Whistler's Joan Richoz was one of 47 British Columbians to be recognized at the seventh annual B.C. Community Achievement Awards in Victoria on April 28 with Lieutenant Governor Steven Point and Premier Gordon Campbell presenting medallions on behalf of the B.C. Achievement Foundation.
Richoz received the award in recognition of more than 30 years of service in Whistler's arts and cultural community, including her work to develop the Whistler Public Library and build a new home for the facility. She was also the first librarian for the original library, which was established in a pair of portable buildings that is now the home of the Whistler Museum and Archives.
She has also been a member of the Whistler Arts Council since 1983 and is the current chair. She has been involved in producing the Performance Series, the Whistler Children's Art Festival and Bizarre Bazaar. She is also the chair of the B.C. Assembly of Arts Councils.
Larry McHale of Squamish was also presented with an award in recognition of his work as Supervisor of Forest and Trails for the District of West Vancouver. His legacy includes managing the fire crew, educating students about the natural environment and creating one of the first black bear management plans in B.C. while personally responding to bear calls in the district.
Braidwood honoured by legal society
Sea to Sky lawyer Tom Braidwood was presented with the Dugald Christie Award by the Western Canada Society to Access Justice in March, in recognition of his work on behalf of the Howe Sound Women's Centre as well as his pro-bono service to the public.
Braidwood was himself recruited by Dugald Christie in 2007, just before he was killed by a motorist while cycling across Canada to bring awareness to legal access issues in the country.
Braidwood hosts a free legal clinic every Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., providing legal advice to women using the centre's services.
