Minister of Children and Family Development Stephanie Cadieux, on behalf of Premier Christy Clark, will present Marilyn Rushton, a well-known Burnaby citizen, with the province’s newest honour, the Medal of Good Citizenship.

The ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 7915 Elwell St., Burnaby.

Launched in July 2015 by Premier Clark, the prestigious Medal of Good Citizenship recognizes individuals who, through exceptional long-term service, have made outstanding contributions to their communities without expectation of remuneration or reward. The medal reflects their generosity, service, acts of selflessness and contributions to community life. Nominations for the Medal of Good Citizenship are accepted year-round.

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Rushton was honoured with the medal for her inspirational life of service to the visually impaired community, her contributions to families with blind and visually impaired children, and her energetic support for the musical community.

Blind since birth, Rushton is a powerful role model, teacher, and gifted musician. She has volunteered countless hours with the Maple Leaf Singers; and is the director and accompanist for The Tempos, a choir for blind and partially-sighted children, youth and adults. Rushton is the president of the BC Vision Teacher's Association and this year served as chairperson for the Canadian Vision Teachers’ Conference entitled Seeing Beyond the Horizon. She serves on the board of Blind Beginnings, a non-profit that supports B.C. families with blind/partially-sighted  children.

Among her many other contributions, Rushton was co-director and accompanist for the Burnaby Children’s Choir, has been a governor on the Douglas College board, and a board member for the Burnaby Hospice Society. In the 1990s she was a Burnaby school trustee and effectively used the role to advocate for diversity and equity in public education. Her contributions in education are recognized through her membership in DKG International, an honorary society of women educators; and PEO, a North America-wide organization which provides educational opportunities for women.

Rushton is among a select group of British Columbians who will receive the Medal of Good Citizenship.

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Quotes:

Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia –

“Marilyn Rushton is an inspiration in the musical, teaching and blind and visually impaired communities. Her dedication and enthusiasm have brought people joy and changed their lives for the better."

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, and chair of the Medal of Good Citizenship Selection Committee –

“There are many people who generously volunteer their time, effort and skills to make their community better and this honour acknowledges their excellence, achievement and service. The time spent reviewing nominations was inspiring, and it reinforced to me that we live in a province where each and every day citizens can make a difference through their generosity and selflessness.”

Stephanie Cadieux, Minister of Children and Family Development –

“One person’s passion can make a tremendous difference within a community, and there’s no finer example than Marilyn Rushton. A natural leader, she is an inspiration who has never allowed her physical difficulties to stop her from making a difference.”

Marilyn Rushton, Medal of Good Citizenship recipient  –  

“As a volunteer, I receive so very much more than I ever give. I am truly fortunate to be surrounded by individuals who regularly and selflessly share their time, gifts and talents within and beyond their own communities. For me, volunteering is all about building meaningful and lasting relationships through mutual respect and support, teamwork, and plenty of laughter and hugs.”

Quick Facts:

• The Medal of Good Citizenship was launched in 2015 to recognize individuals who, through exceptional long-term volunteer efforts, have made outstanding contributions to the well-being of their communities.
• Nominations for the Medal of Good Citizenship are accepted year-round.
• All regions in the province were represented on the Medal of Good Citizenship Selection Committee and members came from various professional backgrounds.
• More than 220 nominations were reviewed.
• Additional medal presentation ceremonies will be held across the province in the coming months.

Learn More:

To learn more about the medal, or to nominate a good citizen in your community, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/medalofgoodcitizenship

To view photos of recipient ceremonies, visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHskw9MKjm