Order of British Columbia, Honours and Awards Secretariat Re: nomination of Jane Hunt -March 3, 2014, from Jackie Carmichael, editor, The Westerly News.
Please consider this letter in support of (Ingrid Pongratz and Mayor Bill Irving's) nomination of Jane Hunt for the honour of the Order of British Columbia.
Ms. Hunt's exemplary service to the West Coast as the long-time veterinarian came at no small sacrifice to herself. In a market that is so regionally isolated and far-flung as to not be able to attract a successor to her work, for years Dr. Hunt provided affordable and skilled veterinary care to the communities of Ucluelet and Tofino and their pets. This was done in the timehonoured tradition of country doctors. "Progress" - if you can call it that - squeezed her business out with a demand for the latest high-tech and full clinic facility, but she continued to help people desperate for local, 24-7-365 help with their animals' needs, for as long as she could. Jane Hunt truly represents what is best about the West Coast, people helping people and those unable to help themselves (animals.) I quote you from letters to the editor my office received in her support.
Karen Brodie wrote a letter echoed by many others, describing Hunt as "this person who has put her love and care for animals in the forefront, donating her services to injured and sick animals when they need her most." Mike Dauphinee wrote "(Jane Hunt) has faithfully served the pets and people here on the West Coast, affordably and with great dedication, for years. She's wonderful, a true healer, and we all love her."
If the West Coast is ever able to attract a full-time veterinarian with the means to put up a regulation clinic facility - and I have no idea when, if ever, that will be - we will still be hard-pressed to replace Dr. Hunt's kind and generous capability with our animals and their human friends. Jane Hunt is an amazing example to all of us regarding community service and aging gracefully. She is certainly most worthy of the honour of the Order of British Columbia, and I wish that the honour could be bestowed as soon as possible.