The provincial government is looking for community champions to honour and the West Coast is encouraged to help a local get picked.
The province has recognized over 300 British Columbians with BC Achievement Awards since 2003 and three West Coasters have been honoured so far: Brenda Reid-Kuecks in 2008, Joe Martin in 2012 and Keith Gibson in 2014.
The program’s community outreach coordinator Gabrielle Giraud told the Westerly the awards recognize a wide range of recipients from coaches of local sports teams to community-minded small business owners and committed volunteers.
“It’s kind of an all encompassing award. It celebrates everyone who’s doing great stuff in their community,” Giraud said.
Nominations can be submitted online at www.bcachievement.com and Giraud hopes to see the West Coast put forward a diverse selection of local heroes before Jan. 15’s nomination deadline.
“It’s nice to see someone from your community win something like this and it does give them that greater recognition across the province and attention to where you’re at,” she said.
“A lot of people use these awards to help promote what they’re doing in their communities so it helps the individuals gain recognition in the work they’re doing.”
She said recognizing local all stars helps build and promote communities.
“It’s a way for you to give back to the community and the people in your community because otherwise they may not get that recognition and it does build a better community overall and it helps build up the people in the community who are doing great work,” she said.
“They are doing amazing things and they are supporting the community and promoting the betterment of their community but they may not be getting the recognition through the work they’re doing.”
An advisory council of independent community leaders will review the nominations and award approximately 20-30 BC achievers at a ceremony in Victoria.
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca