, and the Okanagan Nation Alliance. She has also contributed to initiatives such as the Integrated Community Outreach Team, connecting vulnerable individuals with care and supports. In addition to her community roles, she contributes to provincial and national committees and supports training for health leaders through curriculum development and facilitation. She speaks with deep gratitude for the leadership and communities she has worked alongside, recognizing their guidance, trust, and shared commitment to improving health and well-being.

Shelley Magwood is one of the founding members of the Equality Project Society and served as its Executive Director and Financial Director until 2025. She initiated the project by bringing community members together to glean surplus food, prepare meals in their homes, and deliver them to individuals in need. What began as a grassroots effort has since grown into a registered charity supporting residents in Cache Creek, Ashcroft, and the surrounding area.

The Society provides access to nutritious food, essential supplies, and a safe, welcoming space for connection. Operating three to four days each week, it offers consistent, community-based support in a region with limited services. Shelley guided the development of programs to address food insecurity, homelessness, substance use, and social isolation. She also advanced service expansion, including the establishment of a warming centre during extreme winter conditions and the exploration of emergency shelter options.

Guided by a commitment to serve God and others and supported by her background as an Emergency Medical Assistant, Dispatcher, and in office management, Shelley brought practical expertise in health and safety to the organization. She secured funding, built strong community partnerships, and supported the Society’s growth. Her work has strengthened local capacity and improved access to essential services for vulnerable populations.

Kobe Li is an emerging leader and Co-Founder of 20/20 Mission, a British Columbia-based nonprofit dedicated to improving access to vision care worldwide while engaging youth in meaningful community action. What began as a student-led initiative, inspired by his own experience with high myopia, has grown into a province-wide effort connecting schools, volunteers, and healthcare partners.

Through 20/20 Mission, more than 8,000 pairs of eyeglasses have been collected and redistributed to underserved communities through partnerships with optometry clinics and service organizations in Canada and internationally. Kobe has developed efficient collection systems, quality control processes, and distribution networks to ensure donated eyewear reaches those who need it most. He has also established student-led clubs in secondary schools, fostering awareness of global vision inequity while empowering youth to lead donation drives, collaborate with local partners, and build leadership skills.

Kobe continues to cultivate a growing network of volunteers across BC and Canada. His work reflects a commitment to practical, sustainable, and equitable solutions that expand access to essential vision care while equipping young people to become leaders in social impact. In 2025, Kobe was recognized with the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award.

Rosaline Glynn is a dedicated volunteer who has strengthened connections and improved quality of life for seniors across North Vancouver Island. She served on the Hardy Bay Senior Citizens’ Society Board for many years, including as Chair from 2017 to 2024, where she led a period of significant growth, expanding membership from approximately 70 to over 300.

Under her leadership, the Society developed a wide range of programs and partnerships, including weekly meal programs, educational workshops, community events, and outreach initiatives that increased access, inclusion, and social connection for seniors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rosaline coordinated rapid response efforts, including meal delivery, wellness check-ins, transportation support, and a volunteer phone network to address isolation and ensure members remained connected and supported.

Rosaline has contributed to numerous organizations, including the North Island Seniors Housing Foundation, Mount Waddington Health Network, and the Seniors Elders Better Living Advisory Committee, the Community Response Network, and the Port Hardy Hospital Auxiliary. In 2024, she joined the Port Hardy Heritage Society Board. Her work has been recognized with honours including Volunteer of the Year and the Seniors Hero Award, reflecting her leadership in building collaborative, community-based supports. In 2025, she received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her work with seniors.