2017 BC Community Achievers Announced VANCOUVER,

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 31, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Premier Christy Clark and Scott McIntyre, CM, Chair of the British Columbia Achievement Foundation, today named this year’s recipients of the BC Community Achievement Awards.

"What makes British Columbia a great place to call home is the generosity, dedication and commitment of British Columbians," said Premier Clark. "Thank you to the 2017 recipients for always going the extra mile for your communities, and your province."

“Today we celebrate the efforts of extraordinary British Columbians who strive to make our province a better place to live,” said McIntyre. “We thank them for their remarkable efforts through their work and volunteering.”

The recipients of the 2017 awards are:

John and Sandra Barth, Burns Lake Garry F. Benson, Q.C., Kelowna Roger Bird, Nanaimo FR Charles Brandt, ERM, Black Creek Melanie Cadden, Nanaimo Daphne Cole, Vancouver Dorothy Durham, Jaffray Sardul S. Gill, Victoria Joanne Greenwood, Coquitlam Gerry Juzenas, Burnaby George Laverock, Vancouver Kenneth W. Lepin, Kamloops Krista Levar, Prince George Ann McNabb, Chilliwack William K. (Bill) Milsom, North Vancouver Tony Moore, Terrace Dalvir Nahal, Vernon Dr. Ralph Nilson, Nanaimo Walter Paetkau, Abbotsford Fred Robbins, Alkali Lake Birgit Sharman, Tumbler Ridge Barbara Stewart, Vancouver Carol Todd, Port Coquitlam Lin Wei (Henry) Tung, Sardis Master Lian Tzi, Vancouver Thomas George Whipps, Lantzville

An independent committee selects the recipients of the British Columbia Community Achievement Awards. The 2017 selection committee members are Mayor Jack Froese of the Township of Langley, Mayor Carol Leclerc of the City of Terrace and past recipients, Sue Bauman of Vancouver, Ragwah Gopal of Kelowna and David Young of Vancouver.

The recipients of the 2017 awards will be recognized in a formal presentation ceremony at Government House in Victoria on April 26, 2017. Each recipient will receive a certificate and a medallion designed by BC artist Robert Davidson.

The British Columbia Achievement Foundation is an independent foundation established and endowed by the province of BC to celebrate excellence in the arts, humanities, enterprise and community service. Launched in 2003, the BC Community Achievement Awards were the first initiative of the foundation, followed by the BC Creative Achievement Award for Applied Art and Design, BC’s National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction, the BC Creative Achievement Award for First Nations Art, and the BC Aboriginal Business Awards.

For more information on the BC Achievement Foundation and the 2017 Recipient Backgrounders: www.bcachievement.com

Contact Cathryn Wilson Executive Director BC Achievement Foundation 604.261.9777 info@bcachievement.com