Coming together: The British Columbia Reconciliation Award

BC Achievement runs a number of  programs which celebrate excellence to inspire achievement and the most recent addition to its roster is a partnership program. The British Columbia Reconciliation Award is a partnership between BC Achievement and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of BC. Why a partnership? 

The Honourable Janet Austin, the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, shared that there are several reasons for this important partnership with BC Achievement to honour and further reconciliation. “The Honourable Stephen Point had originally come up with the idea during his term as Lieutenant Governor but wasn’t able to execute within the short period of time. I certainly had discussions with him about reviving it and we felt it was important to reach out to a partner organization that had considerable experience managing significant awards like this and that also shared the same values and really the same desire to advance reconciliation.” 

In the words of Kekinsuqs Judith Sayers, President of the Nuu chah Nulth Tribal Council and Board member of the BC Achievement Foundation, there is a connection between the two organizations that lends itself to a partnership program. “It is something we wanted to do, and we do have several First Nations people on the board and several awards dealing with First Nations people in business and in art…so it just seemed like a natural fit for the Lieutenant Governor and the BC Achievement Foundation to come together to put this award together, so it was just something exciting, and something that needed to be done.” 

A partnership program is a valuable way to recognize individuals, groups and organizations who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect and commitment to furthering reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in the province. Not only does this partnership allow greater reach of the program’s mandate, but it also brings awareness to a larger audience, and it helps build a bridge between Indigenous peoples and British Columbia’s history, a move itself that symbolizes a commitment to reconciliation: 

“We need to create a better understanding amongst all people that we are in the same canoe. No matter where you are from, we all need to paddle together.”  The Honourable Steven L. Point, OBC (Xwĕ lī qwĕl tĕl) 28th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia (2007-2012) 

For more information on the British Columbia Reconciliation Award, or to nominate you can go to bcachievement.com. Nomination deadline is January 15th, 2021. 

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.