As Art Director for the Papal Visit and Creative Director for Parades, Ceremonies and National Days, Sam also served on the Planning and Permits Board for the City of Vancouver. He assisted with the siting of Expo 86 Public Art legacies and coordinated students, artists, designers and craftspeople to produce the Gateway to the Canada pavilion at Yokohama’s Expo 89. He was a founding member of the Vancouver Public Art Committee and has produced numerous events and fundraisers highlighting BC artists and designers. He was one of the founding members of the Canadian Craft Museum. Sam has worked with Emily Carr graduates from throughout the province who not only have selected young artists to mentor, but also to produce artwork for the Spirit of Place Culture, Sport and Sustainability BC Young Artists Exhibition for the Cultural Olympiad, 2008. This exhibition travelled to the Governor General’s residence, Rideau Hall, in Ottawa during the spring and summer of 2009.
Award Year: 2009
Judson Beaumont
Inspired by kids and their liberal acceptance of the bizarre, Beaumont is widely known for creating whimsical, imaginative and masterful furniture pieces. Beaumont graduated from the 3-D department of the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design (ECU) in 1985, and since then has been producing one of-a-kind, interactive designs from his custom design studio, Straight Line Designs Inc. His company has completed unique design projects and installations throughout North America and around the world, including pieces for children’s hospitals, museums, libraries, Disney cruise ships and various exhibitions. His most recent initiative centres around his designs and products using wood from B.C.’s mountain pine beetle forests, thus taking an under-utilized raw material and creating beautiful and unique value-added wood pieces.
Paul Gauthier
Paul Gauthier’s passion, commitment and perseverance to enable people with disabilities to fully participate in the life of the province of British Columbia is the reason that we are honouring him today with a BC Community Achievement Award. Paul is one of the rare individuals who is able to promote positive thinking in a way that affects us all, particularly in the area of social change. Paul is the Community capacity coordinator for the BC Paraplegic Association, working to provide people with disabilities more flexibility in independent living. Paul is a role model for others not only as a Paralympic gold medalist but also as a community leader, a progressive thinker and an advocate for positive change.
Connie Peters
Known by her nominator as the most amazing volunteer she has ever known, Connie Peters supports her community of Abbotsford by providing care, outreach and services to young and old. As a natural team leader and a conscientious team player, Connie embraces those who need support in her community. Whether it is the weekly Open Door for single mothers and their children, the Wednesday Night Live for youth, the Dollar Dinner for local families, or offering her home as a refuge, Connie identifies a need and organizes a response. Connie Peters can always been counted upon to be dependable, productive and compassionate.
Noeleen McQuary
Noeleen McQuary, who resides on the shore of Fraser Lake, is a master basket maker working with birch bark and spruce roots. Noeleen learned this ancient art form of the Interior Dakelh from her mother and grandmother who instilled in her the spiritual principles related to the harvesting and making of baskets. Among Noeleen’s accomplishments is the building of an 18-foot birch bark canoe, now part of the McLeod Lake Band Cultural Centre and one currently under construction funded through the Aboriginal Arts Development Awards to teach youth the traditional art form of birch bark canoe making. Noeleen is committed to educating others, including her daughter, about her craft and its historical traditions. Noeleen has created baskets for many galleries and private collectors.
Little Miss Chief Gourmet Products
Ellen Melcosky, a member of the Esketemc (Alkali) who has made Westbank First Nation her home, is the owner and operator of Little Miss Chief Gourmet Products Incorporated. At first, Ellen used her own back yard to smoke her specialty salmon. Now, fourteen years later, Little Miss Chief’s product, is carefully prepared in a federally approved plant in Sooke and distributed worldwide. Its beautiful presentation and delectable flavour make it a favourite host gift in Canadian Embassies. Ellen has maximized food security and provided outstanding customer service to successfully build her company, and find her place in the established food industry.
Ray Abernethy
“If one person would help just one other person, what a difference that would make.” These are the words of Ray Abernethy and they define Ray’s absolute dedication to those who need help in his community. Whether a single mother, foster parent, new immigrant, refugee, low income family, Ray has volunteered his services for more than 18 years sourcing, collecting and distributing furniture, clothing and household goods. What began as a small backyard project has blossomed under his leadership and vision into a unique, charitable society called Helping Families in Need serving the needs of thousands of people in the lower mainland and Fraser Valley.
Janette Glover-Geidt
Janette Glover Geidt is a cornerstone of the community of Union Bay. Of special note is Janette’s leadership of the Union Bay Historical Society. She is the driving force behind the purchase and restoration of the Union Bay Post Office, thus saving an important heritage building in her community. Janette also spearheaded the restoration of the old Jail House which is now the Union Bay museum, thus preserving a legacy of the past for the youth of tomorrow. One of Janette’s nominators wrote the following: ‘a community is not just a collection of buildings. A community is people, people who are involved with their neighbours day to day, season to season’. Janette has helped to make Union Bay a community through her tireless efforts.
Marjorie Phelps
Marjorie Phelps is a pillar of kindness and support in her community. The Food Bank, Girl Guides of Canada, the Christmas Hamper Appeal and the Canadian Cancer Society are just some of the organizations to which Marjorie gives her time, leadership and energy. As chair of the Citizenship committee in Kitimat, Marjorie ensures that new Canadians are prepared and warmly welcomed to Canada. Marjorie contributes to her community in a quiet and unassuming way, always ready with a helping hand, and always there to fulfil a community need.
Richard Hunt
A master carver, Richard Hunt works in wood, paper, canvas and precious metals, creating art pieces that are influenced by his Kwa-gulth culture and tradition. His work in totems, drums, masks, prints and bowls can be found in public and private collections and galleries around the world. Richard began carving with his father at the age of 13, later following in his father’s footsteps as chief carver in the Thunderbird carving program at the BC Provincial Museum. Richard designed the medals for the Pan Am Games held in Victoria and participated in the design and carving of the Queen’s Baton for the Commonwealth Games. Richard is a generous supporter of his community through contributions of his work for worthy causes. For his contributions to First Nations’ art and to his community, Richard has been appointed a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia and has been elected to the Royal Academy of Arts.