August 02 2021,
VICTORIA – Sixteen exceptional people will be appointed to the Order of British Columbia, the Province’s highest form of recognition, Lt. Gov. Janet Austin, chancellor of the order, has announced.
“As representative of the Crown in British Columbia and as Chancellor of the Order of British Columbia, I am delighted to welcome 16 new members to the order,” Austin said. “Their extraordinary leadership has been a source of strength for communities across the province. In difficult times, they have connected us through art, culture, public service and more. As we move with optimism toward the future, their achievements will be a foundation of success for future generations. It is with great honour I share congratulations to these remarkable individuals.”
This year, 257 British Columbians were nominated. Since its inception, 475 British Columbians have been appointed to the Order of B.C. Members have been appointed from all regions of the province and in numbers generally proportionate to a region’s population.
“Each one of this year’s Order of British Columbia recipients has made tremendous contributions to their communities,” said Premier John Horgan. “I want to extend my congratulations and honour them for their leadership and dedication as community leaders. Trailblazers in medicine, that carried us through an incredibly difficult pandemic with expertise, grace, and, of course, kindness. Inspiring philanthropists, determined protectors of the environment and powerful Indigenous leaders. We are all truly grateful for your leadership.”
This year’s recipients are:
• Chief Joe Alphonse of Tsilhqot’in Nation
• Joe Average, MGC, of Vancouver
• Brenda Baptiste of Osoyoos
• Frances Belzberg, OC, of Vancouver
• Dr. Debra Braithwaite of Victoria
• Ajay Dilawri of Vancouver
Ajay Dilawri is a leading entrepreneur whose vision, perseverance, leadership, and social conscience continues to improve the lives of many people in our province. He has made a significant and far-reaching impact throughout B.C. Ajay and his brothers Kap and Tony are the founders of the Dilawri Group - the largest automotive group in Canada, with more than 4,000 employees and 76 automotive dealerships across Canada. With 24 dealerships in B.C. alone, he supports more than 2,000 employees and their families in his home province. His significant investment in electrical vehicle development is also helping address climate change and contributes to a greener economy. The Dilawri brothers' success is largely based on learning a strong work ethic from their parents, who immigrated to Canada from India. They haven’t forgotten their upbringing and have built the business not only for financial success, but to generate enough capital to give back to the community. With a focus on children and healthy outcomes, the Dilawri Foundation has donated tens of millions of dollars to help charitable causes in health care, mental health, education, autism, and public safety. Ajay believes that by giving children a solid foundation early in life, they are infinitely more likely to thrive in the future. Dilawri uses his considerable leadership skills daily to ensure the well-being of British Columbians. His commitment to making B.C. a better place to live creates a healthier and more productive population, which benefits everyone in the province.
• Debra Doucette (Hewson) of the District of North Vancouver
• Dr. Bonnie J. Fraser Henry of Victoria
• Carol A. Lee of Vancouver
• James McEwen, OC, of Vancouver
• Andrew Petter, CM, QC, of Victoria
• Dolph Schluter of Vancouver
• Dr. Poul Sorensen of Vancouver
• Arran and Ratana Stephens of Vancouver
• Marvin Storrow, QC, of Vancouver
Over the years, the B.C. government has worked to increase awareness of the Province’s highest honour to ensure that outstanding people from all walks of life and from all parts of the province have an opportunity to be honoured. The Province has received more than 6,200 public nominations for the Order of B.C. over the past 32 years.
Recipients of the Order of B.C. are selected by an independent advisory council. The 2021 advisory council consisted of:
• Robert J. Bauman (chair), Chief Justice of British Columbia;
• Raj Chouhan, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly;
• Philip Steenkamp, PhD, president and vice-chancellor, Royal Roads University;
• Silas Brownsey, deputy minister, Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat;
• Brian Frenkel, president, Union of British Columbia Municipalities;
• Shirley Chan, OBC 2020; and
• Ruth Williams, OBC 2020.
The Order of B.C. investiture ceremony for 2020 and 2021 recipients and invited guests is tentatively scheduled to be held at Government House in Victoria in December 2021.
Learn More:
The Order of British Columbia: http://www.orderofbc.gov.bc.ca
This year, the Province’s other honour, the Medal of Good Citizenship, will recognize people who have gone above and beyond to offer help and kindness to others during the COVID-19 pandemic without expectation of reward. Nominations must be received by Sept. 19, 2021, and must have a COVID-19 response focus to be considered for this year. For more information, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/medalofgoodcitizenship
Anyone can submit a nomination. More information, nomination forms and submission instructions are available online, by telephone at 250 387-1616, or by email: bchonoursandawards@gov.bc.ca
Two backgrounders are available online:
• Biographies of recipients: http://news.gov.bc.ca/files/8-2_obc_bios.pdf
• Order of British Columbia: http://news.gov.bc.ca/files/8-2_obc.pdf
