The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, in partnership with BC Achievement Foundation, has announced the recipients of the third British Columbia Reconciliation Award.
This award recognizes four extraordinary individuals and two organizations who 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.
2023 Reconciliation Award Recipients
2023 Reconciliation Award Recipients
Individual Recipients:
Dr. Daniele Behn Smith (Victoria)
Dr. Danièle Behn Smith is Eh Cho Dene of Fort Nelson First Nation and Franco-Manitobain/Métis from the Red River Valley. Danièle has dedicated her medical career to serving rural and First Nations communities across Canada (read more)
Chief Willie Sellars (Williams Lake)
Chief Willie Sellars’ leadership embodies integrity, respect, and a commitment to furthering reconciliation. His efforts inspire others to participate in the collective journey of healing and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities (read more)
Klith-waa-taa, Dr. Barney Williams (Campbell River)
Klith-waa-taa, Dr. Barney Williams, a hereditary leader from the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation, is renowned for his expertise in Indigenous healing and counselling (read more)
Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn (Burnaby)
Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn (Otahkotskina) is an Indigenous engagement leader in archaeology and academia whose trailblazing efforts have paved the way for subsequent generations of Indigenous scholars and students to thrive in these fields (read more)
Organization Recipients:
Last Post Fund – BC Branch (Burnaby)
The Last Post Fund (LPF) is dedicated to ensuring that no Veteran is denied a dignified funeral, burial, or military gravestone due to insufficient funds at the time of their death (read more)
The Exploration Place & Lheidli T’enneh First Nation (Prince George)
Prince George’s The Exploration Place (TEP) works alongside Lheidli T’enneh First Nation (LTFN) to safeguard and conserve their cultural assets. In a strong partnership, TEP serves as the designated repository for LTFN’s material history (read more)
“Reconciliation acts as the cornerstone for fostering meaningful connections and bridging the divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. By acknowledging the historical injustices and illuminating transformative actions, we inspire others to tread the same path,” said Cloy-e-iis, Judith Sayers, a member of the board of BC Achievement.
“As we enter the third year of the British Columbia Reconciliation Award, we continue to shine a light on empowering approaches that allow Indigenous peoples to flourish while positively impacting all communities. On behalf of BC Achievement, we take great pride in announcing and commending the accomplished recipients of the 2023 award. Congratulations to the awardees, and heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering commitment to our shared journey of reconciliation.”
It’s another busy weekend for events in Metro Vancouver. Enjoy free family entertainment in Burnaby this Friday, then a full lineup of festivals, markets, live music, sports, fireworks, theatre, and a new flower festival in the valley – there are so many things to do! Make sure to check out the ongoing list of featured attractions and exhibits at the bottom of this post as well:
Weekend Events in Vancouver Things to do July 21-23, 2023
Sunflowers, lavender, and so much more! Lakeland Flowers presents the first-ever Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival where Insta photo and TikTok video ops abound and the sweet colours and aromas of the season fill the sun-drenched valley.
This is the largest summer floral experience in the Lower Mainland, where guests can wander through 45 acres of lavender, sunflowers, buckwheat, phacelia, and more feature flowers.
Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival – Lavender Field – Robyn Bessenger – Lakeland Flowers
Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival
When: July 21 to September 4, 2023
7 days a week, including Stat Holidays from 10:00am to 6:00pm
Children under 3 get free access to the flower fields.
Every paid admission includes a 5-stem bunch of sunflowers from the Upick field.
Tickets for special events occurring outside our usual business hours (10:00am to 6:00pm) will be available for purchase separately.
The festival has three focal points beginning with the lavender fields in full bloom including Provence and English lavender. Next is 20 acres of sunflowers, with over 1 million blooms, 30 varieties, a u-pick field, and photo spots including raised wagons, frames, canoes, tractors, and swings. The final area offers a 10-acre meadow of phacelia pastels, a buckwheat sea of white, and an array of colour with the feature flowers, ranging from snap dragons and Black-Eyed Susans to coneflowers and Woodland Sage.
