Medal of Good Citizenship: I-L

Gayle Ireland

Gayle Ireland has proven to be an outstanding leader in the community as we navigate our way through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gayle has been president at the Goldstream Food Bank for 20 years, and a volunteer for more than 35 years. Her unwavering dedication to the community has never been demonstrated more than this past year and a half when unforeseen challenges arose during the COVID-19 global pandemic. As quoted by Gayle herself, “We have to keep calm and carry on.” Despite the unknown of where the pandemic was headed, Gayle altered the regular operations of the food bank to ensure the safety of both clients and food bank volunteers by adhering to all B.C. health regulations and guidelines.

Under Gayle’s leadership, the need to continue and provide food to those suffering financial hardship was immediately identified. Campaigning for community and municipal support was increased to guarantee they could sustain its charitable service during the pandemic. It is estimated that more than 6,000 food hampers have been provided during the period of the pandemic. Her success was exhibited in never having to shut the food bank’s doors or turn anyone away.

Between Gayle’s organizational skills, immense compassion for the community and the extraordinary team of more than 50 volunteers, the Goldstream Food Bank is unstoppable. Gayle Ireland has displayed outstanding leadership in such unprecedented times.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Langford
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

Brian Ironmonger *

• Year Awarded: 2023
• City: Elko
• Region: Kootenay

Mohammad Aminul Islam 

• Year Awarded: 2023
• City: Surrey
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Renée Katz & Dr. Stan Shaw

When COVID-19 hit, the Jewish Food Bank saw an immediate and dramatic rise in demand for food from seniors and families. It was clear from the start that the existing facilities could not meet the demand for and frequency of food distributions. Renée Katz and her co-chair, Dr. Stan Shaw, immediately took on the task of finding proper space to expand the program and applied their professional expertise to oversee the planning, renovations, permit applications and facility set up.  Over an eight-month period Renée was the public face of the project with civic officials and licensing staff while at the same time maintaining her own architectural practice while Stan was the liaison between the staff and the volunteers.

Not only did Renée and Stan take on the responsibility for this project, they provided extensive professional services at no cost. The beautiful new space opened in March 2021. As a result, the Jewish Food Bank has gone from distributing food from a small cramped space in a rented facility that had to be set up on a weekly basis, to having a purpose built, fully integrated food centre with a large warehouse and loading bay, a kosher kitchen, a children’s play space and offices for professional staff.

This inviting new space not only enables Jewish Family Services to serve many more clients, it can now offer a range of other programs and services to support families and seniors and expand both their social and nutritional options.

This new space, called the “Kitchen” has become a flagship program in the Jewish community and could have never happened without the hard work and untold volunteer hours freely given by Dr. Stan Shaw and Renée Katz.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Vancouver
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Aditi Kini

During the past year, people have struggled to keep their jobs, families have worked hard to make ends meet, businesses have grappled to survive, and kids have faced the challenges of new teaching methods and restricted interactions in cohorts. Despite these odds, high school student Aditi Kini has helped several affected communities through her mission to make a difference in her local community.

In the past year, Aditi has helped several affected communities impacted by COVID-19 through her implementation of 17 plus service-related projects raising around $50,000 to help hundreds of individuals and families in the Black, Indigenous and People of Colour community, Indigenous youth in Northern B.C., school districts, the SPCA, hospitals, homeless shelters and single moms across B.C. Furthermore, she started a sandwich making initiative at her school Seaquam Secondary, to provide meals for the homeless.

An example of her initiative is when she partnered with a local SPCA location to aid in their efforts to accommodate their increase of abandoned animals during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, she virtually mobilized a team of youth who worked tirelessly to purchase quality food alongside various other items and find suitable storage sheds to help prevent food wastage.

In addition, Aditi learned that due to COVID-19, hospitals were not allowing visitors to see patients, impacting their mental health and recovery. To counteract this, Aditi purchased, designed, packaged, and delivered entertainment packages consisting of puzzles, sudoku, word searches, amongst other things, to keep patients in the Royal Columbian Hospital happy and their minds engaged.

