VICTORIA - Nominations for the province’s highest recognition of excellence and lifetime achievement - the Order of British Columbia for 2013 - are now being accepted.

“The Order of British Columbia is the province’s most prestigious accolade and is an official part of the Canadian Honours system. It avails us the opportunity to publicly recognize the good works of those in our communities who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to make all our lives better,” said Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor and Chancellor of the Order of British Columbia. “Please take the time, as grateful citizens, to identify and nominate those special people worthy of being honoured in this significant way.”

Any person or group is welcome to nominate a deserving individual as candidate for appointment to the Order of British Columbia. Nomination forms are available from:

• The Honours and Awards Secretariat office at orderofbc@gov.bc.ca (250 387-1616), or download a form from the website at: www.orderofbc.gov.bc.ca/
• Any Service BC Centre

Nominations and letters of support for the Order of British Columbia must be received by the first Friday in March (March 1, 2013) at the secretariat’s office (1st floor, 548 Michigan St., Victoria, V8V 1S2) or via email at orderofbc@gov.bc.ca, to be considered this year. Nominations received after this will be included in the selection process for the next year.

A dinner and special ceremony of recognition will be hosted later this year by Lt.-Gov. Guichon at Government House for recipients and invited guests.

The Order of British Columbia was established in 1989. Since its inception, 331 British Columbians have been honoured.

Media contacts:
Government Communications and Public Engagement Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat
250 356-5963    

Honours and Recipients’ Information:
Karen Felker
Coordinator
Honours and Awards Secretariat
250 356-1139