As a young entrepreneur, Erica Ryan-Gagné identified the need for nail care services in the area of Skidegate. With a clear vision, she left the island to complete her education in esthetic services and upon her return successfully launched Eri-Cut & Nailed, a home-based nail care business. Erica currently provides services to over 200 clients and is planning an expansion to her salon, which is scheduled to open in March, 2012.
Award Year: 2011
Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia initiated programs on behalf of the BC Lions that benefit children of all ages in the fields of literacy, fitness and positive life decisions. The Read, Write and Roar program and the Lions in the House program continue today as his legacies. Lui currently serves on committees for the BC Lions Celebrity Golf Classic and the Orange Helmet Awards Dinner, raising funds for community programs.
Halfyard Designs
Halfyard Designs is a floral design company established in 2007. Owner, Denise Halfyard of the Tsimshian First Nation, has forged significant connections in the wedding and special event industries in the Lower Mainland. Denise focuses on her passion: beautiful and unique floral arrangements. Her signature is her excellent customer service. Halfyard Designs has been involved in many high profile functions and events, all of which add to the viability and competiveness of her business.
Rose Colledge
Over the past 17 years, Rose Colledge has committed her time and energy to ensuring that Tumbler Ridge is a vibrant and successful community. Rose is currently the women’s outreach co-ordinator and has served as an elected councillor, president of the Tumbler Ridge Museum and a volunteer and board member of the Tumbler Ridge Community Arts Council.
Kalliana King
Kalliana King is a remarkable young girl who has a special inner desire to help others. Inspired by a young friend with Muscular Dystrophy two years ago, at age eight, she began a fundraising project. She sought pledges from family, friends, teachers and teammates, dyed her hair pink and then shaved it all off. Kalliana has singlehandedly raised $14,600 for Muscular Dystrophy Canada.
Drr. R.T. (Phil) Nuytten
An internationally recognised pioneer in the diving industry, Phil Nuytten has spent over forty years developing the technology to allow longer-length deep diving expeditions with increased human safety. Nuytten’s one-atmosphere systems – the hard-suits ‘Newtsuit’ and ‘Exosuit’ and the “DeepWorker” submersibles – are renowned internationally for opening the ocean’s depths to exploration and industry. This deep diving equipment, along with Nuytten’s military submarine rescue system (designated ‘Remora’ by the Royal Australian Navy and ‘PRMS’ by the US Navy), is standard in nearly a dozen of the world’s navies. His goal has been to provide scientific, technical, military, and sport divers full access to continental shelf depths without the hazards of decompression, so that humans can explore, learn about, and – ultimately – protect the world’s oceans.
Brent Comber
Building on a deep connection with the materials he uses and with his natural surroundings, for over 20 years Brent Comber has designed and created original wood furniture pieces. Self-taught, he has conscientiously used salvaged, scavenged and historically significant wood to create modern urban forms, including his iconic ‘Alder Cube’. Comber has received international and national commissions and his work has been displayed from New York to Dubai to Shanghai.
Himwitsa Enterprises
It all began in 1991, when Lewis and Cathy George of the Ahousaht First Nation had a dream of opening up a First Nation Gallery. In Tofino, they found a small 400 sq. foot space next to a restaurant and opened their doors with very little stock, but an abundance of enthusiasm and determination. Twenty years later, Himwitsa Enterprises is a thriving complex of tourism-based businesses: The House of Himwitsa, Himwitsa Lodge, Sea Shanty Restaurant and Dockside Cannery.
Tim Cormode
Tim Cormode founded the Power to Be Adventure Therapy Society in 1998, an organization that provides outdoor education programs that enrich the health and quality of life for youth, families and adults facing significant life challenges. As executive director, Tim’s skills as a visionary, leader, motivator and fundraiser have created the opportunity for over 5,000 British Columbians with disabilities to experience the therapeutic values of nature.
June Lam
June Lam’s leadership, initiative, attention to detail and enthusiasm have benefitted the faculty of science at UBC. He engaged in outreach work with Kids Help Phone, peer coaching, the Let’s Talk Science project and he co-chaired the 2010 UBC Student Leadership Conference. Now a medical student, June has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to his community.