Moreover, she has set up a not-for-profit organization, “The New Horizons Foundation”. Her first global initiative was to raise funds to provide e-learning opportunities and basic sanitary supplies to 12 schools in Southern India to promote girls’ attendance in schools. Aditi has built several networks with partner charitable organizations to support her post-pandemic cause.

Aditi currently mentors and guides youth to identify opportunities to make a difference and connects them with organizations that require support. She is a role model for reflected servant leadership, exceptional attitude and perseverance. She inspires people around her to never stop giving.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Surrey
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Jim Kojima, CM

Jim Kojima is a distinguished figure recognized throughout B.C. and Canada for his extensive contributions to martial arts and community service. Jim, a judo master with the rare honor of an eighth-degree black belt, has been awarded both the Order of Canada and Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun.

As a resident of Steveston, Jim’s impact is profound, serving on the boards of the Steveston Judo Club, Steveston Community Society, Gulf of Georgia Society, Richmond Sister City Committee, and the Minoru Seniors Society.

Jim’s journey began with the establishment of the Steveston Judo Club in 1953, following his family’s displacement during the internment of Japanese Canadians. Despite facing significant adversity, he earned his black belt in 1957 and led the club to international success, sending numerous Canadian black belts to global competitions. His leadership and dedication helped overcome post-internment challenges, fostering a spirit of resilience and excellence within the community.

Beyond martial arts, Jim’s community involvement is extensive. As a member of the New Building Committee for the Steveston Community Centre project, he leverages his decades-long connections to ensure the development of a hub that serves all age groups. His current role as president of the Minoru Seniors Society highlights his commitment to enhancing senior living in Richmond, where he advocates for diverse and inclusive programming.

Jim’s legacy extends to his involvement in helping organize major community events, such as the Steveston Salmon Festival and the Steveston Farmers and Artisans Market. His hands-on approach, from setup to cleanup, exemplifies his tireless work ethic and dedication to his community.

• Year Awarded: 2024
• City: Richmond
• Region: Mainland/ Southwest

Esther Lang

Esther Lang defines good citizenship and is a volunteer extraordinaire. She has a remarkable pulse on her community and on the world around her and respects the rights and values of others.

Esther has chaired and currently chairs a number of non-profit and charitable organizations. She spent seven years on the board of the local Thompson View Manor Society, a home for elders. She is active in her local church and in overseas missions. She is currently chair of the local Community Resources Society and Community Christmas Food Hamper program.

Esther worked tirelessly to ensure that no one fell between the gaps during the pandemic. She was an integral part of establishing the COVID-19 Care Helpline. This collaboration of local community organizations joined together and created a call-line where people in need could get connected with the help they required such as grocery pickups, a listening ear and prescription pick-ups. Esther not only helped to answer the phone line and attend the regular roundtable, but she also headed a network of volunteers who provided countless services for those in need. Throughout the pandemic, she has been a lifeline for elders and persons with special needs. She respects and cares for people where they are at and gets them connected to the things they need to thrive.  She does all this while she is an elder herself.

Where some may have opted to cut corners or not to try at all because of COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines, Esther instead spends the time researching, crossing her “Ts" and dotting her "Is". She finds a way to fill the needs and gaps within safety restrictions and guidelines.

Esther steps up time and time again and does so much for so many with a wonderfully humble attitude.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Ashcroft
• Region: Thompson/Okanagan

Michael O. Langridge

Michael Langridge is an adult with an intellectual disability, born in BC and currently residing in Victoria. I have known Michael for 12 years. He has successfully overcome many challenges to become an active and successful member of his community.

Michael's early community involvement began as a Navy Cadet. He proved to be an eager volunteer in all fundraising activities, most notably the annual Poppy Drive. Michael reached the rank of Petty Officer 2, a significant achievement for someone with with limited spoken and written communication skills. Michael received the Commander's Cup, a prestigious award given to cadets who best exemplify the values and standards of the Navy Cadet program. 

