VIDEO – Two Powell River residents have been honoured with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal for their community volunteer contributions.
Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation volunteer fire department chief Floyd George and Powell River Action Centre Food Bank manager Gina Kendrick were given awards on Monday night, January 7, at a ceremony hosted by member of Parliament John Weston. Weston thanked them for what they do and described their dedication to the community as “selfless.”
“We’re privileged to live with people who care and come to the barricades as in the case of Floyd George and Gina Kendrick,” said Weston, MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding.
Kendrick was nominated by City of Powell River Mayor Dave Formosa.
“I’m over the moon,” she said. Kendrick said she had given Formosa a tour of the food bank recently during a food bank fundraiser.
“It’s so amazing that he nominated me because I’m just a regular person,” she said. “I just do what people do. This is my life. I’m honoured and privileged to be able to do this. I’m just a caretaker of what the town wants to do for the people of Powell River.”
Kendrick has been managing the food bank for the past 10 years. She organizes food bank drives and encourages local volunteers.
George was nominated for his 33 years of service at the salmon enhancement program at Sliammon Fish Hatchery, his involvement with search and rescue, the RCMP and his role as chief of the Tla’amin volunteer fire department.
“I thought it would be fitting,” said Tla’amin Chief Clint Williams, who nominated George for the award. “He retired two or three years ago and he’s still actively our volunteer fire department chief.”
Williams said he didn’t tell George that he’d won the Jubilee award. “I told him that he was going to be awarded for his time with the volunteer fire department,” he said. “I hope he was surprised.”
When asked about being a recipient of the award, George said “It hasn’t sunk in yet. With the firefighters we always said that we’re not out there to gain glory. We just do it because we have a desire. Our Elders always say that when a person is in need, go there. Even if it’s just very minute. So that was my focus.”
The new commemorative medal was created to mark the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne as Queen of Canada.
During 2012 a total of 60,000 deserving Canadians were chosen to receive the special medal. Those nominated must have made a significant contribution to a community within Canada or have an achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.
Video courtesy of the office of John Weston
