Central Community Church (Nominated by SD 33, Chilliwack)

Central Community Church has contributed for a number of years to many aspects of school life at Promontory Heights Elementary, including specific support to families in need through Christmas hampers and grocery gift cards, and partnership for school needs such as a new projector for the gym, and fresh paint for the school’s staging. The Church doesn’t forget the hard-working staff, either, with gifts of coffee and other treats. Central Community Church also addresses many needs at Kwiyeqel Secondary, a Type 3 Alternate School for the District, serving a breakfast in partnership with Ricky’s Restaurant to start each week, and generously supporting Awards and Grad, the school year kickoff, and the year-end BBQ.

“Central Community Church is so humbled to accept this award on behalf of the many folks who invest their time, energy and resources into caring for students in our community. Our goal as a church has always been to make a tangible difference in peoples’ lives and to care for those who need help in times of need. While we have never done this to win an award, it’s incredible to be recognized and to be reminded that what we do in our school partnerships matters.”

Chris Paulson and Rachelle van Zanten (Nominated by SD 91, Nechako Lakes)

Chris and Rachelle have been volunteers in the school community for more than five years, starting with supporting cross-country skiing and their children’s schools, and extending to multiple activities for all schools in Burns Lake. They have collaborated closely with school sites to establish and maintain a network of trails that can be accessed year-round for learning opportunities. They volunteer many hours with a snowmobile to groom elementary school playgrounds to foster quality cross-country ski excursions, and coach and support both students and teachers in cross-country skiing and mountain biking lessons. They combined resources with the school district to purchase canoes, paddles, and life jackets, and collaborated with high school staff to offer canoeing to students. Their most recent project was in collaboration with the district and Decker Lake Elementary, constructing a 2-kilometer nature trail behind the school for year-round access.   

“We are absolutely over the moon grateful to accept the BCPVPA award on behalf of our Spirit North Team. Four years ago we were blessed with the opportunity to provide land based sports programs to the Indigenous Youth in our community. To be able to share our passion for cross country skiing, mountain biking, and paddling on the traditional unceded territory on which our family and community resides has been life changing. In exchange we have gained family, history, culture, and language from the members of our local Six Nations.”

Eagle Wing Tours (Nominated by SD 61, Greater Victoria)  

Eagle Wing Tours is a local family-run company led by Brett Soberg and his business partner Don Stewart since 2005. Their focus has been to inspire environmental responsibility by educating people about the wildlife of the Salish Sea, and they have been a leader in this work. Eagle Wing Tours has an innovative school program targeting the next generation of ocean stewards. “Exploring the Salish Sea” focuses on supporting students to make an emotional connection through their learning in the classroom, on the water, through reflective activities, and in a culminating event where they share their learning with a public audience at the Royal BC Museum. The program benefits both students and educators, and endeavours to support land-based learning and to weave together Indigenous ways of knowing with classroom learning. This year, 60 classrooms, with more than 2,500 students, across twenty-five schools were part of the program.

“From the entire Eagle Wing Tours team, thank you for this honour. The “Exploring the Salish Sea” program is a partnership in every sense of the word and would not have become reality without the vision and unwavering support of School District 61. It’s a perfect fit for all. Students get a real-life learning experience in their big blue back yard. And we fulfill our long-time dream to inspire the next generation of ocean stewards!” 

John Remple (Nominated by SD 22, Vernon)

For John, it started in 2010 when he gave his two kindergarten-aged neighbour boys a birdhouse to take for Show and Tell. John received requests to build birdhouses for other classes, and was able to do so with a donation of scrap plywood. When John and his wife moved to Vernon in 2015, John built more birdhouses, and donated them to a school in the district. This led to more birdhouses – so far, John has donated 10,000 to schools in Vernon and throughout the North Okanagan, has mobilized companies to donate supplies, and has been instrumental in offering students the opportunity to design, make, acquire and apply skills and technologies related to the real-world function of birdhouses.

“Thank you to the educators & support staff that nominated me for the award, and to all those that provided letters of their support. It is such an honour to receive this award along with others that contribute so much to their communities. I am amazed to receive this award – 10 years ago I made my neighbours’ two sons birdhouses, and the project has grown so much since then.”

Rob Tournour Masonry Ltd. (Nominated by SD 62, Sooke)

Rob Tournour Masonry Ltd. is a family-owned business that has been based in Victoria for more than 20 years. The family has supported community projects at home and around the world, including Another Brick in Nepal, where they constructed three schools in Nepal following the devastating earthquakes there; Herowork, which helps Victoria charities to renovate buildings in need; and the generous sponsorship of youth sports teams. When COVID-19 hit, Rob Tournour Masonry Ltd. wanted to help a local school, and connected with Ruth King Elementary’s appeal for warm coats for students. As time was tight to fulfill the request, the teacher asked if Rob could instead support the school’s breakfast and food program. Rob agreed, but insisted on also helping with gifts, delivering more than fifty wrapped gifts to students and their parents in the school parking lot. The company has continued with support of the food program and with gift hampers, helping to ensure that students’ basic needs are met and that they are ready to learn.

“We are humbled to receive this Award of Recognition from the BCPVP Association. 2022 marks 25 years in business for Rob Tournour Masonry Ltd. and for 25 years our goal has been to be leaders in our trade, providing an excellent workplace for our employees and opportunities for countless apprentices. Our philosophy has always been about community. Being nominated by Vicki at Ruth King was an unexpected surprise. Learning that we had been chosen as a recipient, a genuine honour.”