Friday December 2, 2022 | VICTORIA, BC [Updated December 4, 2022]
by Mary P Brooke, Editor | Island Social Trends
Last night amidst the Christmas-season festive decor at Government House, Janet Austin, lieutenant governor of British Columbia, and Premier David Eby at Government House bestowed the Province’s highest honour, the Order of British Columbia, on 13 exceptional British Columbians.
Catching up from the interruptions of the pandemic, some of the recipients were already announced in 2021 as well as this year’s 2022 recipients having been announced earlier this year.
The formal ceremony took about an hour, with a seated dinner to follow. The event was also livestreamed.
Official certificates:
Each recipient received an official certificate on stage as well an OBC medal on a lanyard put onto each recipient by the Lieutenant Governor.
New premier on the job:
Premier Eby quipped at the podium as to look what he gets to do “10 days into the job”.
The official certificates issued to the 2022 OBC recipients had been signed by Austin as well as former Premier John Horgan, but Horgan was not formally mentioned during the evening.
Similar to what Horgan has said at past events, Eby said ‘the best of BC’ was in the room. He noted their leadership and contributions.
The range of contributions of the OBC recipients is stellar, including in the realms of science, business, law, community education, Indigenous issues, and politics.
OBC recipient Christine Sinclair, O.C. attended virtually and Dr. Nadine Caron is deferring investiture until 2023. Recipient Kathy Kinloch did not attend.
Group photo:
OBC recipients gathered in the lobby at Government House for a group photo.
Recipients in attendance at the 2022 investiture were: Kukpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir; Nezhat Khosrowshahi; Joy MacPhail, CM; Fred Ting Shek Mah; Harinder Mahil; Maureen Maloney, KC; Geoff Plant, KC; Christine Sinclair, OC (virtual); Dr Poul Sorensen (2021); Dr Paul Spong; Hon Gerald St Germain, PC; Hon Jody Wilson-Raybould, PC, KC; and Bruce Munro Wright.
Biographies are posted online: 2022 Order of BC inductees | 2021 Order of BC inductees
Selections by Advisory Council:
A small advisory council chose the OBC recipients.
This year’s Advisory Council was comprised of Lt Gov Janet Austin, OBC, Chancellor of the Order; Hon Robert J Bauman, Chief Justice of BC, Chair; Hon Raj Chouhan, Speaker of the BC Legislative Assembly; Dr Philip Steenkamp, President and Vice-Chancellor, Royal Roads University; Laurey-Anne Roodenburg, Past-President, Union of BC Municipalities; Silas Brownsey, Deputy Minister, Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat; Brenda Baptiste, OBC; and Dr Debra Braithwaite, OBC.
Secretary to the Advisory Council is Lucy Lobmeier.
The Premier’s remarks:
In his short speech, Premier David Eby noted “the remarkable accomplishments” of the people in the room — from arts and culture to truth and reconciliation, leadership in the political sphere (including mentors and “former adversaries, now friends”), and the strong leadership of Indigenous women.
Eby said that the ones that stood out for him were Dr Poul Sorensen’s work on childhood cancer and Sinclair’s soccer accomplishments. Dr Sorensen is a Professor of Pathology at the University of BC and has led significant lab work at the BC Cancer Research Agency. Sinclair has been Captain of the Canadian women’s soccer team, with a record 190+ goals.
“You are why this province is such an amazing place and why we’re all so honoured to live here,” the Premier said to his audience. He acknowledged the many other people who were not there for the evening, who have also made contributions.
He thanked the OBC advisory council selection committee for honouring the “diversity, spirit, resilience and leadership” of people in BC.
The Lieutenant Governor’s remarks:
In her speech, Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin opened her remarks with what she called a comment on “the practice of land acknowledgement”. She said: “It’s important that it be more than just a proforma statement”.
Austin said she tries to take land acknowledgement “as an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of colonialism, the harms of the past, and what I can do to contribute to the healing that is needed in Canada”. She articulated that she is a seventh-generation* Canadian whose ancestors came from Scotland when their lands were taken away by the aristocracy and settled in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia “which is a common story for many Canadians”.
[* = The Seventh Generation Principle is based on an ancient philosophy that the decisions we make today should result in a sustainable world seven generations into the future.]
Austin said she recognized that the success she enjoy has come at the expense of Indigenous peoples and aims to be “a vocal and a visible advocate for reconciliation”.
After recognizing the long service of the late Queen Elizabeth II, Austin acknowledged that “His Majesty King Charles III has also demonstrated his dedication to public service, and that she “feels a particular alignment with his sustained commitment to environment and sustainability” and toward his stated desire to build relations with Indigenous people.
“I much look forward to continuing his work in my role as Lieutenant Governor,” said Austin.
Austin said we live in “increasingly turbulent times”. She noted the “extraordinary leadership to match these extraordinary times”.
She noted the bravery of Iranian women around “rights for women’s equality, human rights and democracy” despite mass arrests and increasingly aggressive crackdowns on protesters.
Austin commented on the unwavering determination of Ukrainian people in 2022 as “they fight to defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity and their democracy”.
She purported that the economy is accelerating due to technology.
“Today we celebrate you, the very best of British Columbia,” said Austin, remarking on the diversity of contributions..
Formal evening:
Photos from the formal portion of the evening event:
===== ABOUT ISLAND SOCIAL TRENDS:
Island Social Trends is a professional news portal at islandsocialtrends.ca . Fully online since mid-2020, Island Social Trends emerged from the extensive groundwork of previous print publications in the west shore: MapleLine Magazine (2008-2010), Sooke Voice News (2011-2013), and West Shore Voice News (2014-2020).
Since 2008, journalist and editor Mary P Brooke has taken a socioeconomic lens to the news of the west shore and south Vancouver Island region, including BC provincial news, and national news impacts.
Ms Brooke was a school trustee candidate (SD62 – Belmont Zone) in the October 2022 election.
