Award Category: Community Award

Braunwyn’s life is anchored in three basic beliefs – a person must give back to the community; if a need is evident, a person does not ask but acts to meet the need; and a wheelchair is not a barrier to achieving what you believe. As the Hazeltons’ volunteer liaison for Measuring Up the North, Braunwyn spearheads inclusive and accessible initiatives for the Hazeltons. As well, Braunwyn was directly involved with fundraising for the new Skate Board and Bike Park, and she championed the Skeena Bakery, a business operated by people with disabilities. An elected councilor for the District of New Hazelton, she advocates for making the Hazeltons a better and safer place to live, work and play. In her nominator’s words, “Braunwyn Henwood is a GIFT to our community.” Jane and George embody the very essence of community leadership. They are extraordinary contributors both as individuals and as a team.

Jane’s record of volunteer service is enormous. For the Salvation Army, Jane has volunteered since 1985 as fundraiser, board member, and recently a task force member focusing on raising awareness of Human Sexual Trafficking. The BC Cancer Foundation, Science World and the UBC Alumni Association all have thrived because of Jane’s energy, determination, passion and ability to bring people together. It must be said in this Olympic year that George Hungerford is a 1964 gold medalist in rowing. As a true Olympian, George has gone on to serve his community with distinction. Chair of the Greater Vancouver Advisory Board of the Salvation Army and the first chair of the Pacific Salmon Foundation, George has taken a leadership role in fundraising for the UBC Rowing Boathouse, BC Cancer Research Centre, and has served as a distinguished member of the Board of Governors and President’s Council of Simon Fraser University.

Yasmin is a passionate literacy advocate in the South Okanagan. She co-founded the Penticton Writers and Publishers organization providing a creative forum for dialogue and mentoring. Yasmin is a driving force behind the Young Okanagan Writers’ Contest, encouraging young writers to bring forward and share their stories and poems. She visits high schools to help students with writing and brings authors to the classrooms. She started the Canwest Raise A Reader program in Penticton bringing together committed volunteers and sponsors in support of this important community initiative. Most recently, Yasmin helped to establish a week- long summer writing camp for BC students. Yasmin has shown extraordinary dedication to improving literacy in our province.

Kayli Johnson is being honoured today for her exceptional leadership in the Faculty of Science at UBC. A fourth year honours student and Science Scholar, Kayli not only has served as a peer academic coach, tutor and mentor, she also has organized a number of events and conferences around the campus that promote science and research. Kayli is involved in creating a series of interactive videos to encourage elementary school children to have fun with science. Her nominator writes that Kayli has a unique ability to motivate and inspire other students to be the best they can be. It must be mentioned that Kayli has recently been selected BC’s Rhodes Scholar for 2010 and will attend Oxford University.

Simply stated, his nominator says of Dr. Bert Kelly – he is the voice and incarnation of healthcare reform in the north. Dr. Kelly believed that medical professionals trained in the north will practice in the north. Never afraid to voice his opinion, he mobilized community support and because of his persistence and determination, today there is a program training physicians at the University of Northern BC and a program in laboratory technology at the College of New Caledonia. He has been a proponent of the recently announced Cancer Care Centre in Prince George and his annual progress report on northern health care reform is always much anticipated and constructive. Dr. Kelly is truly a community hero.

Joyce is the volunteer founder, president and artistic producer of Vancouver Asian Canadian Theater, She has created a unique theatre environment that allows Asian Canadian audiences to identify more closely with stories that connect with their own backgrounds. At the same time, mainstream audiences have access through her theatre to authentic Asian Canadian experiences. Joyce has launched a thriving company of Asian Canadian actors through more than 35 productions in ten years. The impact of her work is profound and cannot be understated; it nurtures us all to be connected and tolerant as a community of neighbours. She leads by example every day.

Dave Lede is being honoured today for his generous philanthropy and for his unwavering commitment to workplace health and safety. As Chairman and CEO of Ledcor Group, he has instilled in the company, a strong focus on safety ensuring a safe environment for the thousands working on construction’s toughest jobs. He encourages his staff to give generously of their time, talent and donations to the communities in which they work and live. He leads by example, supporting Variety, the Children’s Charity, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, to name only a few. With his strong sense of corporate and social responsibility, Dave Lede contributes significantly to the well-being of our province.

Suneet Maan embodies true community spirit, contributing to our world through actions big and small. Suneet has volunteered for the Heart and Stroke Foundation since the age of eight participating in many projects promoting a greater awareness of heart disease including the importance of adopting a healthier lifestyle. At Southridge School, she raises awareness of the issues around childhood obesity by organizing ‘jump rope for heart’ and ‘hoops for heart’…events which together raised more than $11,000. As the 2010 Miss Teen Canada International, Suneet has begun working with the Teddy Bears of Hope organization and has now collected over 3,000 teddy bears for children in Uganda. Suneet…everyday…is a role model for others.

Muriel is a shining example of extraordinary volunteerism. For over seventy years, she has helped non-profit and community organizations in every way possible. She has served as chair of the Nanaimo Canada Day Committee for 24 years, chair of the BC Day Picnic for 15 years, and is a lifetime member of the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce. Muriel has been a tireless fundraiser for cancer and heart campaigns and is a sixty-two year member of the Eastern Star, enthusiastically supporting all of its endeavours. Whether baking pies or organizing the Coal Miners’ Reunion, Muriel is an essential ingredient in the life of Nanaimo.

Audrey represents what community is all about. Audrey’s contributions have been many and varied and she has always brought the highest level of dedication to every task. Her focus now is improving services and accessibility for the elderly. Audrey is the chair of the Senior’s Advisory Council for the Caribou Chilcotin and the founder and president of the Alzheimers Resource Centre. She was instrumental in opening the adult day care centre at Cariboo Lodge and is founder and president of the Cariboo Chilcotin Elder College. When Audrey is not out volunteering in the community, she is on the phone offering support and advice to people who call her for help. We honour Audrey today as an extraordinary community achiever.