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These 14 exceptional Vancouver residents will receive B.C.'s top honour

Plus a couple of famous out-of-towners whose names you'll certainly recognize.
Lindsay William-Ross
Lindsay William-Ross
CAROL LEE - VANCOUVER CHINATOWN FOUNDATION
Carol A. Lee, a community leader in Chinatown, is among the 14 Vancouver residents receiving the Order of British Columbia in a long-delayed awards ceremony on March 3, 2022. Glacier Media file photo.

A ceremony will honour 31 exceptional B.C. residents, the 2020 and 2021 recipients of the Order of British Columbia, including 14 who hail from Vancouver.

In August 2021, 16 accomplished people were appointed to the Order of British Columbia by Lt. Gov. Janet Austin, including Dr. Bonnie Henry, however, no ceremony for those honorees or the ones from 2020 took place. Additionally, the ceremony will include three recipients who could not attend their events in the past. 

The investiture ceremony will be live-streamed at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 3. 

The Order of B.C. is the Province's highest honour. Since its inception in 1989, 475 British Columbians have been appointed to the Order from all regions of the province.

"Congratulations to the newest members of the Order of B.C. Thank you for your passion, your hard work and the gifts you share with others," said Premier John Horgan. "Your achievements and accomplishments create a better B.C. for us all."

buble-michael
Burnaby's Michael Bublé will be one of 31 British Columbians receiving the order of B.C. Michael Bublé/Twitter

There are a few high-profile recipients from outside of Vancouver being honoured, namely Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry of Victoria, and singing superstar Michael Bublé of Burnaby. Among the well-known names of the Vancouverites on the list are artist and HIV/AIDS activist Joe Average and community leader Carol A. Lee who is the Chair of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation. 

Here are the 14 Vancouverites being honoured among the 31 Order of B.C. recipients: 

  • Joe Average, MGC, of Vancouver
  • Frances Belzberg, OC, of Vancouver
  • Dr. Gary Birch, OC, of Vancouver (virtual)
  • Shirley Chan of Vancouver
  • Jane Coop, CM, of Vancouver
  • Ajay Dilawri of Vancouver
  • Rusty Goepel, of Vancouver
  • Dr. Mel Krajden of Vancouver
  • Carol A. Lee of Vancouver
  • Dr. James McEwen, OC, of Vancouver
  • Dr. Dolph Schluter of Vancouver
  • Arran and Ratana Stephens of Vancouver
  • Marvin Storrow, QC, of Vancouver
  • Carole Taylor, OC, of Vancouver

Biographies of all the incredible British Columbians who have received this prestigious provincial honour can be found on the B.C. government website.

With files from Cameron Thomson