Michael's affiliation with the military came also through his brother's service in the Canadian Forces. Unfortunately, his brother suffered PTSD and took his own life. In the face of great loss, Michael channeled his emotions and is supportive of efforts by the Royal Canadian Legion to raise awareness of issues surrounding PTSD. Michael recently needed to downsize. Through the Military Family Resource Centre, he donated many items including his most precious possession, the big screen TV his brother had bought on his return from Afghanistan. Each year, Michael stands proudly at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day and helps his ‘Silver Cross’ mother lay the wreath that honours his brother and all those who have served their country. 

From 2007 to 2012, Michael was a Director on the board of People First of Canada, a national non-profit organization for people with intellectual disabilities who support each other to claim their right to be recognized as full citizens. Michael volunteered for the organization for over six years.

Michael's leadership and dedication led him to join the advisory board of Community Living British Columbia (South Island Community Council) from 2009 to 2016. The group's mission is to encourage, inspire, lead and support inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of the community. Michael was a role model to young people transitioning out of the system, showing them how to become involved in their community. Finally he served as Vice-Chair of the Community Council and was being nominated for Chair of Council but his term was ending.

Michael joined the Special Olympics 15 years ago. The organization provides sports programs for people with intellectual disabilities so they can develop physical fitness, life skills and friendships. Michael gives back to Special Olympics by volunteering for its fundraising activities such as "Free the Fuzz", "Staples Give a Toonie" and "Torch Run", and is frequently the DJ at Special Olympics dances. 

Michael's sport performance won him a place on Team Canada where he represented British Columbia and Canada at the 2017 International Special Olympics Games in Austria. He is extremely proud that he wore the Canada flag, just as his brother did overseas. He won two Gold medals for Canada. That fall Michael travelled to Parliament Hill where he was honoured along with the Team by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Sports and Persons with Disabilities. 

In 2018 Michael was the proud recipient of the provincial Athletic Achievement Award from Special Olympics B.C. He was described as; “A great teammate and an inspiring leader.”

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: Victoria
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

The Laur Family (Darren, Beth and Brandon)

For over ten years, Darren, Beth and Brandon Laur, known as “The White Hatters”, have visited more than 350 schools throughout B.C. and Canada, and just about 100 schools in the U.S.A. (connecting with just over 430,000 students in total), to share their pro-active message of social media safety and digital literacy with students, principals, teachers, school counsellors, parents and law enforcement officials. 

Even though the Laur family run a for- profit company, they spend hundreds of voluntary hours every year assisting schools, tweens, teens, parents and law enforcement with information and guidance when it comes to everything and anything to do with safety, security and privacy as it relates to the digital world. 

Never did the Laur family expect their company to become a digital outreach to those who they present to, but it has. To date, the Laur family have been directly involved in 183 successful interventions of teens who have connected with them with cyberbullying or sexting gone wrong challenges, and who were considering, or in the process of self-harming or suicide. 

All this outreach has been done free of any financial or material gain. Every year a portion of the Laur family business profits are given back to the community, to help financially support two not-for-profit organizations that are dedicated to helping youth in need when it comes to bullying and suicide prevention – Need2 and Bullying Ends Here. The Laur family believe they are a for profit company, striving to do well, by doing good things for others in their community.

The Laur family makes the following promise in all their presentations at schools, "If there is any student or young adult in the audience who is online and needs help, and you don’t know who to connect with, you can connect with us and we will help, and if we can’t, we know someone who can." This is why the Laur family will take phone calls, emails and text messages anytime day or night, and all this is done on their own time and at no cost. The Laur family also dedicates hundreds of hours every year to students who would like help in securing their social networks. To date thousands of students, and even teachers and parents from across British Columbia have taken Darren, Beth and Brandon up on this offer.

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City: Langford
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

Peter Lawless

Peter Lawless was honoured with the medal for being a passionate advocate for sport as a means to transform community and his leadership and dedication has been vital to numerous initiatives becoming reality.

While his accomplishments are many, SoldierOn is one program where he has made a specific and notable difference. When hearing about this Canadian Forces program that assists ill and or injured members in their recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration through sport, Peter, the vice president of the Canadian Olympic Committee, used his sports experience and connections, as well as the facilities in the Victoria area, to create a meaningful sport experience for these military members.

Peter set up a multisport camp that hosted over 30 athletes from across the country. He connected the military athletes with high-performance coaches from the Paralympic Team and arranged for fully funded access to Victoria’s high-performance training centre with financial assistance from PacificSport Victoria.

He next volunteered to coach for the 2016 lnvictus Games in Florida. He facilitated free access to the new high-performance training centre in Toronto and arranged for various Olympic Champions to give motivational talks and coaching to the Canadian lnvictus team.

Upon his return from lnvictus Games in 2016, he arranged for every single B.C.-based athlete to receive a Bravo Zulu commendation from the admiral in command of Maritime Forces Pacific. His passion, enthusiasm and success further resulted in him being asked to be the head coach for the entire 2017 Canadian team.

• Year Awarded: 2017
• City: Victoria
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

Christopher Lee

At just 13 years old, Christopher Lee founded the Helping Hearts Youth Foundation to empower young people to be “The Change We See.” Under his leadership, the organization has grown to include over 500 volunteers from more than 30 schools, with 90 percent of them in grades seven to 10. Christopher’s ability to inspire and mobilize these young volunteers has led to the foundation raising over $50,000 in the course of two years, funding thousands of care packages and meals for those in need throughout Vancouver.

Christopher’s personal touch and genuine interest in others have transformed perspectives on volunteerism. Many who initially joined Helping Hearts for service hours have found themselves inspired by his passionate speeches and hands-on approach, igniting a true commitment to service. His habit of personally thanking each volunteer, even at large events, demonstrates his deep appreciation and humility.

Christopher’s leadership extends beyond the foundation’s growth. He has implemented transparency measures to keep volunteers informed and engaged, fostering trust and deeper community connections. His strategic vision continues to drive Helping Hearts toward an even more impactful future.

Christopher’s dedication, humility, and commitment to empowering youth and aiding those in need have not only transformed his organization but have also inspired countless individuals to strive for a better world.

• Year Awarded: 2024
• City: Vancouver
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Peggy Lee

Peggy Lee is a humanitarian and role model who broke both gender and race barriers. Despite the societal obstacles that lay in her path, she remained patriotic and went on to help make Canada and British Columbia a better place.

Her volunteer spirit showed itself early when, during the Second World War, she volunteered with the Women’s Ambulance Corp (St. John Ambulance Women’s Corp in Canada). At the age of 19 she was the youngest member of the only all-Chinese Women Platoon in Canada. Her war efforts have in recent times served as examples of the diversity that helped win the war. In 2008 she was a panelist along with Major Harjit Sajjan, now Canada’s Minister of National Defence, in a veteran’s multicultural event called Unity within Diversity at the Vancouver Public Library. 

But more significantly for Canadians, war contributions like those of Peggy and other Chinese Canadian veterans, helped change attitudes and ultimately gain Chinese Canadians their full citizenship rights with the passing of the 1947 Canadian Citizenship Act.

Raising four children, including triplets, starting her first salon at age 17, and growing a hairdressing and beauty business to four salons in Vancouver, charity remained close to her heart. She devoted hours to organizations like Variety-The Children's Charity, Canuck Place and helped raise money for the African Pikin Foundation to promote education and build schools in Sierra Leone. She co-founded the Vancouver Chinese Canadian Activity Centre Society, which over the course of her 36-year involvement, went on to build a daycare and seniors’ residence serving Chinese Canadians. For 28 years she volunteered first as one of the original directors and then sat on the Board of the Chishaun Housing Society, which operates Oakridge House, a high quality residence for low income seniors. She is a founding member and active fundraiser for the Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society, the only museum in Canada devoted to Chinese Canadian Veterans’ history.

