Four outstanding Burnaby volunteers, including a longtime Burnaby Mountie, got kudos from B.C.’s lieutenant-governor this week.
The Honourable Janet Austin invited 44 volunteers to Government House in Victoria today (Thursday) to present them with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, awarded to Canadian citizens who have made significant, sustained and unpaid contributions to their community or abroad.
“Candidates must have demonstrated an exemplary commitment through their dedicated volunteerism,” states a press release.
Burnaby RCMP Staff Sgt. Maj. John Buis, a B.C. Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, was recognized for 44 years of basketball-related volunteering, including his management of B.C. Basketball and the B.C. High School Boys Basketball Association championships.
Wildlife and waterfowl conservationist chief warrant officer Mitchell Bain was recognized for 40 years of work with the Sapperton Fish and Game Club and the Pitt Waterfowl Society. He has also been a pipe major with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Pipe Band and is a piping instructor to local cadets.
Michael Coyle was honoured for 18 years of helping people lost or injured in B.C.’s backcountry and for advancing search-and-rescue methods and technology. He volunteers with both Coquitlam Search and Rescue and the British Columbia Search and Rescue Association.
Sonya Jeffries-Ellen was given the nod for more than a decade of volunteering with the Burnaby Minor Baseball Association. She is in charge of distributing uniforms, ordering supplies and organizing umpire and tournament schedules. She has also been a board member for the past two years.