For an elevated floral experience, guests are invited to attend two special event nights:
Amidst the lavender, a comedy show featuring comedian Cliff Prang will be held on July 28th with a specialty seasonal cocktail called Lakeland Lavender Lemon Fizz and local wines and beers.
On August 19th, guests can wander the sunflowers, listen to live music and enjoy seasonal bites at Tourism Abbotsford’s Sun and Soil Series Concert.
For answers to frequently asked questions including wheelchair rentals, food truck days, pet-friendly access, and shaded seating spots, visit the Lakeland Flowers website. For timely updates and field reports, follow Lakeland Flowers on Facebook and Instagram.
Upgrade to VIP before July 31st for your chance to win 1 of 3 Grand Prizes including a meet and greet with Crankdat
Monstercat Compound block party features two stages, live art, apparel, food trucks, beer gardens, gaming, and more.
This year’s 19+ event will elevate the atmosphere and offer an even more immersive environment while doubling its site map compared to last year. More space means more room for attendees, artists, and activities.
Headlining this year’s celebration, guests can catch electrifying performances from Crankdat, Blanke, Nostalgix, Godlands, Ace Aura and CHYL. Catch all these artists and more on the main stage. All of these headliners are making their Compound debut this year!
Monstercat is a Canadian independent electronic music record label based in Vancouver, and founded in 2011. The block party provides a platform for local businesses and performers while delivering top brands and talent.
Comments46
by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by the West End BIA Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
Things to do in the West End: A day with Miss604 is a three-part summer series, in partnership with the West End BIA, showcasing all the wonderful, delicious, and engaging things to do around this iconic Vancouver neighbourhood.
Things to do in the West End
In the first part of this series, we shopped, dined, and toured around Denman and Robson Streets. Today we visit Davie Village, the beach, Denman, and some entertainment in Stanley Park. Here are even more ways to get the most of out of a West End excursion in Vancouver this summer:
Getting to the West End
I live in the West End but I love taking the False Creek Ferry! It’s the cheapest little cruise around. If you’re in Kitsilano, Granville Island, Yaletown or Olympic Village it’s a scenic way to get over to the West End. Disembark at the Aquatic Centre and walk the Seawall around to Denman and Davie.
Shopping on Davie and Denman
West End Farmers Market is Saturdays from 9:00am to 2:00pm on Comox between Bute and Thurlow. Then of course there’s the shop that I think every town in BC has because it’s full of so many staples: Home Hardware (1053 Davie St). One of my favourite little flower shops, that also has tons of pots and planters, Davie Flowers (1139 Davie St), and then there’s the iconic, the one and only, Little Sister’s Book & Art Emporium (1238 Davie St) a legendary queer retail store selling everything from LGBTQ2+ books to Pride to cards to adult items.
Kimprints (1179 Denman) is one of my go-to when I need to find something locally inspired for a gift.
(Left to Right) Davie and Bute; Bisou cube croissant; Peaked Pie; Davie Street
Activations at Jim Deva Plaza
The Jim Deva Plaza (1200 Bute) at Bute and Davie is a public space where you can eat your takeout under the market lights, enjoy artwork, shop a pop-up, or enjoy entertainment. Coming up this season is Art from the Heart, which are free guided painting sessions August 10 & 24 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. New Gen. Collective Market will pop-up again August 11 & 25 from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. Pop Queen Cardio will offer high energy fitness classes mixing dance and pop music. Free to the community on August 3rd.
Snacks and Sweet Treats
Bisou (1190 Bidwell) opened this year and has gone viral on Instagram thanks to their spiral and cube croissants.
Peaked Pies (975 Denman St) is another satisfying local favourite with hearty Australian meat pies as well as veggie and vegan options. Make sure you get your pie “peaked” with all the fixings (peas, mashed potatoes, and gravy) for the full savoury experience.
I have partnered with the West End BIA to share a classic West End summer experience: You can enter to win VIP tickets to an Evo Summer Cinema Movie (August 1st) plus $80 for dinner at Davie Dosa Company! Here’s how:
