Caring Canadians Recognized
His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston presented Caring Canadian Awards to 10 B.C. residents during his visit to Victoria July 19 to participate in the launch of the Victoria Foundation’s Smart & Caring Community Fund. The award recognizes individuals who volunteer their time to help others and to build a smarter and more caring nation.
“The award also highlights the fine example set by these volunteers, whose compassion and engagement are so much a part of our Canadian character,” says the Governor General’s website.
The following is an alphabetical listing of the 10 citations presented July 19:
Charles Robert Burkett, North Saanich, B.C.
Chuck Burkett was appointed to the board of the Victoria Foundation in 2004. He oversaw important amendments to the group’s legislation that have enhanced the Foundation’s ability to stabilize and sustain annual funding. As well, he was a founding board member and treasurer of Arts Sustainability Victoria. He currently serves as a director of the Victoria commandery of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller.
R. Thomas (Tom) Burley, Victoria, BC
Betty Anne Devitt, Cowichan Valley, BC
For nearly 25 years, six days a week, Betty Anne Devitt has provided food hampers and meals to the most vulnerable people in her community as a volunteer member of the board of the Cowichan Valley Basket Society.
Gwyn Frayne, Courtenay, BC
Gwyn Frayne has made a tremendous contribution to her community by helping to improve health care services and access to affordable housing. She is also the founder of a soup kitchen and served as executive director of the Crisis Line in Courtenay.
Lydia Kasianchuk, Victoria, BC
Lydia Kasianchuk has contributed her time to a large number of organizations, including Arts Sustainability Victoria, Metchosin International Summer School for the Arts, and the West Coast Children's Choral Society, among others. In 1982, she was one of four founding members of the Victoria chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Currently, she provides comfort and support to terminally ill residents of the Victoria Hospice, and serves as a community advisor with the Victoria Foundation.
Keith Pattinson, Delta, BC
Keith Pattinson has been devoted to his community for nearly 50 years. The founder of a local youth club, he developed innovative services and approaches, and mutual support networks to assist teens and street kids, as well as families dealing with child-raising issues.
Herbert C. Pitts, Victoria, BC
Retired Major General Herb Pitts dedicated himself for over 30 years to a number of causes, among them Big Brothers Big Sisters, Scouts and Cadets. He also contributed to the commemoration of national heritage, and the support of Canadian Forces personnel and veterans, as a life governor of the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association.
Jim H. Reed, Victoria, BC
Jim Reed was executive vice-president of the 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games. He contributed to the establishment of the $15-million Canada Commonwealth Legacy Fund (CCLF), which provides resources for high-performance sport training. He played an instrumental role in establishing organizations that combine education, high-performance training, community sport development and research.
Marie Therese Scott, Nainamo, BC
For over 32 years, Marie Therese Scott has volunteered with the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, spending much of that time on the children’s ward. Mrs. Scott has shown a deep commitment to this work, assisting residents and their families, and making herself available wherever there is the greatest need.
Anne Waterhouse, Saanichton, BC
Anne Waterhouse served on the board of Victoria Riding for the Disabled (VRDA) for a number of years. VRDA is a charity that uses horseback riding as a recognized therapeutic aid for people with a wide range of physical, intellectual and learning disabilities. She helped purchase and renovate a property for the exclusive use of the foundation.
Photo captions:
From left to right: Marie Therese Scott, Herbert Pitts, Anne Waterhouse, Tom Burley, Jim Reed, His Excellency The Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, Gwyn Frayne, Lydia Kasianchuk, Keith Pattinson, Charles Burkett, Betty Anne Devitt Photo credit: Melanie Seal-Jones
Chuck Burkett, Chair of the foundation’s Honorary Governors and a former Chair of the Victoria Foundation’s Board of Directors, with His Excellency The Right Honourable David Johnston.
Tom Burley, a Current fund holder, a former board member and a former Chair of the Victoria Foundation’s Board of Directors
Lydia Kasianchuk, who includes volunteering as a community advisor for the Victoria Foundation among her many volunteer roles, receives her Caring Canadian citation from His Excellency, The Right Honourable David Johnston. Sandra Richardson, CEO of the Victoria Foundation, is in the background.