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Greater Victoria volunteers receive national honours

Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers replaces the Caring Canadian award
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Five Greater Victoria individuals are among 33 B.C. residents whose community service was recognized last week by Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon, who awarded them each the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers.

Fairfield resident Jamie Webb began mentoring youth in 1984 with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and the Navy League of Canada and later served as board president for the Maritime Museum of British Columbia, for which he helped engineer numerous fundraisers. Still in the maritime area, he founded the Alumni Association of HMCS Quadra and helped stage various naval festivals and visits. He also served for a period as volunteer president of Beacon Hill Little League.

Mavis Gillie has spent more than 40 years advocating for Aboriginal Peoples. Since 1968, when she lived in the Northwest Territories, she has founded and led numerous organizations and committees focused on protecting aboriginal territories and rights in Canada.

Perhaps best known in recent years for his biographical book, In His Hands, about his travels around the world in a Volkswagen Beetle, Wolfgang Paul Loofs has actively volunteered with such humanitarian organizations as Medical Ministry International Canada and the Canadian Red Cross. Through his work he has demonstrated empathy and dedication to helping marginalized people in this country and abroad.

Cordova Bay Golf Course superintendent Dean Piller has been active the past eight years as chair of the organizing committee for the Vancouver Island Golf Superintendents Association. The initiatives he’s been involved in have helped raise funds for, and awareness of, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.

Finally Heart Pharmacy owner/president Rasool Rayani, a member of a local and global community oriented family, has been an active volunteer with multiple organizations, including serving on the board of the Victoria Foundation — he is past-president — and working with the Victoria Chapter of the ALS Society.

In total, 33 people from around B.C. received the Sovereign’s Medal, formerly the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award.

editor@vicnews.com