Burnaby Hospital Foundation honoured with Queen's Platinum Jubilee medal

A royally prestigious award have been bestowed upon the Burnaby Hospital Foundation.

Burnaby North-Seymour MP Terry Beech recently presented the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee medal to the organization in recognition of "their noteworthy service to the community," especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"2020 was a scary and uncertain time for many in the community and especially for those inside the hospital," Burnaby Hospital Foundation president and CEO Kristy James said in a news release. 

"It is an honour and our privilege to receive this award as recognition of our leadership and work as a Foundation, but it really is a recognition of the dedication of our medical staff and how our community is willing to step up in support of each other."

The award was created to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne in 1952 at age 25, which also made her head of Commonwealth countries like Canada.

The medal celebrates volunteers, Canadian Armed Forces members, emergency services and others who have made a positive impact on society. 

"I've had the pleasure of witnessing the incredible growth of Kristy and her team at Burnaby Hospital Foundation over the last five years," Beech added. 

"The choice to select the Foundation as a recipient of this award was easy. With their remarkable efforts to address an unprecedented pandemic and their current fundraising successes in support of the redevelopment of Burnaby Hospital, I am confident that with their help, our beloved community hospital will be well-prepared for any challenges the future might bring."

The medal features the Royal Crown and the Royal Cypher (EIIR) as personal symbols representing Queen Elizabeth II.

It's seven-sided, each marking a decade of service to Canada, with seven maple leaves and seven maple pearls.