The recipients of the 20th annual BC Achievement Foundation Community Awards were honoured at a special event on May 10th. The program, presented by BC Achievement – an independent foundation that honours excellence and inspires achievement throughout the province – recognizes extraordinary British Columbians who build better, stronger and more resilient communities.
BCAF Community Award Recipients 2023
BC Achievement Foundation Community Award Recipients
“This year’s Community Award recipients demonstrate exceptional commitment to making their communities – and our province – healthier, happier and more hopeful,” said Premier David Eby. “From ambitious students to established entrepreneurs, the honourees show us how everyone can have a hand in building a stronger BC. Their stories are sure to inspire British Columbians across the province.”
“We are privileged to showcase and celebrate the contributions of these outstanding recipients who shine as examples of leadership, dedication and selflessness,” said Walter Pela, Chair of the BC Achievement Foundation. “Communities are shaped and strengthened by people who willingly share their talents, passion and time in the service of others,” he added.
The Community Award recipients are selected by an independent jury panel, whose 2023 members include Mayor Sarrah Storey of Fraser Lake, Mayor Maja Tait of Sooke, and past recipients Kal Dosanjh of Surrey, Julie Fowler of Penticton, and Sqwulutsultun William Yoachim of Nanaimo. This year’s recipients include:
Connie Cocchia, West Vancouver
Dr. Amy Gilchrist, Victoria
Jack Gin, Burnaby
James Harry Sr., Burnaby
Kat Hartwig, Brisco
Simon Daniel James, Bowen Island
David Lemon, Delta
Meeka Morgan, Ashcroft
Gerry Nellestijn, Salmo
Kim North, Lillooet
Don Philip Peters, North Vancouver
Stephanie Quon, Vancouver
Esther Rausenberg, Vancouver
Sahara Shaik, Vancouver
Jessie Sutherland, Richmond
Upkar Singh Tatlay, Surrey
Gary Thandi, Surrey
Kiranjot Kaur Toor, Surrey
Spencer van Vloten, Vancouver
Kihlyahda Christian White & Candace Weir-White, Masset
The Mitchell Award designate of the Community Award is selected by the BC Achievement Foundation Board in consultation with the program’s community. The award recognizes an individual who, through their work and/or volunteer activities, demonstrates an unwavering commitment to elevating people around them. This year’s Mitchell Award of Distinction recipient is Kat Hartwig of Brisco, a champion of environmental conservation, whose selfless leadership style empowers others to lead and excel.
Each awardee received a certificate and medallion designed by Robert Davidson, OC, OBC. They are also celebrated through an online campaign #ShineTheLightBC to commemorate their excellence and inspirational achievements positively impacting British Columbians.
For more information about the BC Achievement Foundation or Community Award program follow on Facebook or visit the website here.
Nominations for the 2024 awards will be open starting December 1, 2023.
On June 3rd, summer will kick off on Hastings Street with Hats Off Day in Burnaby Heights. This free community celebration, that draws tens of thousands of guests, has an “out of this world” Outer Space theme this year, offering galactic excitement and adventure for all ages.
Hats Off Day 2023
When: Saturday June 3, 2023 from 9:30am to 4:00pm
Where: Hastings Street, all the way from Boundary Road to Gamma Ave
Admission: FREE
Merchants celebrate Hats Off Day by tipping their hats in appreciation to their community. 12 blocks of Hastings Street will be closed to car traffic for the annual parade and festival.
The day starts with a Family Fun Dash at 9:30am and proceeds to the parade at 10:00am. As always, the parade features local community groups, marching bands of all ages, and Burnaby Heights businesses.
After the parade ends, the street party begins. You won’t be disappointed with the variety of attractions: mouth-watering food, an abundance of live music, space-inspired shows for this year’s theme, and much more.
About Hats Off Day in Burnaby Heights
Hats Off Day has been a grassroots festival celebrating the best of the Burnaby Heights community since the early 1980s. Today, the event has gradually grown from a small sidewalk event to a day-long celebration that begins with a Family Fun Dash, followed by a mainstreet-style Parade and Street Festival. The best part? A two-kilometre street party with live and roving entertainment, activities, (literally) street food from around the world, a Show & Shine, Merchants’ sales and giveaways, Burnaby Not-for-Profits’ displays, and more. Hats Off Day attracts more than 50,000 people annually.
To stay up to date with Hats Off Day, visit the website and follow Burnaby Heights on Facebook and Instagram.
The Black Music Month Festival will be in Downtown Vancouver over three days this summer. This celebration focuses on honouring African Americans and African Canadians who have made significant contributions to music in many genres. The festival will not only feature music but also include workshops in African drumming and Kemetic yoga, and a BIPOC community business pop up market.
Black Music Month Festival in Vancouver
When: June 2 (4:00pm to 11:00pm); June 3 (12:00pm – 11:00pm); June 4 (11:00 am to 6:00pm), 2023
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza (šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn) at 650 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Admission: By Donation
Friday June 2, 2023 Lineup; Soul n’ Roots Culture:
Flags representing the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations were raised May 16, 2023 at spapəy̓əq Pápiy̓eḵ, commonly known as Brockton Point in Stanley Park. This marks the first time local Nations’ flags have been permanently raised in a Vancouver city park.
Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Flags Raised in Stanley Park
The Stanley Park Intergovernmental Working Group, which comprises staff from the Nations and the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, made the decision to raise these flags. The xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations’ flags will reside at Brockton Point permanently.
“I am a direct descendant of the last Indigenous residents of Stanley Park. The violent and destructive removal of my family from their home at spapəy̓əqm is part of our history. The city’s Park Board was instrumental in deeming us ‘squatters’ and burning our ancestral villages to the ground. Today’s raising of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh flags at Brockton Point is a significant milestone in establishing a new relationship between Indigenous peoples and the Park Board and ensuring the truth is remembered. Musqueam looks forward to continuing this collaborative work with Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and the Park Board to recognize our ancestral connections to this land and shared commitment to reconciliation.”
– Chief Wayne Sparrow of Musqueam Indian Band
“The City of Vancouver recently adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as a road map for a meaningful relationship between the City and the three Host Nations, and the raising of səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation’s flag, alongside the flags of our relatives Squamish and Musqueam, at spapəy̓əq Pápiy̓eḵ is a step towards reconciliation. Displaying our flag at Stanley Park, a place enjoyed by the local community and visitors throughout the year, is one way that Tsleil-Waututh Nation is putting the face of our Nation back on our traditional territory.”
– Chief Jen Thomas of Tsleil-Waututh Nation
“The raising of our flags today is another way to demonstrate to outside world that our people are deeply connected to these lands and waters. Raising these flags encourages the broader community to learn more about our history, culture and traditions. We have always been here, and we will always be here. These flags clearly represent that this is the shared territories of our three Nations.”
– Wilson Williams (Sxwíxwtn) of Squamish Nation
In 2017, Park Board staff removed three flag poles displaying Canadian, British Columbia, and Union Jack flags at Brockton Point. Following the removal, The Stanley Park Intergovernmental Working Group advised replacing the flag poles with those of the local Nations in a small step in acknowledging the Nations’ connection to the area.
It’s already May Long Weekend in Vancouver and there’s a fun lineup of events all across the region. The Burnaby Village Museum summer season is on now (free admission), many summer markets are now open, there are festivals of beer, music, and much more! Also this weekend in Vancouver, Second Beach and New Brighton public pools will open on Saturday. Find these activities and many more events listed below:
