A well-known Burnaby couple has received the province’s Medal of Good Citizenship.
On March 12, Richard Lee, the MLA for Burnaby North, presented the accolade to Lou Ryan and her son, Bradley, on behalf of his late father, Ken Ryan.
The medal, which was launched in July 2015, recognizes individuals, who through exceptional long-term service, have made outstanding contributions to their communities without expectation of remuneration or reward, reads a press release.
Ken and Lou’s contributions include: establishing and running the Burnaby North Community Fair in Kensington Park; a Christmas holiday hamper program; regularly rolling up their sleeves to help at food banks, school hot dog days and at the Lochdale Community School Christmas pancake breakfast.
“When I met Ken, he was involved with community service and it was natural for me to join him. The number of events and organizations we became involved with seemed to grow and grow as the years went by. Our lives were made richer by knowing that we helped to make a difference in the lives of others,” said Lou in the release.
MP a global leader
Congrats go out to Terry Beech.
The MP for Burnaby North-Seymour was recently inducted into the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders Program.
The initiative recognizes young leaders from 40 different countries who are making “active, positive change in their communities,” reads a press release.
Beech joins parliamentary colleagues Mélanie Joly and Michelle Rempel, who were inducted into the program last year.
“It’s a privilege and a pleasure to be inducted ... and to stand with so many amazing recipients, past and present,” said Beech in the release. “I look forward to finding new ways to create positive change in Burnaby North-Seymour.”
Local CPA recognized for volunteerism
Burnaby’s Geraldine Lai also gets a shout out.
The local accountant received the Distinguished Service Award for Service to the Profession from the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC).
“Lai is known as a mentor and leader in CPABC’s Burnaby/New Westminster chapter,” states a press release. “As chapter chair, she contributed to strategic planning and organizational initiatives, helping the chapter grow through expanding its volunteer pool and increasing member engagement.”
In the community, Lai has volunteered with the OtherHalf Chinese Stem Cell Initiative. She also used her expertise to advise the board of Pacific Grace MB Church, located in Vancouver.
Pink Shirt Day success
Metropolis at Metrotown raised $2,000 during Pink Shirt Day last month.
The money was donated to the CKNW Orphans’ Fund, which distributes the cash to various non-profits across the Lower Mainland that support children and their self-esteem. Organizations include Kids Help Phone, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and the YMCA of Greater Vancouver.
Mall staff teamed up with Maywood Community School to put on a flash mob. The entire student body (more than 400 students) came out and danced to Justin Timberlake’s Can’t Stop the Feeling.
Anti-Bullying Day or Pink Shirt Day is an annual day of solidarity against bullying founded in 2007 by a pair of Nova Scotia high school students after they witnessed a new student at their school being teased for wearing a pink shirt.
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