Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat
Today, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour Shirley Bond, on behalf of Premier Christy Clark, presented Peter Lawless, a well-known Victoria citizen, with the Province’s newest honour, the Medal of Good Citizenship.
The ceremony was held at the Hall of Honour in the B.C. Parliament Buildings.
Launched in July 2015 by Premier Christy 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.
(flickr.com) Lawless was honoured with the medal for being a passionate advocate for sport as a means to transform community and his leadership and dedication has been vital to numerous initiatives becoming reality.
While his accomplishments are many, SoldierOn is one program where he has made a specific and notable difference. When hearing about this Canadian Forces program that assists ill and or injured members in their recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration through sport, Lawless, the vice president of the Canadian Olympic Committee, used his sports experience and connections, as well as the facilities in the Victoria area, to create a meaningful sport experience for these military members.
Lawless set up a multisport camp that hosted over 30 athletes from across the country. He connected the military athletes with high-performance coaches from the Paralympic Team and arranged for fully funded access to Victoria’s high-performance training centre with financial assistance from PacificSport Victoria.
He next volunteered to coach for the 2016 lnvictus Games in Florida. He facilitated free access to the new high-performance training centre in Toronto and arranged for various Olympic Champions to give motivational talks and coaching to the Canadian lnvictus team.
Upon his return from lnvictus Games in 2016, he arranged for every single B.C.-based athlete to receive a Bravo Zulu commendation from the admiral in command of Maritime Forces Pacific. His passion, enthusiasm and success further resulted in him being asked to be the head coach for the entire 2017 Canadian team.
Lawless is among a select group of British Columbians who will receive the Medal of Good Citizenship over the next few months.
Quotes:
Premier Christy Clark –
“Sport has the power to heal, and for proof, look no further than Peter Lawless and his work with disabled athletes and injured and ill veterans. His compassion and dedication to these men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country is an example for us all.”
Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, and chair of the Medal of Good Citizenship Selection Committee –
“The Medal of Good Citizenship recognizes the people in our province who generously and selflessly volunteer their time, effort and skills to make their community better. It was inspiring to work with the selection committee to review nominations and see how one person can make a difference. This year, as we celebrate Canada s 150th anniversary, it is important to recognize individuals who make their communities and, ultimately, their country better.”
Peter Lawless, Medal of Good Citizenship recipient –
“The world of sport has given so much to me and I’ve wanted to share that in return with others. I want others to experience its transformational powers, its capacity to heal, inspire and build communities. It’s been a honour to share that with servicemen and servicewomen who have given so much of themselves to our country.”
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.
- An independent selection committee reviews nominations and recommends recipients.
- All regions in the province were represented on the Medal of Good Citizenship Selection Committee and members came from various professional backgrounds.
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
Find out more about previous years’ recipients of the Medal of Good Citizenship:
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/celebrating-british-columbia/honours-and-awards/medal-good-citizenship/recipients