Her contributions have been featured in books and documentaries that highlight the contributions of Chinese Canadians during the Second World War, including The Power and the Grace: WWII, Heroes Remembered, The Memory Project, Chinatown: Then and Now; and Celebration: Chinese Canadian Legacies in British Columbia. She was also one of the veterans photographed in the travelling exhibit One War. Two Victories shown in the War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario and the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, BC. 

An abbreviated list of awards and recognitions given to Mrs. Lee include: the Variety Telethon fundraising trophy for Canuck Place; Variety Clubs International Life patron trophy; and a recognition certificate from Prime Minister Stephen Harper for her selfless acts of service and sacrifice during the Second World War in defence of Canada and our shared values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.

• Year Awarded: 2018
• City:  North Vancouver
• Region: Mainland/Southwest

Joan LeMoine *

Joan LeMoine was honoured with the medal for her contribution to many Parksville organizations and events touching a range of citizens from young people with special needs to senior citizens living alone, as well as to those looking for family fun.

Her service to community and countless hours of volunteering include working with organizations such as:

• The Society of Organized Services (SOS)
• Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock fundraising campaign
• Branch 49 of the Royal Canadian Legion
• Tim Hortons Camp Day fundraising campaign, which helps send children with special needs to camp
• Coffee with Council, which provides an opportunity to spend one-on-one time with the Mayor or council members

Through the Oceanside Community Safety Volunteers, she calls seniors living alone to ensure their well-being and offer friendly conversation.

Among her many other contributions, Joan was also instrumental in re-establishing the Parksville Beach Festival Society that now organizes a world-famous sand-sculpting event. She and her late husband helped form the Parksville Beach Festival Society in 1999 and convinced the city that a family-friendly event would be, once again, viable. Last summer, the festival broke all attendance records with more than 104,400 people from all over the world attending.

Joan put in countless hours over her 15 years as volunteer co-ordinator of the society and helped grow its solvency. Today the society diverts a portion of ticket sales to other philanthropic groups and, to date, close to $350,000 has been distributed to other non-profits and community projects.

• Year Awarded: 2016
• City: Parksville
• Region: Vancouver Island/Coast

James Lester

When the pandemic began many people and organizations found it nearly impossible to source the alcohol-based cleaners and hand sanitizers they needed. James Lester, co-owner of Sons of Vancouver distillery, immediately recognized the role that he could play in this situation.

He saw there was a shortage of hand sanitizer in North Vancouver and how it was affecting care facilities and first responders. His company had the ability to produce sanitation grade alcohol. James had been contacted by a needle exchange, care homes, women’s shelters, municipalities and others asking for help. His dilemma was that producing it would technically not be in compliance with the law. The sense of urgency he felt around the issue caused him to advocate and push hard in all the ways that he could. Fortunately in the days that followed, provincial and federal leaders made the necessary changes for production.

Soon Sons of Vancouver was not only producing sanitation grade alcohol and hand sanitizer, but also giving it away for free to the public and organizations across the region. They hosted sidewalk giveaways to allow individuals and families to get free hand sanitizer every week and partnered with local grocers to sell bottles of hand sanitizer to raise money for Lions Gate Hospital. The local constituency office distributed thousands of litres of hand sanitizer to child care providers and non-profit organizations.

Throughout this process, James never demanded nor expected any gratitude or attention in return for his business’s generosity. Even tax receipts for donations in kind from eligible charitable organizations were an afterthought for him and his team. He has since returned Sons of Vancouver to the core business of liquor production, but countless individuals and organizations benefited from the rapid pivot he made at the start of the pandemic.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: North Vancouver
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Ping Li

People in need have been assisted through Ping Li’s consistent and outstanding volunteer work since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Even before the first wave of the pandemic was officially declared in B.C., Ping was part of a group of volunteers that provided support for those in self-isolation after travelling, such as airport transportation to their home and food drop-offs.

After the start of the lockdown, Ping was inspired to contact local grocery stores and bakeries for food donations and organized bi-weekly food pick-up and drop-offs to receiving charity sites. She organized multiple groups to help distribute the donated food in two different ways. She had one group organize the food donations into family sized boxes filled with some perishable and non-perishable products that were then delivered to families and people in need. Another group met bi-weekly at her home to prepare, cook and package perishable foods such as sandwiches, rice boxes, wraps and stews. The prepared foods were then delivered to homeless shelters, Downtown Eastside homeless people and to health care workers for lunch. This started in May 2020 and she has not missed a week since.

Ping has never stopped working and has now provided more than 20,000 meals since the pandemic began.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Vancouver
• Region:  Mainland/Southwest

Beverly Lore

The Bayview Market has operated for more than 60 years as a local grocer in rural and remote Port Clements, Haida Gwaii. Beverly Lore was an employee when she purchased the store in 2008 because she wanted to keep it locally owned and operated. This personal dedication to community has meant that the Bayview is not just a grocery store, but the hub of the community.

Beverley recognized the risk her employees took every day being on the front lines during COVID-19 and immediately increased wages.

Bev and the Bayview are icons of community spirit. Through it, Beverly sponsors community, sporting and church events and has helped purchase playground equipment for Port Clements’ children.

Bev provided free grocery delivery service to seniors and the frail. Since COVID-19 hit, all Bayview customers receive this service. At the peak of COVID-19 Bev and her family were providing free delivery service to other communities as far away as Masset, 40 km to the north and Tlell, 25 km to the south.

There are no pharmacies in Port Clements so the Bayview serves as a prescription pick-up location. Prescriptions are delivered to the store where they are held for residents to claim. This valuable community service allows vulnerable people to live in their home community longer.

When delivery drivers can’t find an address or no one is home to receive a package in Port Clements, Bev will accept parcels for people through the store – again without asking for anything in return.

In the very early days of COVID-19, Bev set up a hand-washing station outside her store, complete with warm water. Her community spirit shone through this dark time as she provided lyrics for people to sing while they washed their hands. Spirited acts like this are the essence of Beverly Lore.

• Year Awarded: 2021
• City: Port Clements
• Region: Northern BC

Talia Lorincz 

Talia Lorincz is a remarkable young woman whose compassion and initiative have made a profound impact on the lives of Ukrainian refugees in Metro Vancouver. At the age of 16, Talia initiated a Free Store for Ukrainian Refugees, starting as a small project and swiftly transforming into a recognized haven for those in need.

In March 2022, with the intent of preparing welcome baskets for 15 Ukrainian families, Talia's project quickly evolved into a fully operational Free Store, located in her basement. What sets Talia apart is not just her incredible work ethic but her forward-thinking approach and a heart that knows no bounds. 

Talia's Free Store was an actual store, ensuring a shopping experience that preserves the dignity of those seeking assistance. No mere charity, it offered a genuine shopping experience with personalized appointments, creating a warm atmosphere where Ukrainian visitors could find not only necessities but also a sense of community.

Talia's dedication goes beyond the norm for a graduating senior. While most young adults plan a relaxing summer before university, Talia continued running the Free Store as a full-time job. Even from her dorm room, after leaving Vancouver, she continued coordinating this project, demonstrating a high level of commitment at such a young age.

Despite her impactful work, Talia remains humble, caring more about the heartfelt messages from grateful store visitors than official recognition. She insists The Free Store’s success is the product of the community working together, contributing clothing to carpools for visitors to reach the store.  The Free Store became a place for people to connect, share stories, practice English and receive advice on various aspects of life. Beyond just a distribution centre, the store turned into a community hub.

The Free Store served more than 600 people and is a reminder of the impact kindness and community collaboration can have on people's lives.

• Year Awarded: 2023
• City: Vancouver
• Region: Mainland/Southwest